Branches of Different Trees

[CJ's Exotics]

Hello! I was wondering, what are some of your favorite tree species to use for branches in a chameleon enclosure? I'm kind of curious on what other people think, and I would like to use some new species as well. Thank you!!!

 

[ChamLB]

Work well and stand up to the constant misting. I have also used maple and other hard woods. Flchams site has a “safe plant” list that includes trees you can use for branches. Just avoid any thing with sticky or possibly toxic sap

 

[kinyonga]

Maple is the best...eh??!

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

I like using pear tree. Easy to cut, nice and sturdy. My cham doesn't really care as long as she has something to climb on

 

[kinyonga]

One thing to keep in mind is that if you have a panther you have to be more picky because they chew the branches!

 

[Crashbandit05]

I use poplar from my yard. I can typically find them in a variety of sizes and thickness. Then I just cut them to size to fit in the dragonstrand.

 

[Tattersb]

One of my favorites is driftwood I collect from my beach. Most of it is pine, but there's no sap or bark left to it. I also have oak branches, but they seem to get moldy pretty fast.

 

[Tattersb]

Maple is the best...eh??!

 

[Fiona's Mom]

I recently moved and the property we bought was overgrown with wild grapevines. I saved different sizes and lengths. I wash them good and even bake them for a while to kill any bacteria.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Thank you everybody for the ideas!!!

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Could I use pine, strip of the bark, and bake it and clean it?

 

[Virgil1972]

Could I use pine, strip of the bark, and bake it and clean it?

Pine has a lot of sap. I don't know if baking it would help get rid of that. You could let it age and dry out but I don't know how long that takes.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Pine has a lot of sap. I don't know if baking it would help get rid of that. You could let it age and dry out but I don't know how long that takes.

Thank you!

 

[Tattersb]

Could I use pine, strip of the bark, and bake it and clean it?

I wouldn't bake it because of the sap. Soaking it would take care of any parasites, but I would be more concerned with the chameleon's exposure to the sap. The driftwood doesn't worry me because it's essentially been soaking in saltwater then baked by the sun. Also, it's sturdy but light-weight like that.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

I read somewhere pine is not good...drift wood might be ok but I think they make turpentine out of pine tar.

 

[Tattersb]

I read somewhere pine is not good...drift wood might be ok but I think they make turpentine out of pine tar.

I think you're right, I think I read something about the sap being toxic to chameleons. The Driftwood doesn't have any left it's basically just a dried husk for them to climb on.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Plus sap would be very uncomfortable for the chameleon, because they might get the sap on their body/get stuck in the sap, whether there is toxicity or not.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

I heard about fumes as well. I know that pine can be toxic to chams, but I've never tried to bake pine, so that is why I asked.

 

[Jevin]

To be honest, I used branches from an ornamental apple tree in Chandler's new cage. The branches I used have been dead for two years already. Although doing some research just now, I may have to remove them as there is conflicting information as to whether or not apple branches are safe. And actually upon more research, I used branches from a crabapple tree, which flows lists as safe, so I'm all good.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

Would any species of oak be okay? I have a lot of oak here.