Cleaning branches

[Ella]

Hey! Just a quick question...how much bleach should I use to soak some large branches in (in the bath)

Fanx

[luke]

woops this is something i havent herd of i just clean em with water and detergent and leave in the sun for a while.
should i have bleached them??

[Ella]

I don't think it matters much how u clean them just as long as u rinse them well after.

Should I remove the bark?

[saikrett]

i did, i think it just looks nice

[Ella]

Ok, I just stripped the branches, my problem now is that there are a few small (borer?) holes. I saw a little creature in one of them. How do I treat this?

[Reptile_1989]

i use a steam cleaner to sterilize the branch and to kill any bugs inside the holes in the branches

[dobermanmick]

Ella i was told to bake my branches in the oven at 250 for abot half an hour
Anyone think this is wrong ?

[Reptile_1989]

the only problem with that, u can only put small branches in the oven, i have branches that are like 6 ft long, i put them in the bath and put water out the kettle, just boiled then scrub with bleach and metho. then leave them out in the sun for 2-3 days till they dry.

[dobermanmick]

also to varnish them as well to seal all the bugs in

[Ella]

Will varnishing make the branches slippery? Are they still able to use them for shedding?

[dobermanmick]

I dont know ella i was just told to do it i havent as of yet tried it

[africancichlidau]

I just wash mine down with Repti-Kleen and let them dry then put 'em back in

[sxereturn]

Originally Posted by Ella

Will varnishing make the branches slippery? Are they still able to use them for shedding?

Snakes will shed anywhere. I've had adult carpet pythons shed in bare plastic tubs.