Reptile Branches A Potential Hazard Due to Rusting

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 7:03 am

Hi everyone -I was cleaning out the crabitat, and I was shocked to see rust stains on the glass!The culprit - one of those bendy reptile branches!It is made of wire covered in rubbery faux-tree bark, and seems quite sturdy and safe....However, apparently when kept in 80% humidity for 2-3 months, it will begin to rust the wire and this will seep through the rubber.The branch was thoroughly stained with the tell-tale reddish brown color of rust, and where it had been in contact with the glass it left stains.I'm glad that I rarely if ever saw my crabs climbing on this branch, so hopefully they weren't exposed very much to the rust and metal residues, maybe I caught it in time.I think it is a great lizard product, but apparently NOT for wet habitats. If you are using one of these, please check it out right away and use caution.Has anyone ever had a similar problem with the Fluker's bendy vines?? I'm using those too, and I've cut them in half before - they don't seem to use wires inside.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:40 am

It seems that the Fluker's bendy vines are okay, because they don't have any wires inside, although I will report that my crabs have picked at the rubber coating in a couple of places, but just superficially. If it seems like they are eating it, I'd take them out.The repti-branch already has little pinholes all over the surface of the rubber, so these just acted as vents for the rust to leak out....through the bottom, at least, so my hermies crawling on top wouldn't have had to drag themselves through it.I think it is important when buying these types of decorations, as well as artifiical plants, to get AQUARIUM SAFE products only. There are a wide variety of artificial branches and centerpieces for tanks that would make great crab climbers.I just bought a new peice at PetDumb that looks like the twisted roots of a tree stump. After I got it home - I realized it was hollow and the top was open. That made it far too dangerous to use as a crab decoration, because many of my crabs are small enough to fit inside, they would be unable to climb the smooth walls, and would have fallen to get wedged inside the hollow roots. It's at least a foot tall, it would have been like a black hole....so I dug around in my tank supplies until I found a rock that could plug up the top. I pounded the rock into the opening so that it was wedged in place, and stuffed some terrarium moss and lichen into the crack. It looks very real, the rock actually blends in with the color of the roots. Now my crabs have a great new jungle gym which also provides alot of cover. 4 crabs moved in immediately. So, in the end, they got a big upgrade.

Snapfish · Post by **Snapfish** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:57 am

I have a flexibranch by Aquarium Systems (the people who make I/O) I've never used it, but I hate to throw it away, because it cost too much. Indecision is a terrible thing. Anyway, it says it's not toxic to reptiles, but I've always been afraid they would try to eat it, so I don't use it. Thanks for the update. Yet another reason to proceed with caution.