Suitable?

[BleuSaphir]

Would these make suitable branches for a chameleon?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/430168...zoZ_t0rMhn9v3GKNKyZ5PqO2vu-s87axoCqCMQAvD_BwE

 

[Keiths04]

Looks ok to me, anything real/natural is way better than that junk artificial stuff. All i would care about it the diameter of the vines/branches. Nice find!

 

[BleuSaphir]

Looks ok to me, anything real/natural is way better than that junk artificial stuff. All i would care about it the diameter of the vines/branches. Nice find!

I will definitely ask the seller if they have thicker vine wrath.

 

[Keiths04]

I will definitely ask the seller if they have thicker vine wrath.

Yea you dont want 100ft of skinny vines if you are using it to make thicker branches etc... guess it depends on the size of your cham.

 

[BleuSaphir]

Yea you dont want 100ft of skinny vines if you are using it to make thicker branches etc... guess it depends on the size of your cham.

100ft is good enough to have though.

 

[MissSkittles]

The only concern I would have is how well they hold up to being so wet. I know that the grapevine wood that is sold in pet stores will mold easily in a chameleon enclosure. I don’t know about the actual vines. There was a keeper who used them but she hasn’t been around for a few years.

 

[BleuSaphir]

The only concern I would have is how well they hold up to being so wet. I know that the grapevine wood that is sold in pet stores will mold easily in a chameleon enclosure. I don’t know about the actual vines. There was a keeper who used them but she hasn’t been around for a few years.

This has completely crossed my mind. Which is exactly why I was asking on here. Haha

 

[JacksJill]

I have used grape vine in enclosures. It is safe but it doesn't last as long as hard wood branches. The moisture breaks it down. It might last several months to a year depending on thickness.

 

[jamest0o0]

just get some branches off trees, they last so much longer. Or find some wild grape and just use the vines and toss them when they go bad.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

just get some branches off trees, they last so much longer. Or find some wild grape and just use the vines and toss them when they go bad.

That is a great idea. I collect about 90% of my branches from rangeland chaparral area's here in the California Motherlode area. There are a lot of great tree and bush species to collect. There is multiple Oak Tree species, Manzanita, Agriculture branch pile to collect from and etc.. The main concern about collecting your own branches is making certain the are no pesticides or critters catching a ride to your enclosures. Washing and cleaning your enclosures collected branches before putting them in your enclosures is protocol.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[jamest0o0]

Something to expect as well: if you heat treat/sanitize, things will likely go through a mold phase. You’re killing all the beneficial bacteria which outcompetes mold doing this so I personally don’t do it. My only concern is making sure chemicals/pesticides aren’t on something. Obviously I don’t want any dangerous critters hitchhiking in either, but that would be pretty rare(and stupid to miss in most cases).

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Something to expect as well: if you heat treat/sanitize, things will likely go through a mold phase. You’re killing all the beneficial bacteria which outcompetes mold doing this so I personally don’t do it. My only concern is making sure chemicals/pesticides aren’t on something. Obviously I don’t want any dangerous critters hitchhiking in either, but that would be pretty rare(and stupid to miss in most cases).

I collected a lot of branches out on my families ranch. What did the job for me was trimming whatever branches I collected then giving the branches a thorough wash. I never had to use heat to sanitize the branches I collected.

I did have some issues with critters. I had some small spiders and Black Widows show up on branches and for certain glad I gave an extra look when cleaning my branches.

Mold I normally immediately through out branches that show obvious mold. I think unwanted bacteria inside an enclosure is one of the most dangerous things to allow with chameleon and reptile keeping. Mold can lead to mouth rot and other bacterial infections. Collecting your own branches is still worth the effort though.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich