Terrarium Wood: Buy In-Store, or Head Outside?

It’s been said before, and I’ll say it again: wood is an essential component of just about any functional terrarium setup. It’s a basking surface, climbing object, hide, background… With so many different types, shapes, and textures, it just works, you know? Many have tried to replace the look and utility of terrarium wood with man-made alternatives, but the fact is that these alternatives often end up too heavy, too expensive, too smooth, too weak, too generic, etc. 

Of course, natural wood is not without its weaknesses. It can be expensive, hard to find the right piece for the job, and can degrade over time, so eventually it will need replacement. Some keepers get around some of these issues by hunting their own pieces and harvesting them from outdoors instead of buying them from the pet store or terrarium wood retailers. These keepers swear that gathering is the only way to go, but is it really? Let’s compare.

Buying Terrarium Wood from the Store

Terrarium wood can usually be found and purchased at pet stores, reptile expos, and various online retailers. Convenience is the major advantage here. Terrarium wood retailers often have a diverse stock of woods for you to choose from, according to what suits the environment of your enclosure(s) and your aesthetic preference. Selection depends on the seller, but with some luck, you’ll find not just a variety of types, but also a range of sizes and shapes. These pieces of branch, bark, and root come ready to go, having already been cleaned, dried, sand-blasted, and sharp points removed. 

Of course, some downsides to consider are that your choices are limited to what happens to be in stock. Many pet stores only stock smaller pieces less than 2’ long, and online retailers are limited by what sizes they can realistically ship. Certain types of wood can also be quite expensive, which can really add up when you need to fill a larger enclosure with lots of climbing material. That said, some of the cost can be mitigated by getting your wood at a reptile expo or buying in bulk online.

Foraging Your Own Terrarium Wood from Outdoors

Exotic pet owners often forage terrarium wood from downed trees, dead shrubs, and trimmed branches either on their own property or public land. The major advantage to foraging is that cost is not a concern, as gathering your own pieces is entirely free. And if you need a particularly large piece, foraging is your best bet.

Although you might not be spending money on foraged wood, expect to spend time — you’ll have to cut/trim, dry, power wash, sandblast, and/or otherwise prep your find(s) yourself. It can also take much longer to find the right piece for your needs, as your options will vary widely by where you live and even the time of year. Contamination from insects, fungus, or chemical pollutants is also much more likely with foraged wood, and many otherwise promising pieces will be at least partly degraded by the time you find them. 

Conclusion

There are benefits and drawbacks on both sides. Personally, I like a hybrid approach: keeping an eye out for good wood when I’m out in nature, but also buying promising pieces whenever I see them available. This way, I have a stash of branches, roots, flats, and tubes ready to go when I want to rearrange an enclosure or set up something entirely new.

If you want to try your hand at foraging your own wood, here are some tips:

•    Do not collect from protected lands or property not belonging to yourself (without permission)
•    Only collect from areas free of chemical contamination
•    Avoid decayed pieces which could break and injure your pet
•    Clean the piece thoroughly — pressure washers are great!
•    Let the piece “bake” in the sun until completely dry
•    File down any sharp points until adequately blunt