Wood??

[kyrilliondaemon]

I thought pine could be ok sometimes?

[Sammybingo]

It'll have to be alright sometimes, I spent ages measuring up for that

If it isn't then I'll just have to find a way to make it safe. Like.. I don't know. Pop it in a low oven all day! x

[kyrilliondaemon]

We knowingly use pine shelves. Muffin is due to get some soon - probably tomorrow, and Scamp has had them in the past. Plus our syrians live in hutches which are back in stock at P@H and according to the site are made of... "Wood." Never would've guessed lol. I have a sneaky suspicion they're pine too though.
(They also cost £4.12 per kilo for anyone interested... The website told me that too )

[sully]

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Mopani is a tree, so I'm guessing its different to anything named Bamboo

I have no idea why i said that I think i meant as mopani is unusable for hams is that the same for bamboo,Java etc that they sell for reptiles and birds?

[kyrilliondaemon]

Ah ok, that makes more sense lol
Bamboo is fine from what I can find (including bamboo root), and Java wood is ok as far as anyone knows. Basically it all depends on the exact type of wood lol
Our syrians both have some mangrove wood in their cages and I think that was in the reptile section when we got it

[Cavebear]

I was looking it up, I have a piece of mopani in my robos cage, it doesn't seem to be harming him in any way and it doesn't look like it would splinter. I used it after reading that Vectis Hamstery noted they use it for chinese hamsters. My Zef loves climbing all over it; his cage is natural theme so he has some rocks and stones too.

[AmityvilleHams]

While this is a very old thread and this might end up being somehow against rules,I will say that mopani still shouldn't be used for hamsters.It just isn't safe,but it won't splinter and is noted for being extremely durable wood.The safety concerns ultimately come into play when the wood is known for producing a white fungus of sorts which is definitely not safe and makes it something that should never be used.

I believe there is fake mopani made of resin which would be safe,but for those who want actual wood there are so many safe types of wood which are actually less expensive that there is just no reason to get something unsafe.

[Cavebear]

Hey Amityville, I looked this up again earlier and as far as can find the 'fungus' only grows when the wood is submerged and is a natural bacterial process in which the bacteria grows essentially cleaning the microscopic organisms from the water. It seems to be a process that all wood goes through in some respect when submerged in water. Fish can eat the bacteria that grows on it and lots seem to really enjoy it. I have used driftwood with rats also who tend to be very sensitive, with no problems.

I haven't had any problems personally but my robo is not much of a chewer in general and this is the first cage I have used it in. Mostly I'd say it's up to each individual and to do what your mama heart tells you