When constructing hardscape to your reptile or amphibian’s enclosure, there are numerous kinds of branches to select from. Of them, Grapevine and Ghost Wooden are a few of our favourite selections. Nonetheless, these branches have totally different properties that make them higher for some enclosures over others. Let’s examine and distinction Grapevine and Ghost Wooden to find out which is the proper department to your pet’s enclosure!
You may as well watch our video on the subject right here!
The Branches:
To begin, let’s describe the branches themselves!
Grapevine that’s offered as décor for the reptile and amphibian hobbies is a knobby light-colored wooden harvested from vineyards as a by-product from grape manufacturing. It’s sandblasted to take away its bark, and is available in wild knobby branchesand tunnels.
Ghostwood branches are the thicker items of wooden harvested from Manzanita bushes. It’s also sandblasted to take away its bark, and is thought for its colourful twisting branches. You may as well buy smaller Manzanita branches, although they lack the coloured bands should not usually recognized as Ghostwood.
Comparability Standards:
To match these woods, we can be going over their:
- Mildew Resistance
- Sustainability
- Suitability for Completely different Species
- Price
Mildew Resistance:
Mildew resistance is a crucial consideration for all reptile and amphibian enclosures, however particularly so for high-humidity environments. Each of those wooden varieties, in addition to all décor ought to be commonly inspected and maintained to forestall mould buildup. In a bioactivesetup, a clean-up crew with Springtailsis a good addition to assist maintain the mould at bay!
Grapevine is much less dense and extra porous than Ghostwood, making it extra susceptilbe to mould and fungal development. Moreover, with all of it is twists, knobs, and divots, these branches might be troublesome to clearif mould buildup begins.
Ghostwood then again, is dense and fewer porous making it extra proof against mould and decay. We are going to typically use it in our excessive humidity enclosures because of its low upkeep necessities and the colours displayed when misted.
A hypo yellow Lilly White Crested Gecko on damp ghostwood.
Sustainability:
Each of those woods rank about the identical with regard to sustainability.
Grapevine, particularly is a by-product of grape manufacturing. When used for reptile enclosures, these vines that might in any other case go to waste, discover a new objective as a reptile’s favourite department!
Ghostwood’s harvesting practices will also be thought of sustainable. Ghostwood is usually harvested from lifeless or dying bushes in scrubland desert areas; primarily from areas the place it will in any other case decompose. When finished responsibly, it may be sustainable because it does not contain chopping down dwell bushes and might help clear up pure areas.
Each selection’s sustainability relies upon considerably on the harvesting practices employed, so not each sources of both wooden sort is assured to be sustainable.
Suitability for Completely different Species:
Each kinds of wooden are appropriate for a variety of reptile species.
Grapevine is extremely versatile with its irregular form and ranging diameters. It gives glorious climbing alternatives for arboreal reptiles like chameleons, geckos, and a few snakes. It does free some factors on this class because of its susceptibility to mould, nonetheless.
Ghostwood can also be extremely versatile, with its putting look and clean texture lending itself nicely to many alternative enclosures. Branchier items make nice climbing buildings for arboreal reptiles, and bigger items could make nice basking spots for terrestrial reptiles. It additionally works nice in each dry and moist environments with a desert-like look when dry and wealthy colours when moist.
Price:
Price is, after all going to be a serious figuring out issue for a lot of keepers.
Grapevine is usually the extra inexpensive possibility of the 2. Being a byproduct of the grape trade helps maintain provide up, driving price down. Bigger, extra advanced items of grapevine will price extra, however much less so than comparable items of extra premium woods.
Talking of premium, Ghostwood falls neatly into that class. It is distinctive look, sturdiness, and the method concerned in harvesting and getting ready all of it contribute to its premium price ticket. However, if you’re keen to spend money on it, its putting look, and decrease want for upkeep make it nicely value it!
Our Suggestions:
So, which department is best for you?
If you’re on the lookout for an inexpensive possibility for a reptile with out excessive humidity necessities, then Grapevine is a good alternative for you!
If you’re on the lookout for a extra visually putting department that appears nice in any surroundings, that holds as much as excessive humidity, and price shouldn’t be a difficulty, than Ghostwood is a improbable possibility.
There’s additionally no motive a mixture of the 2 cannot be used! If the enclosure is suited to it, utilizing each Grapevine and Ghostwood can present some nice distinction, giving your reptile extra selection, and your eye extra visible curiosity!
