Wood

[jtmoney528]

Does anyone use any different wood than cork bark? I am using some driftwood and my female cant climb up it. She just slips over and over while trying to climb up it. Its kinda miserable to watch her do it actually so I dont want her to be miserable.

[Salzy]

I also use driftwood and cork bark and have had no problems thus far. My geckos seem to really love it. I crisscross a few branches and they are playing on it all night long like little kids on a jungle gym. Have you tried that mariopa (sp?) wood from Petco or other pet stores. Maybe that would offer more of a grip.

Not quite sure why your gecko wouldn't be able to climb it.

[Andrew Gilpin]

I've definitely noticed some types of wood that the geckos can't cling to very well.... I've been using some sycamore tree branches ( the upper ones that look like camoflauge, and are smooth). I've mostly used these for photos, but the little cresteds and chahoua can't climb it really at all..... however many of the Uroplatus species do just fine with it. Must be something to do with how smooth it is I suppose.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u218/LACHERPS/Rhacodactylus/Ciliatus/pinclutchmates.jpg

[slygecko]

I use all sorts of wood and bark from my local woods. I haven't encountered any that can't be climbed - really weird that yours can't. I assume she can climb other surfaces fine?

[jtmoney528]

She can climb up the acrylic sides just fine and that has to be smoother than the wood.

[tmfleo]

Some woods contain an oily substance or it could have absorbed something as well. If you have cleaned the wood well you can try and rough it up it course sand paper

[floydsmom]

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u218/LACHERPS/Rhacodactylus/Ciliatus/pinclutchmates.jpg

soo....you still have these geckos? for sale? hmm?
:p

[droogievesch]

I use random wood I find outside, but I steer clear of it if I see any pine trees or needle bearing trees (I guess the sap is toxic). But Maple and Oak are fair game in my eyes.

Scrub it in hot water (no soap is needed) and then let them soak for 20 minutes. Put them in the oven at a low temp and check them every five or so minutes to see if they've dried out or to make sure they don't set on fire (the wetter they are, the less chance of this happening). Remove them after about 20 minutes or when they are completely dry. This will "steam" out any bugs that may be in there. Terri taught me this at the beginning of the summer, and it has proven to be very helpful. I have also heard of some people doing an additional step and putting the wood in the freezer to freeze anything that survived the heat (most species can't survive extreme hot and extreme cold)

[jtmoney528]

Oh this is drift wood that has been through all of that process. We have a guy at the pet store we buy it through and he goes through the whole process with all the wood we get.

[Darkice]

Never use wood from Sap producing trees its bad for reptiles.
I use Birch. I have several crisscrossing branches and big holes i burrowed out with my hole saw blade and the geckos never have a problem climbing it.
I also keep a couple cork tubes(from Black jungle) wich i place high up and they love them.
The birch trees can be a bit messy but it looks nice in the cage if you are using a natural set up.
Another thing my geckos like is the Frankenstein vine (also from Black Jungle)
wich i had for my emerald tree boas a long time ago.(all gone now) Lots of twists and turns for them to run around on.
When it comes to cleaning the wild caught wood(hehe) i used to soak it in bleach water overnight then soak it in clean water for about a week but now i just use a sprey bottle with 10% bleach and sprey the heck out of it then soak it in fresh water over night. No problems at all. Just make sure you get all the bleach smell out of it before you put it in the cage. Dont need any pets with Dain Brammage.