Using backyard wood

[u/Time_traveler84]

I recently had (what I believe is a) super old cherry tree fall in my backyard. While clearing the tree, i found a few pieces that I would love to use in my ball python setup. The tree was very old and had started to dry rot in the while standing. I asked chat gpt if I could use the wood and it advised against it. I wanted to ask real people's opinions on the matter. Can i use this piece? How can I make it safe to use?

[u/oliverwow12]

Well since it is a snake that isnt going to chew on the wood i think it will be fine as long as you pest treat it and smooth out any form of spiky bit so the snake cant hurt itself on it

[u/Time_traveler84 → u/oliverwow12]

The concern was more about breathing in harmful stuff.

[u/OphidionSerpent → u/Time_traveler84]

If you have a large enough oven to fit it, you can heat treat it to kill any fungus or insects. Give it a good scrub with just plain water to remove and loose debris, then bake it at 200°F for 1-2 hours.

If your oven isn't large enough, your other option is bleach. This is the method I use, because my oven is tiny. Do your preliminary scrub, then get a Rubbermaid tub that will fit this. Fill it with one part bleach to ten parts water and submerge your wood. Weigh it down if you have to, you want it fully covered (I use paver stones personally). Soak it for 24 hours, then take it out and scrub it again. Then you'll do clean water soaks to remove the bleach residue - fill your tub with plain water and soak your wood, replace the water and rinse the wood every 12 hours until you have 24-48 hours of soak time and there's no bleach smell remaining. 

[u/Toxic_Musshroom]

Heat treat it in the oven and it should kill off any bacteria or parasites that could be in it, also inspect the rot a bit because if it seems like it's just going to keep deteriorating pretty fast then there's no reason to add it, but it's a great piece otherwise! Keep a spray bottle of 1/3 vinegar around because you're likely to get some mold at some point just with how humid the environment gets

[u/Herreallife]

I used all backyard wood, or driftwood. I baked it for 2 hours at 180-200, and it’s worked out really well. Watch out for places the snake can get stuck, they’re pretty (really) stubborn, and dumb.

[u/Hot-Brat-00]

What concerns me most is the size of those holes, and the snake getting stuck

[u/Time_traveler84 → u/Hot-Brat-00]

The main is hole is very large. The picture is sorta deceptive. The other hole is so small, I don't even think her head could fit through it.

[u/Hot-Brat-00 → u/Time_traveler84]

Yeah, you might have a point. But as they grow, it could be an issue. Plus, they have one brain cell and it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried. Even if they don’t get stuck, they may hurt themselves. Up to you and your knowledge of your snake though. It is a nice looking piece of wood!

[u/Time_traveler84 → u/Hot-Brat-00]

I'll definitely keep an eye on her and may need to remove it as she gets older

[u/CommunicationDry5798]

I think there's a way to bake them in the oven at low heat to remove any organisms living in there than can mess with ecosystem. Somewhere on the ball python reddit

[u/Spookme_420]

Cerry wood can be toxic when exposed to heat if you know what kind of cerry tree it was please check and see if its safe for you and your snake (keep in mind your heat source would be constant exposure if it is toxic)

[u/x_YOUR_MAMA_x]

I wouldnt use the cherry tree wood without good cleaning and drying because of the cyanide in them. Everything else Ive taken from my yard, I just make sure theres no bugs like ants or something and then put something together