Branches Advice

fabianbigge1

New Member
Messages
50
Location
Ohio
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I collected these branches from my backyard. They are being soaked in bleach right now. I need to know if they are okay for my crested gecko vivarium. I don't really like the look of the drift wood most stores sell. I prefer that "frayed" look that branches have. Also, do I need to get rid of the bark? I like the way it looks, but would rather have a thriving gecko than a cool branch.
 

fabianbigge1

New Member
Messages
50
Location
Ohio
That's what the forum's for. :)
This weird thing happened to the wood when I went in to bleach the other half. It dissolved or something. XD Any guesses on what happened? Should I just wipe it off and use it anyways? It was bleached for 24 hours.

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indyana

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,336
Location
Massachusetts, United States
Whoa, too much bleach? The page I linked recommends a 1/2 cup per gallon of water. If you used pure bleach, it might take much longer (and many changes of water) to leach all the bleach out of the wood.
 

Tongue Flicker

Hardcore Animal Lover
Messages
608
Location
Madina't Isa, Bahrain
Yes please remove the bark. This will help eliminate oils, saps, resins as well hitchhikers from the wood. A bleach soak is kinda overkill. If you know that the place you got it from is a pesticide free area then a thorough scrubbing under running water to remove dirt and bark and soaking in hot water (not boiling as this will only make the wood brittle over time) plus air drying is usually suffice
 

Olympus

Biologist & Ecologist
Messages
298
Location
Miami, Fl.
I don't do anything to the branches I collect for my chameleon cages lol I just make sure that 1. I collect them from a pesticide- and insecticide-free area, 2. That I cut down live branches instead of collecting any that have fallen off the tree by themselves (since it usually means they died, or who knows how long they have been decomposing on the floor), 3. There are no obvious causes for alarm (like bug holes, any weird growth, peeling bark, etc.) and 4. That I never choose branches with sap, that are toxic or poisonous, or anything dangerous like that.

But that's about it and 2-3 years later I am still using the same branches in my cages! They have held up super well to the daily onslaught of water and the basking lights and haven't rotten one bit.
 

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