Is Douglass Fir Safe...

[BronzeSoldier]

to use in my geckos cage? Also is it safe to coat it with lacquer or polyurethane to waterproof it? My husband was going to build a second story shelf for me and I wanted to check before he got started. Thanks!!!

 

[Vyeguy]

i don't see why it would not be.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

I personaly wouldn't put anything in your tank that your not 100% sure if its parasite free or not. as for coating it with something, that doesn't seem like a good idea to me either. Why not just buy a fake plant? its safe and it will last.

 

[GroovyGeckos.com]

No I believe pines, and cedar can be harmful for reptiles.

 

[BronzeSoldier]

No I believe pines, and cedar can be harmful for reptiles.

Thanks for the info! That's what I thought, too - just checked and Douglas Fir is in the pine family... Do you know what type of wood is OK?

 

[BronzeSoldier]

I personaly wouldn't put anything in your tank that your not 100% sure if its parasite free or not. as for coating it with something, that doesn't seem like a good idea to me either. Why not just buy a fake plant? its safe and it will last.

LOL! I was going to put the wood in, not the plant! I agree, though about making sure anything you put in is totally parasite free...

 

[fOOlsgOld]

Really anything that ISN'T an evergreen would work BronzeSoldier. Popular, oak, brain is fried, cherry *expensive and not needed imo*, uhhh... yah I'd go with popular or oak. What ever happens to be the cheapest price around you is what I would work with. If you are worried about bugs you can bake the wood before you assemble and seal it.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Dan provided the correct answer above. Anything evergreen, which a Fir would be, will contain some level of pine oils and perhaps tars. Very bad for pets of all types.

 

[Vyeguy]

do you have any info on pines being unsafe. i was planing on building my new tank with it as its the cheapest stuff around

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Here's a link I was able to find pretty quick, suggesting that pine and reptiles don't mix. Hope this helps!

 

[Ratman667]

If you can find Sycamore, use that. Its a hardwood( not evergreen), that will resist mold and last forever.