Mopani Wood Tasty?

[kariann]

I just got a medium piece of Zoo Med Mopani Wood to add to Oscar's viv decor. He licked it several times yesterday which I attributed to its being new. Today, he was sitting on it and licked it twice and then he bit it! He didn't seem to break any off and he just did it that once as far as I know. However, I'm considering removing it to avoid the chance he may continue to bite at it, ingest it, or harm his teeth. What do you guys think?

 

[lizardgrrl]

I have mopani wood with several of my dragons, and have had no problem with anyone trying to eat it. I did have a grapevine which started to disintegrate, and quickly removed it, but the mopani is a very hard wood. I would not worry unless there is a very small twig Oscar could break off, but I have never seen one with twigs. I have scrubbed and baked all wood products before adding them to my tanks. I hope this helps!

 

[AndyT]

Oscar is just taste testing the wood. Beardies do this just like snakes do. He is checking to see if it's food. If he bit it, the wood may smell like food. Did you wash it after bringing it home? This licking should lessen and stop after he adjusts to it. I don't think that you have to worry about it. As said above, if there are any little splinters or weak twigs, you may want to remove them, just in case.

Andy