Ok so I got some branches

[tryme]

I got some wood from outside. Would it be ok if I left it in a bleach bath for about an hour and then let it dry out. Do I actually HAVE to put it in the oven to make sure I kill everything off. I could if I have to but I don't want to anoy my fellow housemates

 

[spearsre]

Sounds like a personal problem man....

... Sorry ! I could not resist myself. If you roomates get annoyed with heating a piece of wood aren't they annoyed that you have a chameleon?

 

[THECHAMMAN]

put it in the oven to get rid of the bleach and to get rid of eVERYTHING

 

[tryme]

Ok will do. Lol nah i ment house mates as in family

 

[Jeremy l]

if it wont fit in the oven leave it outside in the direct sun for a couple of days.

 

[Dave Legacy]

I've been known to run manzanita branches straight through the fireplace flames.

 

[tryme]

My woods becomming moldy is this a problem? I think its from misting and humidity?

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I would clean it again and sterilize it. Mold is never good. Except maybe in blue cheese

 

[Dave Legacy]

My woods becomming moldy is this a problem? I think its from misting and humidity?

I'm sorry to say it, but your wood isn't hard enough.

 

[tryme]

what do you mean by that? lol

 

[dodolah]

I would clean it again and sterilize it. Mold is never good. Except maybe in blue cheese

i don't like mold and blue cheese as well

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

I would clean it again and sterilize it. Mold is never good. Except maybe in blue cheese

blue cheese is the best...

 

[Cainschams]

I'm sorry to say it, but your wood isn't hard enough.

AAAhahahaha. Yeah Dave is right its probably not hard enough which would make it soak in and not have time to dry out before mistings.

 

[tryme]

How can I make sure my wood is strong enough for an enclosure? Also what is the best way to make sure its free of bugs etc?

 

[ciafardo 4]

my inside cages have all fake vines and live plants but my outside ones i put sticks and stuff in them and i just rinse them with the hose i have never had a problem i guess cookin them is a extra safe thing to do but what happens if you dont cookem aside from maybe mites or ticks witch i think a good washing is sufficient has anybody every had a bad expierience from not baking their wood

 

[sandrachameleon]

I use a lot of arbutus, because it basically has No bark, so no nook and crannies for stuff to get stuck in. These I put in the bathtub and scrub under hot water. Other branches that do have rougher texture/bark I poor boiled water over the branches and use my steam clearner on them. I dont bake them. Never had an issue with mold or anything.

In my enclosure, the branches dry out FULLY shortly after even a heavy mist. Is it possible the branches you are using do not dry out - hence the mold?

 

[tryme]

That may be an issue it's the wood inside my crested gecko enclosure which is sometimes damper for longer periods of time.

 

[sandrachameleon]

How about having two sets of branches? Switch them out weekly or however often you clean the gecko enclosure? That would give each alternativng set of branches a week to dry out?

 

[tryme]

It's alot of effort when you own 10 reptiles and 2 giant african land snails. lol not to mention the fish the dog the cats and the birds :|

 

[sandrachameleon]

LOL yeah, and probably space for all the extra branches would be an issue too. Perhaps you need to change the type of branches you use to ones less prone to mold, or have fewer branches (kept closer to the basking/warm area) and use fake vines and such more.
One option for "fake vines" is heavy electrical wire. I like to use wire with a green, black or brown plastic coating, mostly thick stuff but also a few thinner ones to wrap around thicker wires. The copper inside makes it easy to position however you like.