Are lichens safe?

[Aresplimpot]

Hey guys! So I was just wondering, are lichens safe for snakes? Gtps to be specific? The branches I use for my gtps have lichens in them. And after reading about mold in the other threads in this forum, its making me think if lichens can also do any problem to our pets. Almost all the branches here in my place has them. So what do you guys think?

[Corey209]

From what I read they have toxins that can be dangerous to humans and wildlife.

[DragonsEye]

Always take such info with a grain of salt, Corey, depending upon the source of the info. There are animals that eat lichens regularly.

OP: As your GTP will not be grazing on the lichens -- or any other plantlife for that matter -- there should be no issues.

[Gungirl]

From the little research I did I would say they are fine.

[Lankyrob]

I have no idea about the safety but i imagine it looking very good in the enclosure

[BarelyBreathing]

I have them in my enclosures. They are fine.

[Aresplimpot]

Hahaha, thanks guys! and yah, they do look cool

[Aresplimpot]

So a different question, how do you guys prevent mold on the wood? I read from Kat in another post that she seals her wood with polyurethane. After letting the polyurethane dry out, is this already safe for the snake or any other animal? I mean cus' during shedding, my snake likes to scrape herself on the branch, won't the polyurethane poinson her or something?

[Lankyrob]

I have branches in all my vivs, never sealed or treated any of them, only ever had one issue with mold and it was where the endof the branch was constantly buried in damp moss, i cleaned the wood then put it back in with a gap around it and no mold

[Gungirl]

As long as you let the poly cure for a few days it is safe. I use a 100% natural Whey based Poly but any water base poly will do just fine. I tend to wait a week before using anything I seal just better safe than sorry.

[Aresplimpot]

Ohh okay. Then in getting new branches, is it ok also to spray alcohol on the wood then letting it dry out overnight?

[Aresplimpot]

Also, will wrapping the portion of the branch that is contantly touching the damp substrate with cling wrap work in stopping the mold? I mean isnt it the same as "placing a gap" between it and the substrate? Thanks!

[BarelyBreathing]

I use polyurethane on the enclosure itself (if it's made from wood). To control mold on branches I use bio-active substrates.

[jausi]

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

I use polyurethane on the enclosure itself (if it's made from wood). To control mold on branches I use bio-active substrates.

I agree with you, my ATB enclosure it has branches and bio-substracte (seeded with ISOPODS), at the begging when I put the branches due to humidity 90%-92% mold became to grow, but onces the tanks was stablish those little buggs took care of the mold and no mold came back at all

[Aresplimpot]

Ohh okay, thanks guys! For now, I wrapped all my branches first with cling wrap in the parts where the coco peat gets to touch the wood constantly