Re: what would happen if you used pine for enclosure boundary?

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Posted by Annie Lancaster-TortoiseAid on February 07, 2001 at 02:00:19:

In Reply to: what would happen if you used pine for enclosure boundary? posted by karl on February 05, 2001 at 16:18:15:

Hi Karl,
Redwood is a wonderful and gorgeous alternative, and it will weather better. BUT...it is more expensive than pine is. If you are going to take the time to build a tortoise enclosure...think about redwood...20 years from now it will have withstood the elements a lot better than pine.
:-)

Pine shavings, and associated products should not be used as substrate because of the oils in them which can be toxic to reptiles (or small mammals), I don't understand WHY they sell this in pet shops! If you want to build an enclosure, and use pine, make sure it has weathered a few months before letting your animals inside, just to be on the safe side. Many people have used pine to create boundaries, with no toxicity problems. The web site you saw this recommendation on probably doesn't know the difference between using shavings..etc. as substrate...and building enclosures.

Hope this helps.

: just wondering as i have done this and then see on a site that is advisable not to.
: karl

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: Hi Karl, : Redwood is a wonderful and gorgeous alternative, and it will weather better. BUT...it is more expensive than pine is. If you are going to take the time to build a tortoise enclosure...think about redwood...20 years from now it will have withstood the elements a lot better than pine. : :-) : Pine shavings, and associated products should not be used as substrate because of the oils in them which can be toxic to reptiles (or small mammals), I don't understand WHY they sell this in pet shops! If you want to build an enclosure, and use pine, make sure it has weathered a few months before letting your animals inside, just to be on the safe side. Many people have used pine to create boundaries, with no toxicity problems. The web site you saw this recommendation on probably doesn't know the difference between using shavings..etc. as substrate...and building enclosures. : Hope this helps. : : just wondering as i have done this and then see on a site that is advisable not to. : : karl

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