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 #1728450


Kreaturewd
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 Driftwood Help?

I am looking to add tree branches into my waterdragons tank. Is there any concerns that I should be aware of before placeing them into my tank? I was thinking about putting some birch in the tank I know that I have to clean the debrie off but is there anything that I should do to prevent disease or containamation in the tank?



05/07/08  06:18pm

 #1728656


Fall_child138
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   Message To: Kreaturewd   In reference to Message Id: 1728450


 Driftwood Help?

bake it in the oven
05/07/08  08:53pm

 #1728980


Kreaturewd
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   Message To: Fall_child138   In reference to Message Id: 1728656


 Driftwood Help?

How long ? and what temp should the oven be?



05/08/08  06:06am

 #1729009


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: Kreaturewd   In reference to Message Id: 1728980


 Driftwood Help?

Will it fit in your microwave? Nuke it for 3 minutes - that’ll kill anything nasty lurking within.

I’ve never baked (not wood anyway) so i can’t advise on that I’m afraid. I will advise you to also give it a good slosh over with dilute reptile disinfectant and then give it a GOOD rince, and dry.

Anything you introduce into your lizard tank is a potential hazard .. especially that has been outside - you don’t know what’s crapped on it, or if there are any small insects hidden within, or even if it has been near any chemicals! It’s better to be safe than sorry

TD.x.
05/08/08  07:10am

 #1729047


Geezle
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 1729009


 Driftwood Help?

For baking logs I’ve always been told to bake it at ~250F for around an hour. It won’t get so hot that it scorches the wood, but it should get hot enough with time that it kills anything in there.

You could also soak the wood in a diluted bleach mixture, just make sure it’s well rinsed off and dried out afterwards before putting it in your tank.

Your final option is a pressure washer...this is your best option for larger logs that won’t fit in the oven. If you don’t have a pressure washer just go to the car wash and use theirs...just make sure you have it set to just spray (no soap!) and blast everything off of there and you should be good to go.
05/08/08  08:35am

 #1729089


Seiryu
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 1729047


 Driftwood Help?

Geezle, I actually have some driftwood myself I havnt put in yet. If I use a Power Washer, I will still need to soak it in the diluted bleach solution correct?
05/08/08  09:28am

 #1729141


4Kitara
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1729089


 Driftwood Help?

I was told to bake in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes, 250 for an hour sounds right too. The piece that I had that wouldn’t fit in the oven I was told to spray it down with a 1/10 bleach/water solution, rinse well, spray again, rinse well, let air for a week. I’m not sure if just power washing would be able to kill bacteria that may be in/on the wood, but sprayed with a bleach/water solution and then rinsed with a power washer might be a good way to go and I think that’s what I’m gonna do to Kitara’s branch. Of course, as always, do what you feel the most comfortable doing. You are the best judge of what is safe for your dragon. Good luck!
05/08/08  10:17am

 #1729507


Geezle
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1729089


 Driftwood Help?

Seiryu, I’d use personal discretion if I was you. If it’s a chunk of wood you’ve had around for a while like it sounds, you would probably be okay just blasting it off with the power washer...especially if it’s had a good amount of time to completely dry out and cure. Driftwood is also less likely to have stuff living on/in it in general.

Now if it’s a log/branch that you got like out in the bush somewhere, then you’d have to be a little more cautios since it’s more likely that there’d be stuff living on it...aphids, ants, worms, etc. Also keep in mind that most bugs you find on wood like this are going to be on the outside or in the bark...if you can strip the bark off you’re getting rid of a lot of the nasties as well.
05/08/08  05:18pm

 #1729632


Seiryu
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 1729507


 Driftwood Help?

It’s driftwood I got from a local river last summer. It’s dry sitting in my Garage. I havn’t power washed it yet. I am going to see if the one I have works. But it is dry. However I will probably power wash and then soak it in the bleach solution.

Way too big to fit in an oven or microwave :P
05/08/08  06:36pm

 #1729652


Yexalen
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   Message To: Seiryu   In reference to Message Id: 1729632


 Driftwood Help?

Would it fit on a BBQ? I have had to do that way before because logs are too large for the oven... I bleach solution them and then stick them in the BBQ and get it up to temp... you have to be careful because... not only heat but you also have fire :D
05/08/08  07:07pm

 #1730392


Seiryu
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   Message To: Yexalen   In reference to Message Id: 1729652


 Driftwood Help?

Sadly nope! One i can think of is 2.5feet long and another has branches going two different ways.

I think I just going to bleach, rinse, power wash, rinse and then wait a week or so :P.
05/09/08  03:23pm


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