What species of bark is safe?

[Arachnomaniac19]

I'm considering just using pine for my arboreal hides. Is it ok? I've never heard anything about toxic species of bark. I've used birch for my Damon diadema for about a year and she molted just fine with it. I'd also like to collect a list of non-toxic tree species for future use.

Thanks, Bryce.

 

[Jack III]

Cedar and pine are contraindicated for use as bedding for small mamillian pets. There are better choices of hardwood. I have used cottonwood bark collected as driftwood in the occasional true spider set up without issue, but never with my T's. These pieces also sat for a very long time in an oven like environment before put in use. Anything collected (as several in the hobby have noted) can cause enclosure issues. Mold, parasites and bacteria to name a few. I recently read a post by Coldblood pertaining to this topic.

 

[Poec54]

Cork is the best.

 

[REvan342]

Cork is usually the best, although any dry, cured piece of deciduous wood will work just fine.

 

[The Snark]

Chuckle. Gets me to thinking. No to Eucalyptus, camphor, redwood, tanoak, some ficus, pittosporum, bay laurel... errrrmmm, and a few others. They're fine unless they aren't. Depending on the critters you keep of course..

 

[Arachnomaniac19]

Are poplars fine?

 

[The Snark]

Are poplars fine?

You just gave a superb example of why there are no hard and fast rules of what is safe. Did you mean Poplar as in the Liriodendron tulipifera - Magnoliacaea genus or Populus of the Salicacaea family which includes Cottonwoods?

Generally speaking REvan342 is correct. Deciduous trees are usually safe. But it needs to be kept in mind many plants have ways and methods of deterring undesirable insects in order for them to offer a safer environment for the beneficial ones that may aid in pollination or pest control. A little research and knowing your animal is always in order.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I'm considering just using pine for my arboreal hides. Is it ok? I've never heard anything about toxic species of bark. I've used birch for my Damon diadema for about a year and she molted just fine with it. I'd also like to collect a list of non-toxic tree species for future use.

Thanks, Bryce.

I use any outdoor bark.
Which barks are dangerous for Ts if any are?
??
Is PINE toxic? I never considered it ,anyways.

 

[The Snark]

Pine is toxic to many animals. The sap is volatile as well as being an adhesive. Note very few plants can grow under pine trees as it, the needles, also poison the soil.

 

[roman]

I use bark from the beech tree (I don't know if thats the correct english word for the tree) but you can find them almost in every forest here in NL.

 

[Steve123]

Anyone ever tried the fallen bark shavings (peels) of sycamore in tiny enclosures for arboreal slings? I've used that and dried red or white eastern cedar without problem. Broken up pieces of dead, hollowed out red or white oak is something I use for intermediate-sized enclosures. What rots quickly in a big dead hardwood tree already has, leaving rot-resistant bark. Wouldn't be surprised if beech (^) or birch bark also do well, although no I haven't tried them yet. Cork for me is a little bulky and cumbersome to use in smaller enclosures. I like dried cedar and cork for larger enclosures.