bridgetnshane
Member
I'm seeing all these branches that im wanting to buy and get for my chams for there cage but there so expensive!! Is there anyway of making my own branches out of random trees from outside? if so how??
branches
- Thread starter bridgetnshane
- Start date
bridgetnshane
Member
Does it have to be a specific trees or can it be any?
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Any tree is fine. I don't know of any branches being poisonous. I never bake my branches. I think it is overkill, but that is me. I get mine from my big tree in the front yard. I don't spray with pesticides or anything so I know they are safe. You have to watch for bug infestation. sap and things of that nature. Some people scrub with soapy water and let dry.
jpowell86
Chameleon Enthusiast
I agree with Carol. I think you have to use common sense and make sure the branches you are taking are freshly cut and free from bird poop and all of that good stuff. I also have never baked the branches I use. I prefer to leave them as natural as possible. The only thing I would add in choosing your branches....try to stay away from heavily sapped trees. You don't want to cut pine for instance and then have that sticky mess everywhere. Plus, your chameleon can get their feet in it and that would be a nightmare to remove. I like to stick to oak. I have Live Oak, Shumard Oak and Post Oak in my yard that I regularly take branches from for my chameleons.
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Chameleons are known to bite on and even break off small peaces of wood, chew it and swallow it. I only use branches from trees that are not poisonous! Why take the chance!?
KLowery88
Avid Member
I got most of mine when my parents cut back the crepe myrtle tree in their yard. I like them quite a bit because they have texture, but not the thick bark of other trees that can easily be picked off. I actually took quite a few more branches than I needed at the time and hauled them back to my place to store for any future cages. I didn't bother washing or baking.
mvad
Established Member
Why would you strip the bark of the limbs and make it more slippery when wet? There is no benifint to this. Using only healthy fresh cut branches is what you want.
just this morning my guy took a 30" fall onto some rocks because he moved too quickly over wet wood
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
I use branches cut from my liveoak trees. I leave the bark on, complete with lichen and anything else growing on it. Once in awhile I wash it off with a hose but really, not often. They go into baby cages, too. I don't bake them, which I think is a bit of overkill. I avoid any branches taken from areas where birds congregate or any branches that are sitting on the ground because I have free range chickens.
I would never peel off the bark. They need the bark to grip the branch. For that reason--good grip--I would never use dowels or bamboo.
There are some tree branches that can cause a problem because of their toxicity which would be in the sap under the bark or in the leaves. Just do a google search on toxicity of the tree you are thinking of using. I would never use cedar or pine because of the sap.
Once in awhile I get some sort of wood boring insect in the branch (as evidenced by the little sawdust pile under the branch) and I just replace it.
I would never peel off the bark. They need the bark to grip the branch. For that reason--good grip--I would never use dowels or bamboo.
There are some tree branches that can cause a problem because of their toxicity which would be in the sap under the bark or in the leaves. Just do a google search on toxicity of the tree you are thinking of using. I would never use cedar or pine because of the sap.
Once in awhile I get some sort of wood boring insect in the branch (as evidenced by the little sawdust pile under the branch) and I just replace it.
Virgil1972
Avid Member
If you want you can make your own branches out of pvc and a few other materials. There is a lot of instructions you can find on line on how to make your own branches.
