Reptile Table

November 8th, 2010 | Published in Reptiles

What types of wood are safe to house reptiles in?

I want to make vivariums and tortoise tables and would like to know which wood/timber is safe to use, thanks

African hardwood, Aspen or driftwood

Cedar and redwood should not be used in constructing housing for any animal, nor in any furniture or paneling in a room in which any animals are housed

Is Cedar Driftwood Safe? YES if it's true dead wood and been processed correctly.

This is an often asked question when people decide to add driftwood to their aquarium or terrarium and the answers are as varied as the tank setups themselves.

The best answer is it depends on how it's been processed and from what region of the country it was collected.

Typically cedar wood found in the southern states such as North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee is safe IF it's true "dead wood" and it's been processed correctly. Unlike most pet supplies which are made from fresh cedar wood, Southern Red Cedar is most often harvested from reservoirs and has been submerged for decades thus insuring it is truly dead wood.

As with any wood, before putting it in your aquarium or terrarium it should be carefully cleaned by either pressure-washing or wire-brushing it. This will remove any loose, soft surface debris and get it down to the hard "heart" of the wood. To further insure it's safety for your fish or reptiles, the cedar driftwood piece should be heat-treated. This can be done by either boiling it in hot water or baking it in the oven at 200 degrees for several hours. Just make sure you keep a close watch on it! It can and will catch on fire if it gets too hot.

So in summary, Cedar driftwood can be safe if it's true dead wood and been processed correctly. Just make sure before you purchase a piece to ask the seller how it was prepared and where they obtained the wood. Southern Red Cedar water logs fast and leaches color much less than other woods. It will make a beautiful addition to your aquarium or Reptile Terrarium.

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