Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question about cedar - not as a bedding, but as housing material. I asked hubby to build a wooden house for our indoor sulcatta - and he did, but he used cedar scraps. He bought cedar planking and built me a huge cedar blanket box for Christmas last winter(it's gorgeous), but kept some small pieces. Now the house he built is completely open on one side, but I am concerned - I know that the cedar shavings are considered the worst possible bedding for small animals, so I'm not using the cedar house until I find out from you guys - is the cedar going to be poisonous to my little buddy if he's in there, breathing it in? Or would it be all right to use it? I haven't seen this exact question answered anywhere.

The oils in the wood shavings are toxic. These same oils are present in the planking so I am guessing it would not be a good idea. Perhaps if you really wanted to use this box you could line the interior floor and walls completely with something (like perhaps soft pond liner). Then it would probably be fine for him. Otherwise I would not risk it.

Sorry just read that it was like a hiding box house for him. NO -- I wouldn't use it. It will be in his enclosure and cedar is toxic. Better safe than sorry.