Trees in enclosures??

[infernalis]

Wouldn't you know it, I clipped off a nice apple limb, left a few branches and some leaves, placed it in there and within 5 minutes I have an eastern garter perched high up on it....

Spooked him when I got the camera... I'll try later

[infernalis]

[Lori P]

Now that's a happy snakey!!!

[count dewclaw]

One spring day we found a large mating ball of garters about 4 feet off the ground in our mock orange bush!

You snake looks quite happy there.

[Lori P]

You know, I have a terrible hatred of wild cherry because the wilted leaves are fatal to horses and goats. The wilting process creates arsenic in the leaves. But I do like the look of the bark. I assume that the wild cherry would be safe in the snake enclosure???

[Garter_Gertie]

You know, I have a terrible hatred of wild cherry because the wilted leaves are fatal to horses and goats. The wilting process creates arsenic in the leaves. But I do like the look of the bark. I assume that the wild cherry would be safe in the snake enclosure???

Ah-ha! Very good point (which I didn't know and find fascinating. Trying to think of anyone I hate enuff to feed them wilting wild cherry leaves and coming up blank.) to make. Good thing you said that. It is something to consider. You can never know about these things.

[count dewclaw]

The wilting process creates arsenic in the leaves. I assume that the wild cherry would be safe in the snake enclosure???

Actually the leaves contain cyanide and the wilting process somehow makes it more potent. I would think the wood should be fine as long as it is not soaking in water that the snake could drink. The bark/wood does not contain as much cyanide as the leaves, if I remember correctly.

[infernalis]

Wouldn't you know it, Xena found some way to climb up on that limb, squeeze out, crawl over 2 fish tanks, and climb up on the monitor as I am using the computer.

Thankfully it was her, she wouldn't leave if I wanted her to.. So until I can seal the top up tight, that stick is a supervised toy for now.

[Justinviper]

lol. I wonder if they're certain types of garters that are more likely to bask or stay up in the trees sometimes? anybody noticed?

[Lori P]

Actually the leaves contain cyanide and the wilting process somehow makes it more potent. I would think the wood should be fine as long as it is not soaking in water that the snake could drink. The bark/wood does not contain as much cyanide as the leaves, if I remember correctly.

Whoops, thanks LeAnn!!!! I kept looking at my post after I wrote that and I KNEW something didn't sound right, but I couldn't figure it out. Yes, cyanide. And as far as I've heard, the wood is ok... and even eating the green healthy leaves is safe for the animals, just not once they're wilted. Strange huh.