Things from outside

[Dan72]

Okay so feeling lazy today, because I'm sure it is in the forum covered somewhere by all you great people, but I didn't want to dig. So my question is what do I have to do, steps, to make rock and wood found outside safe for the enclosure? Having taken in the snake I find myself outside more, walking the block, even went to the park (wooded, lake) and I've come across a few things I find more cool then things in the pet shops. Plus they are FREE!!! If making them safe for the snake is not a big pain. Thanks! (I will get pics of first shed up, promise:rolleyes:).

[Didymus20X6]

For rocks, a good scrubbing in soapy water should do, as long as it's not a very porous type of rock.

For wood, I'd say bake it in the oven at about 250F for an hour or so. That should kill any unwanted critters in it.

[guidofatherof5]

For rocks, a good scrubbing in soapy water should do, as long as it's not a very porous type of rock.

For wood, I'd say bake it in the oven at about 250F for an hour or so. That should kill any unwanted critters in it.

Good advice. Rocks can also be baked.

[BUSHSNAKE]

i use alot of stuff i collect myself and i normally dont do anything at all to it as long as its dried out...i get co habitors like spiders and little beetles but i dont care i have nothing against bugs...i dig it:)

[katach]

We put our outdoor stuff in the dishwasher on the dry cycle.

[infernalis]

i use alot of stuff i collect myself and i normally dont do anything at all to it as long as its dried out...i get co habitors like spiders and little beetles but i dont care i have nothing against bugs...i dig it:)

I have to agree here.

Many people are overly paranoid about scare monger posts on forums and really bad information.

Firstly, Virtually all parasites that should be of any concern require an intermediate host to perpetuate. So as long as there is no really fresh bird poop on an item, just put it in the darn cage.

I have been digging up sod from my yard and using it in reptile cages for over a decade and never once had any negative issues.

I cut limbs out of trees with a saw, and stick the limb right in the cage.

Been picking rocks out of the creek for just as long, no ill effects.

Your snakes cannot get parasites from a stick, they have to eat the intermediate or definitive host to become infected.


Baking sticks and putting rocks in a dishwasher is rather pointless.

[Stefan-A]

Your snakes cannot get parasites from a stick, they have to eat the intermediate or definitive host to become infected.
Mites, ticks, fungi, protozoa etc. don't have to be ingested, some of them can literally be inhaled. And just about any pathogen can be transferred from the object to the drinking water and on to the snake.


Baking sticks and putting rocks in a dishwasher is rather pointless.
The latter definitely is pointless and might break the dishwasher.

[infernalis]

This is true Stefan, I guess I should have been more clear.

A freshly cut LIVING tree branch is a lot less likely to cause a problem than a half rotted hunk of driftwood.

[mark cope]

This thread is really handy ,and has come just at the right time as I'm hoping to furnish Marthas new viv this weekend(providing runners turn up).......Time for me and Joe to go looking around the garden ..already spoke to my neighbour who has just cut his apple tree back
Mark

[gregmonsta]

If I go for rocks, I tend to collect them from the local river. These rocks definitely will have rounded edges for a start.
I then soak them for an hour in a 10% bleach in hot water bath. They then get a really good scrub and then get another hour in a fresh bleach bath.
They then get a final scrub and good rinse under the showerhead.

[infernalis]

This thread is really handy ,and has come just at the right time as I'm hoping to furnish Marthas new viv this weekend(providing runners turn up).......Time for me and Joe to go looking around the garden ..already spoke to my neighbour who has just cut his apple tree back
Mark

Apple is brilliant for this.

Nice and sturdy, does not rot quickly and has nice rough bark for shedding snakes to rub against.

[mark cope]

like I said this thread is really handy:)

[kibakiba]

Apple wood is also good for smoking bacon. Mmmmm bacon!

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Are oak twigs any good for snake shedding?

[guidofatherof5]

Can't see why they wouldn't be. Bake them at 220 degrees for 20 minutes to kill any bug and such.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Will do... :D

[d_virginiana]

Will do... :D

But don't tell anyone that's what you're doing first :D It's always fun to watch the looks on people's faces the first time they see you randomly baking twigs and such in the oven (my whole family got that 'Well... it finally happened. She snapped.' look)