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Thread: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

  1. #1
    krittermom
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    Question Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Hi! Brand new Green Tree frog keeper here I was wondering what the best way to treat/prepare sticks from my yard to add to the frog's tank?

    Thanks

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  3. #2
    DartEd
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    First make sure that the wood itself isn't toxic to the frogs. Soak the wood in water over night to ensure it's waterlogged thoroughly. Then you can bake the wood at 225 for a few hours. This will kill anything on the wood. Keep an eye on t to ensure it doesn't dry out and burn or you'll have post apocalyptic wood for the frogs. Lol.

  4. #3

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?


  5. #4
    krittermom
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Thank you. Go figure, all I have is oak trees in my yard. Guess I won't be doing that!

  6. #5

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    i know the article Brian posted says that oak is a no no, but i have used field collected oak in numerous vivariums and have never had any problems. in fact, one piece has been used in several. just make sure you prepare it properly. i boil my pieces of wood for about an hour. if it's too big for a pot, i bake it, like Ed mentioned. and if it is too big for the oven, i bbq it. obviously, as Ed said, you must keep a careful eye on the wood when baking or bbq'ing.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
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  7. #6
    krittermom
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Awesome!! Thanks

  8. #7

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
    i know the article Brian posted says that oak is a no no, but i have used field collected oak in numerous vivariums and have never had any problems.
    I think the list errs on the side of caution as there are just so many factors that have to be considered. The article does have plenty of references and one of them probably has more details on the specific objection to oak. Interestingly, live oak leaves are common choice for leaf litter, so it may be the case that oak falls low on the problem list, but I don't know for sure.

  9. #8

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    i thought that as well Brian. i actually think it's an excellent article. but i always pondered why they say oak is unsafe when it grows in most frog's habitats in nature? always better though, to err on the side of caution.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  10. #9

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Unfortunately I see now that many of the reference links are kaput. Searching for 'Oak' and 'toxic', it's definitely bad for many animals to ingest but not all. Eating it is of course different from sitting on it but if your frog starts to eat your branch, you've hit the jackpot travelling circus wise.

    As to something being in the native habitat- confined spaces can make all the difference. You might be able to stand next to me in an open field, but try being in an elevator with me for a few days.

    How fresh were the pieces of oak you've used? Age can make a difference too, as you'll notice they list freshwater driftwood as being safe.

  11. #10

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    well, my largest mantella, i call her mantella 6, has started gnawing on the wood like a beaver. but that's probably because i have been dusting her fruit flies with steroids i got from barrybonds.com. anabolics, tbeir just not for people anymore. but what's most impressive is her sword swallowing act.

    i do see the point inconfinement. chemicals could leech which would most likely become run off and diluted in a forest.

    now, how am i supposed to know how old the tree was? i didn't have time to count the rings while the park rangers were chasing me down. apparently, it's not good to hack down trees in protected forests. who knew?

    seriously though, i only collect wood that is positively dead and has been for quite a long time. since i live next to large river, i avoid collecting driftwood from the shoreline since there is no way of knowing if it just fell during recent storms or has been pushed down river after sitting upriver cor years.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  12. #11
    J Teezy
    Guest

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    don't use red cedar either. Bugs wont touch it as it has something that keeps them away, so I'd imagine it wouldn't be good to use in vivarium either

  13. #12
    DartEd
    Guest

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Barry bonds. HAHAHAHAH. You two are too much

  14. #13

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    josh brings up good point. evergreens (cedar, pine spruce), are definitely a no no. the natural oils in the wood will leech out and are toxic to a large number of animals. even though eastern red cedar isn't an evergreen (it's actually a juniper), it's still a no no.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  15. #14

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    Quote Originally Posted by DartEd View Post
    Barry bonds. HAHAHAHAH. You two are too much
    yeah, i would say that brian and i are probably the two most twisted folks on here....lol it's why we get along so well....lol
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
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    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  16. #15
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    ...So pieces of driftwood from the beach are a definite no-no?

    I was searching for how I ought best to heat them, but now I'm unsure it should even be attempted.

  17. #16

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    not necessarily. i only avoid driftwood in my area because the river washes a lot of stuff downstream. so i never know what is aged and what isn't. i also prefer collecting from dead fall in the woods because there is so much more variety. i have collected from the banks for my fish tanks though and never had a problem. as long as you wash it thoroughly and then heat it properly, you should have no problems.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
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    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
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    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
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  18. #17

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    phil, i don't know much about the geography of cali, but you guys have some of the most awesome wood in the world there. bow far are you from a manzanita forest? that's where i would be collecting wood from.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
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    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
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  19. #18
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    So I just realized that the cautionary sentence I was referring to was from that article Brian threw down.

    Excerpt: "If you decide to use your own found driftwood, avoid ocean driftwood. You will be unable to get rid of all the salt! Driftwood from lakes, rivers and streams in agricultural areas should also be avoided; they are often saturated with pesticides and herbicides."

    So my ocean-sourced driftwood is what I am questioning bc of the salt.

    Here is a pic; I have not researched what type of wood it is, so let me know if you recognize it! By the way... the beer can is there for size reference (I couldn't find anything else I wanted to throw in for that purpose).
    Name:  Driftwood Pic.jpg
Views: 324
Size:  187.7 KB

    Thinking that if I do try to use these pieces, I will need to sterilize them on the grill!

    As for manzanita forests... looks like Monterey has a bunch, and I'm not too far from there!

    Phil E

  20. #19

    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    i can't really tell what kind of wood that is. it kind of looks a bit like oak, but it doesn't appear to be as dense as oak. i know, you can't tell density from a pic, but i'm going by how tight the grain pattern looks.

    brian is 100% correct, driftwood from the ocean is nearly impossible to remove the salt content from.

    go get some manzy boy! you will not regret it. oh, and take some pics from monterey!!
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  21. #20
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    Default Re: Best way to prepare gathered wood?

    mission accepted. see when I can work it in...

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