How to Get a Large Tree Branch for Your Reptile

Providing your reptile with a piece of wood that it can crawl on and sleep under may seem as simple as grabbing a tree branch off the ground and plopping it in the cage, but that's not a good idea because that can expose your pet to bacteria and diseases. You can use a regular tree branch, but you will need to take a few steps to ensure that it is sterilized and OK for your reptile to use without causing problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Soap
  • Rubber or latex gloves
  • Protective goggles
  • Bleach
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a tree branch in your local park or woods that fits your cage and looks relatively healthy (i.e., is not showing signs of rot). Get two branches if possible, so you can swap them out when you need to clean one of them.

    • 2

      Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F.

    • 3

      Wash the branch thoroughly using soap and running water to remove grime, bugs and other debris.

    • 4

      Heat the branch in the oven for about 30 minutes to kill any remaining bacteria. Let the branch cool, and then place it in your reptile's cage.

    • 5

      Give the branch a general cleaning along with the reptile's cage daily, and do a thorough cleaning each week to disinfect the branch and the rest of the cage. Use rubber or latex gloves, protective goggles and a solution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts water. If your branch will not dry easily, replace it with a second disinfected branch until the first one has dried thoroughly.