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WOW! I found this video while looking for ways to sterilize wood for my tarantula! The video is super informative and after scrolling down the comments, I noticed that you interacted with all of them, which was mind-blowing to me! Keep up the good work!
Glad you found the video, Thank you for watching! If you keep spiders, then you might enjoy the podcast I recorded with Tom Moran from Tom’s big spiders: ruclips.net/video/D1OFdQk8Qnk/видео.html
What I used to do is after bleaching items, soak the items in fresh water with fish tank water treatment. That naturally neutralizes the chlorine in bleach. I even tested it by dropping the treatment directly into bleach water and testing the water before and after. It was AMAZING!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Speaking of neutralizing bleach- Hydrogen Peroxide is a safe way to chemically neutralize bleach. Water can flush the bleach out, but you are not guaranteed that all the bleach is gone, because water doesn't neutralize the bleach, it just dilutes it. I would also advise bleaching your wood in a big tub outside if you can, because bleach fumes are not good to breathe. If you have a bathroom fan, turn it on, and open windows with a fan blowing out if you must use bleach indoors. Wear gloves and if possible a Multi Gas/Vapor respirator when working with bleach for an extended period of time.
A method I've used on large pieces of wood and large pieces of rock slabs that won't fit in a oven or bathtub is to scrub them thoroughly and let them dry. Then place them in a vehicle in direct sunlight all day during the summer months. Temperatures in a vehicle with the windows up get incredibly hot in the summer months. The rock slabs I've done this way can't be handled with bare hands until they cool. I've never had a problem with my reptiles doing it this way.
Smart! I’ve done something similar, left bags of aspen outside in the winter (-20-30 C) for a few days. I once had an out break of wood mites from aspen... they’re harmless but I didn’t appreciate it haha
Thank you for this video. I lost a smaller tree in my backyard and have a ton of branches. I knew I could use them for my rainbow boa but never knew how to prep it.
That looks so much easier than people who would boil it for 6hs or the oven for 4hs+ and having the sticks soaked in water beforehand. I personally collected the sticks after a rainy day to skip the soaking issue and since they were really tiny and only for my isopods, I put them in the microwave for 5mins with some water. I'm not sure if it fully desinfected everything, but I feel safer that way than not doing anything at all!
Handsome, funny fella that loves his reptiles. You're good in my book sir! Thank you for the helpful video. 😊 I'm going to go branch hunting asap, in the snow I might add! 😜 My Ball Python, Hyde, is going to love this! ❤
Haha thank you! You’ll have to check out the podcast as well, I think you would enjoy it! Good luck finding branches 👍🏼. If you have any other questions feel free to either send me a DM on Instagram or an email!
Yep, it will be way easier!Thank you for watching the video! If you’re into reptiles, I recommend checking out the podcast as well. You can find it on RUclips or any podcasting app
I think the clean water soak may be unnecessary if you just give it good time to ventilate and dry. bleach is a very unstable chemical in open atmosphere and breaks down into water and sodium chloride (table salt). By the time you can get the wood thoroughly dry it shouldn't have any bleach left in it when using it dilluted like this - only a trace amount of salt. When it's dry and you cant detect the smell of the bleach anymore it should be pretty safe.
super helpful, im following this process right now!! thank you! i have one question about the drying time - everywhere i look online says the wood needs to dry for a week or even longer, but i really dont want to wait that long. is 5 days really enough?
Glad you found it helpful! Yeah, that’s probably fine, especially if you can let it sit in the warm sun. Just remember too much moisture can cause mold, etc. so it is in your best interest to make sure it is relatively dry before putting it into an enclosure.
Even if the wood combusted (which it won’t until 450) and began to burn, it’s in the oven. Something that’s designed to go up to broiling temperatures ranging between 500-550 F. 350 degrees Fahrenheit, has been the standard as long as I can remember. And hotter is better for killing pathogens and parasites, and burrowing insects.
I know this is an older video, and no one will probably see this, but I want to share a couple of tips: 1. Avoid cracks and crevices in the wood. Your reptiles' nail or toe could get caught in it, which can lead to amputation of the digit. 2. If you are still on the fence and worried that your wood might catch fire, you can soak it beforehand.
I bought a rex brand chunk of wood from Petco about a year ago. Just now it got an infection of powderpost beetles. No idea how since I haven’t introduced anything from outside into or around the enclosure. But I’ve been trying everywhere to find a half decent guide to sanitization. Thanks for this!
Yeah who knows, eggs could come in on the substrate… Or maybe they were just buried in the wood and waiting for the right conditions. Glad the video helped!
Thank you so much I have a new baby savanna monitor. N today is day 1of building an enclosure. HE GROWS SO FAST.. LOL Can't wait for my little dragon to be fully grown!! Thanks again... Sam
Awesome! Congrats on the new monitor, savannah monitors are great! I highly recommend checking out the podcast, there’s plenty of episodes at this point and many of them will help you design your enclosure. I cover lots of tips on lighting, heating, enrichment, and much much more!
I heard you can soak the wood before putting it in the oven so that your a little safer with the wood burning and it boils the bacteria to death in there too. Just a little plus 😁
AWESOME VIDEO!!! I got some second hand wood decorations from a friend is it ok to use this method with them??? My biggest concern is a bark reptile hide that still has some poop on it, will the oven method kill that? Or should I try something a little harsher?? THANKS
Thank you! :) Yep I would say this either method would work fine for that! I would try and clean the hide with water as well as possible (they can be tricky to clean) before putting it in the oven.
Can someone tell me please if this is something you got to do to the wood if you want to use it for decor or to make something that will hold food? I want to make some decor but need help on what to do with the sticks I get from outside.
I want to make a cake stand with wood and round base on top. I saw someone using the blow torch but I dont know what is best so that's why I asked. I'll follow the video instructions if my wood trunks aren't too big. Thanks.
I clean the bark off of my sticks with a pocket knife, it leaves the surface very smooth and with a little effort can cut off all those little nubs as well
I'm lucky enough to have a massive oak behind my house that loses branches from storms. Nature does the hard work for me and all I need to do is remove rotted wood if there is any. I have a cool branch that was struck by lightning and is streaked with charred markings like tiger stripes. 👌 Now I know what to do with my unsightly pile of hoarded sticks! Thank you 😁
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast, and again! Your tutorial is my favorite to share . Others aren't quite there or I haven't found them. I need to explore your channel!
I was going to get it wet and scrub, then soak, then scrub and soak again then let it soak for 1-2 days. Put it in the oven after soaking for around 2 hours then put it in the freezer for 3-4 days then let it defrost and put it in the terrarium. But I was just gonna clean the cork bark. Not branches outside.
For big branches, do you think it's risky to use bleach to sterilize them if they're going into a bioactive enclosure where CUC will actually feed on the wood? I've got a big piece of driftwood going into my boas new enclosure, but I'm worried about spending hundreds of dollars on isopods (since bioactive is the goal) and then having them die bc there are still trace amounts of bleach in the wood that couldn't be rinsed out. Love your content!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast thanks for the reply! The driftwood been sitting outside in someone's yard for a long time and it has some hollow areas where it would be hard to scrub properly, so I wouldn't really trust it like that. You think it's too risky to use bleach on any wood going in a bioactive enclosure then?
No I don’t think it’s too risky. I was more thinking that maybe it’s too large to soak. As long as you flush it well afterwards and let it completely air out your fine to use it in a bioactive set up
Hey Ik this video is old but I see you still replying to comments, I’m in the middle of doing the bleaching method for about 7 branches I’ve found, half of which I’m using for my bearded dragon and the other half for whites tree frogs I’m getting, I’m worried that even after the 2 day soak of bath water it may be too bleachy for amphibians? Or does the bleach flush out and evaporate I’m just worried about putting them in with frogs because their skin is very absorbent so if you could reassure me or something that would be great
Thank you so much! I was wondering about the part after you've put the wood in bleach and I couldn't really find what to do. Yes I did rinse of the bleach in water but definitly *probaly* not good nor long enough. I did however find something about a water/vinegar solution which would help with getting the bleach out. Do you think that helps as well? Also, if you have a bio-active set-up, is it really necessary to clean them with bleach? Also, great vid ♥
Thanks for watching 😊 Hmm... that’s interesting about the water/vinegar solution, I haven’t heard of that! I’m guessing since vinegar is very acidic and bleach is quite basic, the vinegar solution might help “pull” the bleach out of the wood quicker. Sounds like it could work! Plus vinegar is non-toxic so it probably wouldn’t hurt! Yes, even for a bio-active enclosure I would still sanitize the wood. Outdoor wood could carry pathogens that could be deadly to your animals/ or clean up crew in the set up. You never know what sort of things have buried themselves deep into the wood so better safe than sorry!
Awesome video! Especially for a total newbie, thank you! One question, can you use some wood sealer on it to prevent it from breaking down or will that be toxic?
Thanks for watching! You could use a water based polycrylic if you wanted to seal it. But I prefer to let the wood breakdown, it's more natural! Every few years you may have to change the wood, but that's perfectly okay!
Is apple tree wood ok to use? What other trees can I use? Like both your method for doing this just not got ceder tress around her just apple pear and cherry and I've found wood looks good to use just not sure what it is could use some help on if it's safe thanks
Wouldn't it be better to allow the wood to dry completely between soaking it in bleach and flushing the bleach out of the wood? If the wood is already saturated with water (and bleach), it won't take in any more water, right? But if it dries out first, then the clean water will be able to reach everywhere the bleach did and be able flush it out of the wood more effectively.
You could do that but it will add a lot of time to the process. The bleach will move from an area of high concentration (the wood) to low concentration (the fresh bath water) via diffusion.
I cut some birch branches about 2"-3" thick, about 4' long, and they've been in a basement in plastic bags (no progressive bug signs, wood is drying out slightly) = what I'm looking to do is get the birch bark off . > Do I soak it (no tub available) -could I leave it out in a couple of spring rains (or would that rot the wood out?) or would i have to use a paint stripper wheel on a drill to flay the bark off & then painstakingly use a sander to smooth it out? ___ Any suggestions: appreciated.
I'm not sure what the easiest way to remove bark would be... If you've had them for a while and collected them from an area without pesticides, etc. you probably don't have to worry about sterilizing them. I'm just not sure what to do regarding the bark issue!
I was thinking about submerging some wood underwater, idk, overnight, drowning any pests. Think that'll work? I was especially interested in doing this with moss, since you can't really bake or bleach moss
I’m sure that would have some sort of positive effect. The other thing you could do is spray it with diluted hydrogen peroxide, that should kill the pests but won’t have any negative affect on the moss
i have a driftwood piece i made for my old lizard who has sadly passed away. do you think i could reuse it for another reptile? i soaked it in bleach water with her rocks for about 2 hours. could i bake it or will the bleach be dangerous to bake? should i soak in fresh water now?
Sorry to hear about your lizard. You can definitely re-use it. Soaking it in bleach was smart, I would now let it soak in fresh water... I don't think baking it will draw the bleach out of the wood tissue
Thx very helpful!!! Would disinfectant and soaking it in a pool and then flushing it also work.i thought it might work just because it would completely submerged the larger types of sticks.can you also use paper bark as decor in you enclosure.btw this video is amazing and keep it up and you deserve all the subscribers you get in the near future.bye.... ☺☺☺☺☺☺😋
You are welcome! hmm... I believe using a pool would work! Although you may want to soak it for longer than 24 hours considering the chlorine content wouldn't be quite as high. It would definitely be helpful when trying to disinfect large branches. Using paper bark for decor is an awesome idea, I will have to try that in the next enclosure I set up! Thank you very much for the support! I am glad you enjoyed the video :)
I found the perfect piece but it was in a tree line next to a bean field. The field hasn’t been sprayed in probably 10 months and it has freshly snapped off from the tree. I’m guessing within a couple weeks. It was laying on top of other branches right on the creek bank and not on the ground so it was probably 10ft from the bean field. I’ve prepped it and last step is bleaching and now I’m questioning whether or not to continue for my Burmese enclosure I’m building.. any advice is appreciated!
thank you so much for this! I have a ball python and will get a boa soon... so now I know I can save 100s of dollars on wood I can just get outside 🤗 with a week to prepare in advance of course for the disinfecting process. thanks again!! 🐍❤️
Would you still go 24 hr soak even if it’s wood from a reptile store? I will be reusing the wood for a different reptile and I want to use the bleach/water method
I baked a birch branch after loads of people saying its fine & safe, but now has strong wood smell is this going to mess with the snake, its been 2 weeks since I backed it still hums
evergreens are pretty obvious, but how can you tell what species a tree is once fallen & no leaves? or are any deciduous ok for reptiles, as long as you're not dealing with evidence of sap?
Yep, exactly. Pretty much most deciduous trees are okay provided there isn’t tons of sap. Usually you can find local guides online to help identify the native trees in your area as well.
Which method is preferred? I am basically a child lmao (16) and I want to create a more enriching environment for my bearded dragon. Honestly the oven option seems safer because I dont think my family would trust me with a bath full of bleach or something even related to bleach. Does the oven method do as well as the bleach?
Good on ya for wanting to add some more enrichment! 👌🏼 both methods work just as well. I actually prefer the oven method because it leaves the wood looking more natural.
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast I just did the oven method on two branches and boy he was so excited I've never seen him run so fast to go look at them and lick them lol it worked great and now my house smells like a toasty fireplace!!
Hey I got another question for you. I found a few big logs out side and sanitized them in a bleach/water solution. When I was done I rubbed all them down cause they did feel a little “slimey” at the time like you said. I’ve had them in just water now for 24 hours . Been changing water and rotating them every few hours. One still feels slimey and I’ve scrubbed it with a small bristle brush now - is the slime I’m feeling still , from bleach or is it fine I just need to keep soaking it in water?
Hmm it’s hard to say... I’d give it another 24 hours of soaking just to be safe. And then let it dry for a week, if you have a fan you can use that to increase dry time. As long as you can’t smell bleach after it’s dry you should be good 👍🏼
Is it possible to freeze the wood to kill off bacteria? I'm super nervous about putting wood in the oven, especially because several units in my apartment have already caught on fires since I've been living here >_
Hmm... I think that could work. I probably wouldn’t be as good as the oven but I think it would be better than nothing! If you do go the freezer route, I would leave it in there for several days!
What about just boiling them in water for half hour? I’ve heard that on fish tank forums I figure if that’s considered to safe to submerged in the fish tank then I figure same method will be adequate for a terrarium
Haha yeah it's possible but probably unlikely because they will only be outside for a short period of time. If you can get them in the sun for a few hours on a hot day, that will seriously shorten the time it takes them to dry. Of course you can definitely dry them inside as well :)
If you are looking for the *RED PILL* of the *Reptile Industry* then *START HERE:* ruclips.net/video/F1QXoSZa5Aw/видео.html
*PREPARE FOR A PERSPECTIVE SHIFT*
I Finally know what snow is
bella 3664366 TA DA🤗
All we have is snow where i live 😭
I don’t know why but I sense sarcasm
Really?
Cold white death
Thank you! It was painful to see $25 sticks at the pet store and your information was just what I needed!
You're Welcome :)
Lol damn right, I was at petsmart and twigs there were more than what I make in an hour.
Haha I know.... it's crazy!
Animals at Home Do something on venomous doesn't matter about the species
That was the most informative video I've found on how to disinfect wood without being super long. So glad you made this.
Thanks for watching, glad it helped!
For big pieces you can also just cut them down to fit in the oven, use the oven method, and then reassemble them with nontoxic wood glue
Hadn’t thought of that! Good idea 👍🏼
what if i cant cut it
Fvckitdxo3 then you should do the technique in this video!
I don’t have an oven😐
@@helenanimocks well, that's a bigger problem than sanitizing wood
Love how he said he’ll cut that out but he didn’t
😁
WOW! I found this video while looking for ways to sterilize wood for my tarantula! The video is super informative and after scrolling down the comments, I noticed that you interacted with all of them, which was mind-blowing to me! Keep up the good work!
Glad you found the video, Thank you for watching! If you keep spiders, then you might enjoy the podcast I recorded with Tom Moran from Tom’s big spiders: ruclips.net/video/D1OFdQk8Qnk/видео.html
I am here for the same reason!
What I used to do is after bleaching items, soak the items in fresh water with fish tank water treatment. That naturally neutralizes the chlorine in bleach. I even tested it by dropping the treatment directly into bleach water and testing the water before and after. It was AMAZING!
That is super smart! Thank you very much for sharing
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Speaking of neutralizing bleach- Hydrogen Peroxide is a safe way to chemically neutralize bleach. Water can flush the bleach out, but you are not guaranteed that all the bleach is gone, because water doesn't neutralize the bleach, it just dilutes it. I would also advise bleaching your wood in a big tub outside if you can, because bleach fumes are not good to breathe. If you have a bathroom fan, turn it on, and open windows with a fan blowing out if you must use bleach indoors. Wear gloves and if possible a Multi Gas/Vapor respirator when working with bleach for an extended period of time.
this was really helpful, and now i know what snnow looks like. YAY
😂
A method I've used on large pieces of wood and large pieces of rock slabs that won't fit in a oven or bathtub is to scrub them thoroughly and let them dry. Then place them in a vehicle in direct sunlight all day during the summer months. Temperatures in a vehicle with the windows up get incredibly hot in the summer months. The rock slabs I've done this way can't be handled with bare hands until they cool. I've never had a problem with my reptiles doing it this way.
Hmm... interesting! That definitely sounds like it would work to me. It’s crazy how hot cars can get in the summer
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast ... I even will put my Aspen bedding in the vehicle for a day or two before I bring it in the house.
Smart! I’ve done something similar, left bags of aspen outside in the winter (-20-30 C) for a few days. I once had an out break of wood mites from aspen... they’re harmless but I didn’t appreciate it haha
My favourite bit was when he turned the tap on in the bath and then the water went in a bucket
😂
Thank you for this video. I lost a smaller tree in my backyard and have a ton of branches. I knew I could use them for my rainbow boa but never knew how to prep it.
Right on!
Best video out there. Everyone talks to much you got straight to the point. Thanks!!
Thanks for watching! 👌🏼
This was so helpful! Thank you!!
You are welcome :) Thanks for watching!
That looks so much easier than people who would boil it for 6hs or the oven for 4hs+ and having the sticks soaked in water beforehand. I personally collected the sticks after a rainy day to skip the soaking issue and since they were really tiny and only for my isopods, I put them in the microwave for 5mins with some water. I'm not sure if it fully desinfected everything, but I feel safer that way than not doing anything at all!
Yep I think the microwave method works fine as well! Thank you for watching the video
Handsome, funny fella that loves his reptiles. You're good in my book sir! Thank you for the helpful video. 😊 I'm going to go branch hunting asap, in the snow I might add! 😜 My Ball Python, Hyde, is going to love this! ❤
Haha thank you! You’ll have to check out the podcast as well, I think you would enjoy it! Good luck finding branches 👍🏼. If you have any other questions feel free to either send me a DM on Instagram or an email!
Did he... Did he just make a bad joke, say ''Ill cut that out'' and proceed to cut the branch out? This man is a legend!
😂 yes I did...
Awesome, I was going to put my driftwood in bleach but the oven method sounds much easier!! thank you for sharing
Yep, it will be way easier!Thank you for watching the video! If you’re into reptiles, I recommend checking out the podcast as well. You can find it on RUclips or any podcasting app
You are in fact my favourite person ever right now. Keep doing good work!
Haha thank you! 😀
I think the clean water soak may be unnecessary if you just give it good time to ventilate and dry. bleach is a very unstable chemical in open atmosphere and breaks down into water and sodium chloride (table salt). By the time you can get the wood thoroughly dry it shouldn't have any bleach left in it when using it dilluted like this - only a trace amount of salt. When it's dry and you cant detect the smell of the bleach anymore it should be pretty safe.
Thankyou, gonna go with the oven method saved me alot of money
No problem, thanks for watching!
Awesome video!! Super clear and concise, really appreciate it!!
Thank you for watching! Glad you found it helpful
You didnt bathe for 3 days bro. That's dedication.
Could I use chlorohexidine solution as a substitute for bleach it’s a much more animal safe cleaning products most vets use.
Yep, that would work fine!
super helpful, im following this process right now!! thank you! i have one question about the drying time - everywhere i look online says the wood needs to dry for a week or even longer, but i really dont want to wait that long. is 5 days really enough?
Glad you found it helpful! Yeah, that’s probably fine, especially if you can let it sit in the warm sun. Just remember too much moisture can cause mold, etc. so it is in your best interest to make sure it is relatively dry before putting it into an enclosure.
Even if the wood combusted (which it won’t until 450) and began to burn, it’s in the oven. Something that’s designed to go up to broiling temperatures ranging between 500-550 F. 350 degrees Fahrenheit, has been the standard as long as I can remember. And hotter is better for killing pathogens and parasites, and burrowing insects.
Super helpful, thanks. This is exactly what I was looking for
No problem! Thanks for watching!
As always super helpful. Thanks man
No problem! Thanks for watching!
I know this is an older video, and no one will probably see this, but I want to share a couple of tips:
1. Avoid cracks and crevices in the wood. Your reptiles' nail or toe could get caught in it, which can lead to amputation of the digit.
2. If you are still on the fence and worried that your wood might catch fire, you can soak it beforehand.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing
I bought a rex brand chunk of wood from Petco about a year ago. Just now it got an infection of powderpost beetles. No idea how since I haven’t introduced anything from outside into or around the enclosure. But I’ve been trying everywhere to find a half decent guide to sanitization. Thanks for this!
Yeah who knows, eggs could come in on the substrate… Or maybe they were just buried in the wood and waiting for the right conditions. Glad the video helped!
Thank you so much I have a new baby savanna monitor. N today is day 1of building an enclosure. HE GROWS SO FAST.. LOL Can't wait for my little dragon to be fully grown!! Thanks again... Sam
Awesome! Congrats on the new monitor, savannah monitors are great! I highly recommend checking out the podcast, there’s plenty of episodes at this point and many of them will help you design your enclosure. I cover lots of tips on lighting, heating, enrichment, and much much more!
I’d love to see a picture of the enclosure when it’s done too! 😊
Nice and great video
Thank you!
You deserve more subs
Thanks for that!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast you are very welcome
Perfect! Thanks for this, I've got a couple of sticks in the oven for my whites tree frog enclosure!
Awesome, thank you for watching! Good luck setting up your enclosure
Very helpful. Will do.
Glad you found it helpful! 😀
I heard you can soak the wood before putting it in the oven so that your a little safer with the wood burning and it boils the bacteria to death in there too.
Just a little plus 😁
Oh, that is a great idea! Thank you for sharing that 👍🏼
Very well made video, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
Excellent! :)
Your video has been so helpful. Currently have the wood in the bleach bath. Thanks for sharing this idea!
Right on! Thanks for watching the video, I’m glad to help 😀
Omg thanks. Got a few logs and didn't know how to sanitize. Now i know!!
You are welcome! 😊
AWESOME VIDEO!!! I got some second hand wood decorations from a friend is it ok to use this method with them??? My biggest concern is a bark reptile hide that still has some poop on it, will the oven method kill that? Or should I try something a little harsher?? THANKS
Thank you! :) Yep I would say this either method would work fine for that! I would try and clean the hide with water as well as possible (they can be tricky to clean) before putting it in the oven.
I may have missed it but, what type of wood are you using or recommend?
Pretty much how any hard wood tree are safe to use! I like maple or popular, just stay away from softwoods like pine, spruce, cedar, etc!
Excellent Video man. If anyone has a Dremel or multi-tool works wonders for sanding faster.
Thanks Daniel! And great tip!
Can someone tell me please if this is something you got to do to the wood if you want to use it for decor or to make something that will hold food? I want to make some decor but need help on what to do with the sticks I get from outside.
I’m not sure what you mean by “hold food”? If you want to use sticks from outside for decor, just follow the steps that I take in the video
I want to make a cake stand with wood and round base on top. I saw someone using the blow torch but I dont know what is best so that's why I asked. I'll follow the video instructions if my wood trunks aren't too big. Thanks.
I clean the bark off of my sticks with a pocket knife, it leaves the surface very smooth and with a little effort can cut off all those little nubs as well
Good idea!
I love this channel, I just recently subscribed, and I plan on recommending it to other people 😊
Also could you do this same process with bark??
Awesome, thank you! Yes, definitely although I would use the oven method for bark
Thanks!
I've done a similar video to this , awesome footage
Oh awesome! I'll check yours out too!
I've just subscribed to your channel
Am I the only one noticing the absolute clean guitar licks in the backround 😭
😂😂 RUclips free audio library ftw
Can you put a sealant over the wood to help preserve them further? Is there a benefit for doing that or is it not recommended?
Yep, as long as you let it fully cure (can take a couple weeks) I don't see why you couldn't seal the wood.
I’ve heard a few times that you can also put the sticks in sauna.
I'm lucky enough to have a massive oak behind my house that loses branches from storms. Nature does the hard work for me and all I need to do is remove rotted wood if there is any. I have a cool branch that was struck by lightning and is streaked with charred markings like tiger stripes. 👌
Now I know what to do with my unsightly pile of hoarded sticks! Thank you 😁
Oh awesome! No problem at all 😁
Yeesss! I’m upgrading 4 snakes to their adult PVC tanks and I wasn’t interested in paying an arm and a leg for stuff!
Awesome! Have fun with the upgrades!
Watched again, and shared.
Awesome, thank you very much!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast, did again. It's a popular question in groups and I agree with your video the most of any I have seen!
@@amandastakeonit7402 thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast, and again! Your tutorial is my favorite to share . Others aren't quite there or I haven't found them. I need to explore your channel!
I was going to get it wet and scrub, then soak, then scrub and soak again then let it soak for 1-2 days. Put it in the oven after soaking for around 2 hours then put it in the freezer for 3-4 days then let it defrost and put it in the terrarium. But I was just gonna clean the cork bark. Not branches outside.
For big branches, do you think it's risky to use bleach to sterilize them if they're going into a bioactive enclosure where CUC will actually feed on the wood?
I've got a big piece of driftwood going into my boas new enclosure, but I'm worried about spending hundreds of dollars on isopods (since bioactive is the goal) and then having them die bc there are still trace amounts of bleach in the wood that couldn't be rinsed out.
Love your content!
I would just do a good of scrubbing, the outside of the Driftwood with soap and water to make sure there’s no debris/dirt. No need to sterilize it.
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast thanks for the reply!
The driftwood been sitting outside in someone's yard for a long time and it has some hollow areas where it would be hard to scrub properly, so I wouldn't really trust it like that.
You think it's too risky to use bleach on any wood going in a bioactive enclosure then?
No I don’t think it’s too risky. I was more thinking that maybe it’s too large to soak. As long as you flush it well afterwards and let it completely air out your fine to use it in a bioactive set up
Do you use the outdoor wood for dart frog tanks? If so, how long and have you used it not baked without any issues. Thanks
I don’t own dart frogs, but I wouldn’t anticipate there being any reason you can’t use outdoor wood. I have always baked the wood I use.
Hi great video question though when you do the bath tub method is it cold or hot water you use
Thanks for watching! I just use cold water
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast does it matter?
@@dwyanewade8742 Nope, doesn’t matter
Thank You
Thank you for watching!
Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Hey Ik this video is old but I see you still replying to comments, I’m in the middle of doing the bleaching method for about 7 branches I’ve found, half of which I’m using for my bearded dragon and the other half for whites tree frogs I’m getting, I’m worried that even after the 2 day soak of bath water it may be too bleachy for amphibians? Or does the bleach flush out and evaporate I’m just worried about putting them in with frogs because their skin is very absorbent so if you could reassure me or something that would be great
It should be totally fine. Just make sure the wood completely dries out before you use it
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast okay thank you so much
Can the bleach solution be left in the tub and reused for another branch? What about another one? So three total.
Absolutely
Well done.
Thanks, Mike!
thank you
You are welcome!
Thank you so much! I was wondering about the part after you've put the wood in bleach and I couldn't really find what to do. Yes I did rinse of the bleach in water but definitly *probaly* not good nor long enough. I did however find something about a water/vinegar solution which would help with getting the bleach out. Do you think that helps as well? Also, if you have a bio-active set-up, is it really necessary to clean them with bleach?
Also, great vid ♥
Thanks for watching 😊 Hmm... that’s interesting about the water/vinegar solution, I haven’t heard of that! I’m guessing since vinegar is very acidic and bleach is quite basic, the vinegar solution might help “pull” the bleach out of the wood quicker. Sounds like it could work! Plus vinegar is non-toxic so it probably wouldn’t hurt!
Yes, even for a bio-active enclosure I would still sanitize the wood. Outdoor wood could carry pathogens that could be deadly to your animals/ or clean up crew in the set up. You never know what sort of things have buried themselves deep into the wood so better safe than sorry!
Just for future people reading these comments. Do Not Mix Bleach and Vinegar! This can create Chlorine Gas which can be dangerous in high volumes.
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND VINEGAR EVEN IF ITS DILUTED WTF
Awesome video! Especially for a total newbie, thank you! One question, can you use some wood sealer on it to prevent it from breaking down or will that be toxic?
Thanks for watching! You could use a water based polycrylic if you wanted to seal it. But I prefer to let the wood breakdown, it's more natural! Every few years you may have to change the wood, but that's perfectly okay!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast thank you for replying 👍
Thank you! I need to sterilize my lizards wood,and this was so clear and concise. Thanks!!
Is apple tree wood ok to use? What other trees can I use? Like both your method for doing this just not got ceder tress around her just apple pear and cherry and I've found wood looks good to use just not sure what it is could use some help on if it's safe thanks
Yep any hardwood trees will work fine. Apple trees and cherry trees are great
thx so much!
No problem!
Wouldn't it be better to allow the wood to dry completely between soaking it in bleach and flushing the bleach out of the wood? If the wood is already saturated with water (and bleach), it won't take in any more water, right? But if it dries out first, then the clean water will be able to reach everywhere the bleach did and be able flush it out of the wood more effectively.
You could do that but it will add a lot of time to the process. The bleach will move from an area of high concentration (the wood) to low concentration (the fresh bath water) via diffusion.
In other words, it’s not that the fresh water replaces the bleach in the wood, instead it’s that the bleach is drawn out of the wood
We would really like to see a video on how to deal with rocks
I would just scrub with soap and water, you could also use a disinfectant like chlorohexadine if you wanted too. Do not put rocks in the oven though!
I cut some birch branches about 2"-3" thick, about 4' long, and they've been in a basement in plastic bags (no progressive bug signs, wood is drying out slightly)
= what I'm looking to do is get the birch bark off .
> Do I soak it (no tub available) -could I leave it out in a couple of spring rains (or would that rot the wood out?)
or would i have to use a paint stripper wheel on a drill to flay the bark off & then painstakingly use a sander to smooth it out?
___
Any suggestions: appreciated.
I'm not sure what the easiest way to remove bark would be... If you've had them for a while and collected them from an area without pesticides, etc. you probably don't have to worry about sterilizing them. I'm just not sure what to do regarding the bark issue!
I was thinking about submerging some wood underwater, idk, overnight, drowning any pests. Think that'll work? I was especially interested in doing this with moss, since you can't really bake or bleach moss
Completely submerging it, with weights to hold it under the surface
I’m sure that would have some sort of positive effect. The other thing you could do is spray it with diluted hydrogen peroxide, that should kill the pests but won’t have any negative affect on the moss
Awesome video! Just curious to know, if I use the oven method for a small piece of wood, would it be safe to place in water for my turtle tank?
Thanks for watching! Yep, that would be perfectly fine 👌🏼
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Thank you!
i have a driftwood piece i made for my old lizard who has sadly passed away. do you think i could reuse it for another reptile? i soaked it in bleach water with her rocks for about 2 hours. could i bake it or will the bleach be dangerous to bake? should i soak in fresh water now?
Sorry to hear about your lizard. You can definitely re-use it. Soaking it in bleach was smart, I would now let it soak in fresh water... I don't think baking it will draw the bleach out of the wood tissue
Animals at Home thank you for this informative video and quick reply!
How long do you bake for? How many 10 min increments?
90-120 mins total
Here for cat tree needs but I like the vibe.
Haha thank you!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast added bonus. Saw snow for the first time (;
Thx very helpful!!! Would disinfectant and soaking it in a pool and then flushing it also work.i thought it might work just because it would completely submerged the larger types of sticks.can you also use paper bark as decor in you enclosure.btw this video is amazing and keep it up and you deserve all the subscribers you get in the near future.bye.... ☺☺☺☺☺☺😋
You are welcome! hmm... I believe using a pool would work! Although you may want to soak it for longer than 24 hours considering the chlorine content wouldn't be quite as high. It would definitely be helpful when trying to disinfect large branches. Using paper bark for decor is an awesome idea, I will have to try that in the next enclosure I set up! Thank you very much for the support! I am glad you enjoyed the video :)
Do you have to keep the wood in the oven for 2 hours, or can I keep it there for an hour?
1 hour is probably fine for smaller pieces
I found the perfect piece but it was in a tree line next to a bean field. The field hasn’t been sprayed in probably 10 months and it has freshly snapped off from the tree. I’m guessing within a couple weeks. It was laying on top of other branches right on the creek bank and not on the ground so it was probably 10ft from the bean field. I’ve prepped it and last step is bleaching and now I’m questioning whether or not to continue for my Burmese enclosure I’m building.. any advice is appreciated!
I’m sure it’s totally safe to use, especially if it freshly snapped off the tree! Just make sure you scrub and clean the exterior as much as possible
Can I just bake them without bleaching, for plant terrarium???
You Bet!
How do you clean a piece of wood that is 4.5-5 ft tall that doesn’t fit in tub....do you use out side garbage can ( of course cleaned first)
Yep, that would work!
I felt like I was fishing in club penguin 😂
🤣
thank you so much for this! I have a ball python and will get a boa soon... so now I know I can save 100s of dollars on wood I can just get outside 🤗 with a week to prepare in advance of course for the disinfecting process. thanks again!! 🐍❤️
No problem! Happy to help :)
Amazing thank you!
No problem, thanks for watching!
Would you still go 24 hr soak even if it’s wood from a reptile store? I will be reusing the wood for a different reptile and I want to use the bleach/water method
Honestly if you purchased the wood from a reptile store, I would just clean it off with hot soapy water and then rinse it with fresh water!
Animals at Home ah okay, I will do that then. Thanks!
I baked a birch branch after loads of people saying its fine & safe, but now has strong wood smell is this going to mess with the snake, its been 2 weeks since I backed it still hums
Nothing wrong with the wood smell! Your snake won’t mind at all
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast thank you couldn't find anything out about strong scented woods and reptiles
If you didnt want your moist substrate to deteriorate the wood, couldnt you do a clear poly sealer on it?
Yep! I think that would work well 👍🏼
evergreens are pretty obvious, but how can you tell what species a tree is once fallen & no leaves?
or are any deciduous ok for reptiles, as long as you're not dealing with evidence of sap?
Yep, exactly. Pretty much most deciduous trees are okay provided there isn’t tons of sap. Usually you can find local guides online to help identify the native trees in your area as well.
Which method is preferred? I am basically a child lmao (16) and I want to create a more enriching environment for my bearded dragon. Honestly the oven option seems safer because I dont think my family would trust me with a bath full of bleach or something even related to bleach. Does the oven method do as well as the bleach?
Good on ya for wanting to add some more enrichment! 👌🏼 both methods work just as well. I actually prefer the oven method because it leaves the wood looking more natural.
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast I just did the oven method on two branches and boy he was so excited I've never seen him run so fast to go look at them and lick them lol it worked great and now my house smells like a toasty fireplace!!
Haha awesome!!
If I find drift wood on the beach can I just put in the oven? Or do I still have to do the bleach method as well?
Just the oven!
Can I do the same for rocks or is their a different process I need to take?
I would just scrub rocks down with hot soapy water. There’s no real need to soak them, just need to remove whatever’s on their surface!
I don't know my trees though. Could you tell me what tree I have?
If it has leaves you are good to go. Just stay away from anything with needles
will this kill like ticks and little buggers like that?
Yep!
After bleaching my reptile wood can I put it in the oven after to dry it??
Yep
Were dud u get that piece if wood brotha I need one
Outside!
Hey I got another question for you. I found a few big logs out side and sanitized them in a bleach/water solution. When I was done I rubbed all them down cause they did feel a little “slimey” at the time like you said. I’ve had them in just water now for 24 hours . Been changing water and rotating them every few hours. One still feels slimey and I’ve scrubbed it with a small bristle brush now - is the slime I’m feeling still , from bleach or is it fine I just need to keep soaking it in water?
Hmm it’s hard to say... I’d give it another 24 hours of soaking just to be safe. And then let it dry for a week, if you have a fan you can use that to increase dry time. As long as you can’t smell bleach after it’s dry you should be good 👍🏼
Animals at Home cool thanks!
Is it possible to freeze the wood to kill off bacteria? I'm super nervous about putting wood in the oven, especially because several units in my apartment have already caught on fires since I've been living here >_
Hmm... I think that could work. I probably wouldn’t be as good as the oven but I think it would be better than nothing! If you do go the freezer route, I would leave it in there for several days!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Thanks for responding so quickly! I may have to try this out.
My stick is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter can I just soak it for 4 hours?
Yep that’s fine
Do you have to sand down the wood or can you leave it as it is?
Never mind, I didn’t think that it would be safer so yeah Ima do that
Yeah, a light sand is always a good idea to remove the sharp edges. But you don’t have to go crazy sanding, a little bit of roughness is totally fine
What about just boiling them in water for half hour? I’ve heard that on fish tank forums I figure if that’s considered to safe to submerged in the fish tank then I figure same method will be adequate for a terrarium
Yep, as long as you have a large enough pot. That will work! Just make sure it dries out completely before you add it to the terrarium
Animals at Home sweet thank you!
Do you need to seal it if putting in a humid tank environment? Like for a jungle python?
Nope I wouldn’t! It takes a very long time for the wood to break down (unless it’s in a bio active enclosure)
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Thanks heaps. I went log hunting today, ready to start the process. Cheers
Excellent!
Should it dry inside or out? I’m scared to do it outside feel like bugs could just get right back in it😅
Haha yeah it's possible but probably unlikely because they will only be outside for a short period of time. If you can get them in the sun for a few hours on a hot day, that will seriously shorten the time it takes them to dry. Of course you can definitely dry them inside as well :)
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast ok thank you sm!
@@AnimalsatHomePodcast would maybe on top of a car be best?
Feel like most bugs would have a harder time getting up there
@@Emma-wi8ri good idea!