Question about types of wood to use

[SludgeMunkey]

Oak is the limestone of vivaria building. While the risk of tannin toxicity is there, it really depends on the application and most importantly, the type of oak.

The term "oak" is applied locally to a good many species that are not actually oak. This makes positive identification difficult for many folks. Truth be told, for terrestrial use, if the wood has been boiled for a few hours with the water changed until it stays clear, the risk of using true oak branches and bark is nil.

The example of tanins in vivaria I like to use is mopani wood. This is probably the most commonly sold wood in pet shops. It puts oak to shame when it comes to the level of tannins. It contains other volatile organic compounds on top of the tannins. It is often called "Kerosene Tree" for a reason! This stuff is insect and fungi resistant and burns like fat wood. However, most processed Mopani wood is boiled and processed by the supplier. It should also be boiled by the owner until the water is clear

Pines, true cedars, and most other conifers are definitely a no go in vivaria due to the various acids that outgas over time. These cause severe respiratory issues in pets and humans.

Black cherry is definitely a no-go. There are a number of alkaloids in the wood, bark and sap that "could" pose a risk to captive amphibians, however hard data on the effects is difficult to find. (Nor would I risk killing my pets to find out!). As for other fruit and nut trees, if they are not mentioned in the article, my advice is research, research, research. In the time it takes to type a question in the forums and wait for an answer, you can get thousands of pages of data to find out for yourself much faster.

Grapewood is another one of those tricky ones as what is called grapewood in some places may not actually be grapewood. Grapewood should NEVER be used in aquatic enclosures or any high humidity enclosure. There are dangerous alkaloids in this wood and sap.