General Care Discussion :: is it safe to use building wood in turtle tank?

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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:28 pm   is it safe to use building wood in turtle tank?

i just want to know is it okay to build a basking dock using normal, untreated building wood from home depot?
- one RES named Luvia-Solana
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:39 pm   

no, since they usually treat that wood with chemicals.
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

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Tenodera
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:41 pm   

i already said they are UNTREATED.
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:12 pm   

oh. lol sorry I'm tired.

I'm not sure. You mean they actually say they are untreated on their packaging. Still, you don't know what they wash it with.

and it can make the water all brown.
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

http://flickr.com/photos/the_naturalist
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Tenodera
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:45 pm   

It's not a good idea. Bacteria and algae can infest any porous surfaces....
eventually the wood will get all nasty and break down.
"Make it turtle proof, and they'll build a better turtle."
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grey goose
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:55 pm   

here is a picture of the type of wood and how i set it up.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127 ... G_1038.jpg
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:59 pm   

..the image didn't show up.
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steve
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:02 pm   

how about now?
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127 ... G_1038.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127 ... G_1032.jpg
- one RES named Luvia-Solana
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kc
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:24 pm   

Yup. Normal wood will leach oils and will rot in there. Definitely get some corkbark, it looks nicer, should last a few years and is totally safe for your turtles.
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:31 pm   

Well it might be ok for now, but once it gets bad, you'll have to change it.

I love how it looks! :D haha I use the exact same plastic plant!
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

http://flickr.com/photos/the_naturalist
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:31 pm   

and our tanks look similar, too...
Image
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

http://flickr.com/photos/the_naturalist
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Tenodera
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:35 pm   

haha yea, that plastic plant is the one only that has a turtle pic on it and it doesn't have sharp things that might harm my turtle. i think our tank is exactly the same. is yours from hagen? man, even our turtles are the same size. mine is a girl, so if yours is a dude then we should do an arranged mating, lol
- one RES named Luvia-Solana
- one false map named Chestnut
kc
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:43 pm   

lol yep! and mine is from hagen! It's a 30 gallon.

Haha I think your turtle is a bit bigger than my male. :D I'll ask Roca and see if he's interested!
2 Chinese Goldenthread turtles ~ Miso&Mafan
1 Chinese Box turtle ~ Chief Lemon
2 Redfoot Tortoises ~ Sheegua & Muugua
1 Toy Poodle ~ Pudding
3 firebellied newts ~ Cassandra, Mr.Poo, and Wiggles.

http://flickr.com/photos/the_naturalist
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:25 pm   

it doesn't look like a 30 gallon. it looks huge. how big is your turtle?
incase your Roca is interested, here is a pic of Luvia that i took last year. she didn't change much from that pic.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127 ... G_0067.jpg
- one RES named Luvia-Solana
- one false map named Chestnut
kc
 
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:38 pm   

and here is a pic i took today.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127 ... G_1036.jpg
- one RES named Luvia-Solana
- one false map named Chestnut
kc
 
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