Alternative branch treatment

[wildlifewarrior]

OK this might be better in the habitat section, but i posted it here as this is the section i use and its the reason i posted due to the amount of snake keepers asking for help and advice.
Its also mainly good for people that cant use there oven/freezer and so on or have a branch too big

Theres other methods but personally this is what i use and have done for over 10 years...i also like this person as it allows you to keep the bark on without risking any problems to your snake.

You must already have a safe type of wood and also must be free of woodworm....this method will kill the woodworm but your branch will be weak already.

This method also cuts out the soaking in the bath,freezing and cooking for too larger branches


Firstly you need a safe speices of tree to use


Next you need to cut it down to size,sand edges and give it a quick scrub
(i couldnt photo graph this due to lacking enough arms)

Next once thats done....boil the branch, a few kettles repeated 2 times is fine.


Once this has been done, you then want to use a disinfectant solution (bleach or an alternative can be used provided its in a safe ratio,but i prefer this) you can spray or pour it over the branches and then give them a scrub.


give it an hour and then use an antiseptic solution use as iodine ,again in a safe solution such as 1:2 with warm water. Scrub this into the branch and allow it to dry.

then give another hour before pouring boiling water over one last time


The thing is when a branch is living, it has living creatures in it. when the branch dies these bugs start to leave but the problem is that branches are either then put into the enclosure or left lying on the grown....dead branches then encourage other types of insects and the probelm happens again.
To stop this you you need to dry them out....this WILL kill all insects and fugus,mould under the bark and means you wont have to strip them off.

you can dry them out in 2 ways....keep them somewhere dry and ABOVE grownd like a greenhouse...or have them in your house.


2 weeks is enough to dry them out.
And to prove it i took some branches i had done all of the previous and dryed them out...and some i had done all the previous, but i didnt dry them out, i just added them in 2 seperate empty vivariums setup for a corn.

the one that was dryed out...i scraped the bark off one part to show you no growth or insects at all


as you can see closer that its completey clean underneath and was no reason to remove the bark other than to prove this

all you have to do is break the cycle of growth


Now the branch that wasnt dryed out looks great on the outside,but when you strip the branch and look, you notice the insects still living in there and also very damp still
(sorry if you cant see the insects,my camera couldnt focus in enough)



I still left this branch a futher 3 weeks....and look what begins to grow on it




yet the one dryed out is still brillant and nothing has grown on or in it....

Just the methods i use and never once had a problem as the pictures show

Hope this helps someone

[STReptiles]

usefull information....sticky me thinks????
Ive always wondered when pople say roast it in the oven how to get a 4ft branch in there

[Pleco07]

Excellent guide

Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

you can dry them out in 2 ways....keep them somewhere dry and ABOVE grownd like a greenhouse...or have them in your house.

Do you think chucking them up in my loft to dry out would be OK?

[wildlifewarrior]

Thanks

Originally Posted by Pleco07

Excellent guide



Do you think chucking them up in my loft to dry out would be OK?

Yes provided you havent got something like asbestos up there then sure...you would need to dust them off....its mainly just keeping them above ground and dry as it break the cycle of bacteria growth when the branch is dying

[darkmoon]

votes for an alternativewarrior section.

[Ratticus <3]

thanks for this makes finding branches easier ;p

[Jo81]

Excellent

Maybe I'm being lazy but what are considered safe species of tree and what isn't? I know a couple that aren't but as I'm never 100% I stear clear of collecting my own branches.

[StrictlyMorelia]

WLW - what on earth is this? Is it a BBQ pit where you have hog / bison roasts?

If it is it is the biggest BBQ pit I have seen on these fair Isles!

Good post BTW.

[wildlifewarrior]

thank you

fruit trees are safe....pine and cedar must be advoided but if you look on google it will give you a good selection

Originally Posted by StrictlyMorelia

image

WLW - what on earth is this? Is it a BBQ pit where you have hog / bison roasts?

If it is it is the biggest BBQ pit I have seen on these fair Isles!

Good post BTW.

lol nah its one of my 7 green houses....i have 3 allotoments...and i do most of my bonzai trees in this one....but have a area for drying logs out....i have a nice big BBQ which i use for fundraisers and such.

cheers

[wildlifewarrior]

Originally Posted by darkmoon

votes for an alternativewarrior section.

i say that because some people can be abit moody if you say things in the wrong way...so this way everyones happy...no bodies method is better, just alternative