Branches from outside?

[Treed]

Hi Im new to having chameleons. Working on my first setup and had a question. I collected some branches yesterday. Im not 100% sure what kind of tree it is but Im thinking it was a cotton wood. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't using a wood that would hurt chameleons. I took a branch to see how it would turn out, I removed the bark, washed it and then put in the oven at 375 degrees for 15 mins. Should I remove the bark or leave it on?
Here are a couple of pics. The 1st one is of the sticks I collected and the second one is of the branch with the bark removed, and baked.
The cage measures 34x18x40.
Thanks for any advise!

 

[mabrams]

Any common hardwood (like cottonwood) should be safe. I own several different reptiles - I've kept Iguanas for 40 years. I regularly use branches from outside, and I don't bake them. If the bark isn't loose or peeling, I leave the bark on as well. It has never caused any of my reptiles, chameleons included, any problem.

 

[Treed]

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[broderp]

Any common hardwood (like cottonwood) should be safe. I own several different reptiles - I've kept Iguanas for 40 years. I regularly use branches from outside, and I don't bake them. If the bark isn't loose or peeling, I leave the bark on as well. It has never caused any of my reptiles, chameleons included, any problem.

Same here. As long as the wood isn't blatently rotted or infested, I would use it. I don't bake or strip them down, although I admit that they do look nicer to me without the bark.

 

[Ferrah88]

I also use branches from outside in the forest near our house. I surely wash and scrub off any really loose bark, but do not peel it off (this is to prevent it from getting in anyone's eyes as chams to rub while shedding). I find the sticks preserve better with the bark left on and also find they look nicer