Pine wood concern?

[getgab92]

Okay I was just reading some things about wood enclosures. I read that Pine wood is really toxic to beardies? I recently built my dragon a platform out of pine wood that has been in my basement for a long long time. I have had it in there for a few days and I took it out once I read about this. Is my beardie in danger now? Was he exposed too long?

 

[PicosParent]

I had not heard that about pine. Where did you read that? One of my beardies has a pine branch in his cage. It was dried out for several months and then scrubbed with hot soapy water to get all the loose bark off and kill germs. Usually, we bake any branches in the oven to be sure there are no bugs and to kill any bacteria but since cedar doesn't attract bugs, we didn't bake this one in the oven. Now I am concerned that I need to get that branch out of his cage...... :?

 

[getgab92]

Its all over the internet. It all over this site too. If u go into enclosures and search pine u will get all the articles about it. Its not just pine that is bad either. I switched mine over to poplar.

 

[PicosParent]

Thanks!!! I can't believe I hadn't read that before. I make it a point to read about Beardies constantly and I make sure my babies (some are rescues) have nothing but the best.....so glad to be educated on this factor!!! I feel so bad my bay has had this in his cage for a couple weeks now It gets switched immediately!!!

 

[getgab92]

No problem! I'm happy to help! I am the same way. I read up as much as I can. I just want the best for my kids

 

[PicosParent]

Oh my gosh, I am so relieved.....my hubby started laughing when I told him we had to find a new log for Pumpkin (I am very picky about the logs and it usually ends up being at least an hour excursion in the woods to find the "perfect one"....then, it is scrubbed down and baked in the oven at 350 for an hour and washed down again to get the blackened residue from baking it cleaned off.....) because the pine was bad for him.....well hubby was laughing because duh....the log we have for him is CEDAR!!! I am under a lot of stress right now with a family member's serious health issues and I guess I am just not thinking right!!!! LOL Taking care of someone with Dementia is very mentally and physically exhausting and I am so glad that my tired brain had the facts wrong!!! LOL Pumpkin is fine in his pine-FREE habitat!!!

 

[getgab92]

Ceder is also not good for them lol. I would advise that you read the discussions on the wood types :study: . I found them very helpful. Its mostly the oils in the wood that get released that are bad for them. I'm sorry to tell you this

 

[Baldwin]

Yep, ceder is no good either. Avoid woods that are oily and soft. Most hardwoods are fine for reptiles. Look for oak, poplar, birch, etc.

 

[PicosParent]

Yikes!!! Well, I am thankful they are all three cuddled up in brumation in Chico's cage so I can redo Pumpkin's habitat while he sleeps....it will be like one of those shows on HGTV where they leave and come home to a new and improved home

We tile their floors with slate tile and use real rocks for climbing and hiding(not that my guys ever hide, they are very social and all like to know what is going on at every minute!) and the real branches (but now I have one to replace, the other branches are fine thankfully) and tons of fake vines.

We bought three large dog kennels that we covered over with chicken coop wire and carpeted with indoor/outdoor carpet and put branches, fake vines and rocks in. These are all bolted down to the railings of our master bedroom balcony so during the day in the summer they can enjoy the natural sun. Being on the upstairs deck, we don't have to worry about any animal bothering them. I am going to steal a branch out of one of them as we have many months before they can use those habitats again!!!
Thanks for the heads up folks!!! Luckily this is the only time we have ever used something that wasn't oak and he has only had it in there a couple weeks!!!

 

[getgab92]

Wow! That sounds amazing! Do u think u could post a picture sometime? Im always looking for new ideas to keep my little one happy.

 

[PicosParent]

I haven't posted pictures on here for a couple years as it was a pain to go thru that process of uploading on that other site and then posting here.....I will have to reset my password as I don't remember what it was on that photo site and upload some shots.
It is a gorgeous habitat. My hubby built it for me last year for Christmas. It is 8 feet long, 2 feet deep and over 2 feet tall. In the middle is a wall to separate the two sides. We have a "mouse hole" doorway so they can go from side to side to visit each other. There is a lever underneath that you can slide to shut the door if someone is grouchy and needs some alone time. We built raised platforms so they have a hide underneath. My husband heated plexi glass and curved it for the wall of the hide. I covered that in paper that looks like tiny bricks and we cut a round circle they can go through to get in and out. Inside the hide, we cut into the floor and put elongated bread pans in and filled them with rabbit pellets so they can dig in them when they want to. They love it!!

The top of the hide serves as a basking area with rocks, branches and their hammocks (both sides were set up the same but of course vary in their decor). The front and ends are plexi glass and the whole front lifts up and is on hinges so I can prop it open for easy cleaning (the slate tile floor is so easy to clean with Clorox wipes daily and then I steam clean it monthly). I covered the back and center wall with burlap so they can climb it when they want to. I used a staple gun to attach vines to the walls for a natural look and there are branches to climb to get up and down from the basking platform.

Tango likes to climb a lot so we have a huge piece of bark propped in his as well to climb. We also made little shelves that they can climb to on the walls and bask there as well. Yes, they are VERY spoiled!!!

They also have their own pool for the really hot days and Chico thinks he is a mermaid in there the way he loves to go under the water and do flips and turns and swim and swim!!! He is a rescue I got at 9 months of age and he has MBD. We have been able to stop the progression but his poor little paws turn backward and he drags his back legs. It is heart breaking to see him fall off the logs But, he is a happy, loving, funny little sweet heart and the swimming is great therapy for both his body and his happiness. You can't help but smile and laugh when you see him take off and feel so free in the water. He looks like he was a fish in a former life LOL

Under the habitat, my husband built open shelves on one side and a cabinet with pull out baskets on the other that I keep all their supplies in. Between the two sides is open space so I keep their gigantic toe of super worms and their cricket keeper under there and put a curtain on a tension rod up to hide the "bugs" from visitors who may not feel so comfy looking at a tote of 1000 worms

 

[getgab92]

Wow wow wow!!!! That sounds so amazing! I'm sure that was pretty expensive to do. I wish I could do something like that for Riley. I want to build him a vivarium someday but I don’t think it will ever be as good as yours sounds lol.

 

[PicosParent]

That should have been tote of worms LOL
I am sure you would build something awesome I will try to post some pictures in the next come days.

 

[getgab92]

I know it has been a long time since we were talking in this post but I was still interested in seeing your awesome vivarium if you ever get the chance to post pictures!

Hope everyone has a Merry Merry Christmas!!

 

[icelore]

I agree - I would really love to see this!