Using branches from outside

[sagemoon2004]

Does anyone know if you have to do anything special to any branches brought in from outside. I wonder about parasites, fungus and mold, etc.. Are any trees toxic or not safe? I am putting finishing touches on homemade cage, 48 inches tall, and need a few more tall items to complete it. Are eyelet type screws okay to use to secure vines? I am using the closed kind for safety, I don't want any feet to get stuck or something weird. Any suggestions are great. I do have live vines and a small umbrella tree.

 

[laurie]

If i bring in branches from outside I bake them in the oven for a hour at 350. They make the whole house reek!!! I also know of people who use a mild dish soap wash, rinse and dry them in the sun.

 

[carol5208]

mine would not fit in the oven. Way too long! I just scrubbed mine down and let them dry in the sun. I think the oven is a good idea too if you can fit them. Make sure there are no bug infestations inside the branches of any kind. I don't think that chams eat branches to my knowledge so I don't think you have to worry about them being toxic. Just make sure there are not pesticides, so the washing/baking is the important part. You can also use thumbtack and push pins to secure the branches.

 

[Goggles]

I use hardwood (apple ) and just strip the bark and let dry outside in the sun. I've never baked any branches.

 

[RandalG]

The guy at the reptile shop told me to soak them in water with a litlle bleach then let them dry good before putting them in. Anyone heard of that.

 

[FredChameleon]

you can also freeze them for a few days

 

[JasonSinger]

Really? Freezing them works? I remember hearing the bleach thing a while back so I avoided outside branches all together ... but if I can bake / freeeze them I am totally going to get some clippings ASAP

 

[ChamOh]

Why all the fanfare? I know we are trying to keep our chams safe/healthy, but why bake, bleach, etc., branches? if it makes you more comfortable, go for it, it certainly won't hurt. I just look for clean branches that are dry, and put them in. If the bark is loose or doesn't look good, I whittle the bark off and let it dry completely in the sun.

 

[Cainschams]

Why all the fanfare? I know we are trying to keep our chams safe/healthy, but why bake, bleach, etc., branches? if it makes you more comfortable, go for it, it certainly won't hurt. I just look for clean branches that are dry, and put them in. If the bark is loose or doesn't look good, I whittle the bark off and let it dry completely in the sun.

Exactly!!! I see no reason to fuss with them unless the bark is coming off in big chunks. If it is, toss the stick and find a better one

 

[TheReptisentative]

Exactly!!! I see no reason to fuss with them unless the bark is coming off in big chunks. If it is, toss the stick and find a better one

well i am glad to hear that because i couldnt fit any long ones either . so let me get it str8 ,i dont have to do anything to my branches ?

 

[lisa h]

If i bring in branches from outside I bake them in the oven for a hour at 350. They make the whole house reek!!! I also know of people who use a mild dish soap wash, rinse and dry them in the sun.

I do the same as Laurie, but the branches I use smell wonderful when baking! I use some sort of Willow. I'm worried about fungus, so that's what I do. I also boil my leaf litter for my pygmy chams. Now that stinks! LOL

 

[Silkyslim]

Sand down any nubs that are on the branches you choose. My cham used to bite at them once in a while and it always worried me about impaction so I ended up taking each branch out and sanding down the nubs.