Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is getting a tad bit annoying!!!

this is the second time that i cure wood for my aquarium, place it in with my BP, and 1 week later, tada!!!! MOULD!!!!!
here are my steps, for curing wood. Am i doing someting wrong???

I find a healthy non rotten wood.
debark
clean thouroughly with a brush.
leave it overnight in a 1:10 bleach solution
clean it again.
place in the oven for 10 min at 400.

I think im taking all the right steps to curing my branch.
I have to keep the humidity at 55% so i guess thats whats creating the mould.

no more branchs in my tank, they dont need it anyway!

I had the same problem one time only it was a piece of grape vine branch I purchased from the pet store that they say had been cured. It molded the first few days but I took it out and scrubbed it well. When I put it back in the mold never returned. Try cleaning it one more time and putting it back in.
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Ryan Sherman
Scottsdale, Arizona
www.ThePaintedPython.com

i have used red maple branches in my chondro cage for years with no molding. i only washed them with soap and water, rinsed and dried. the humidity in that cage is high. try a different type of wood. good luck, Rin

mold will continue if there is sugars in the wood and enough moisture.....clean it and scrub it and dry it again...and the cage may be too wet to use it anyways...

....lessen moisture in cage.
.increase airflow
...try different wood.....

......bleach, maybe listerine or vinegar will kill the mold....

and if all else fails....let it mold somewhere outside till the sugars are gone in it
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the wood may not be completely dried out (ie still a bit 'green') or it just could be in too wet an environment or you have alot of mold spores in the house, that just get into the wood even after you kill what is in the wood.

You can always dry the wood completely, then seal it..with a clear varnish, apply several coats, let throughtly dry and air out in a well ventilated area...outside is best. At least 24 hours or per final cure time as indicated on the varnish bottle you use (or urathane). This will prevent mold, help protect the wood form humidity and prevent waste getting into the wood. As long as it doesn't start to flack off, it shouldn't cause problems for your snakes either.
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PHLdyPayne