View Full Version : African Mopagni wood stump from poison tree frog exibit
bassgenie
10-06-2011, 08:58 AM
A few months bach I dd a trade with someone for all my salt water corals. And other salt water scaping stuff for 80 pounds of texas holey rock. He threw in a really nice large size mopagni wood centerpiece. It was used with poison frogs. I soaked it in hot water a few times with epsom salts. I also scrubbed it quite excessively with scotchbrite pads. I want to use this in a pleco tank I'm setting up. Does anyone think the frogs could have left toxins behind that the soaks and scrubbing might have missed?
m1ke715m
10-06-2011, 09:32 AM
soak it in bleach and water and then leave it out to dry or boil it
bassgenie
10-06-2011, 09:38 AM
What about the toxins the frogs excrete? I know the bleach will kill microbes but I'm talking about my fish tripping out from frog juice
fischfan13
10-06-2011, 09:39 AM
Josh, I wouldn't do it.
Anything that once had reptiles in it or around it is, IMO, never going to be safe for the aquaria.
We are talking "Toxins", not bacteria.
bassgenie
10-06-2011, 09:40 AM
What about the toxins the frogs excrete? I know the bleach will kill microbes but I'm talking about my fish tripping out from frog juice the piece is too big for any poy I have to boil it
bassgenie
10-06-2011, 09:44 AM
Josh, I wouldn't do it.
Anything that once had reptiles in it or around it is, IMO, never going to be safe for the aquaria.
We are talking "Toxins", not bacteria.
That's my exact concern bill. I think they were poison dart frogs to be exact. From what I unserstand, they have one of the higest toxin level (PPM) of all aphibians. Its such a sick piece that's a bummer. I think I should maybe post a trade. I don't keep monitors, snakes or other reptiles anymore.
joe_jaskot
10-06-2011, 10:22 AM
Poison dart frogs in the wild produce toxins by ingesting (eating) insects which contain alkaloids. The dart frogs cannot produce the alkaloids on their own. Since most captive raised and bred frogs do not have access to these insects, they are not poisonous. I would not be afraid to use the mopani wood after soaking it in water with bleach. Just my opinion.
fischfan13
10-06-2011, 10:44 AM
It's the same as when you hear of someone selling a tank that once housed reptiles, I would never take the chance and make it an aquarium.
The "potential" of toxins is there...why chance your fish?
bassgenie
10-06-2011, 11:10 AM
Agreed. I had already decided because its wood and porus it might have soaked something up. I wouldn't use a reptile tank as anaquarium because the heat lamps affect the silicone and center braces. I have a friend with a nice firebelly newt tank. I didn't even think before how perfect for her it would be. Its a 4o breeder this might be perfect for them to hang out on. Thanks guys
Poison dart frogs in the wild produce toxins by ingesting (eating) insects which contain alkaloids. The dart frogs cannot produce the alkaloids on their own. Since most captive raised and bred frogs do not have access to these insects, they are not poisonous. I would not be afraid to use the mopani wood after soaking it in water with bleach. Just my opinion.
It's good to err on the side of caution....
Joe - very good education here - I've learned this as well from the folks selling Dart Frogs online.
cichfrk
10-07-2011, 08:18 AM
That's my exact concern bill. .....Its such a sick piece that's a bummer.........If you really dig that wood, you can probably sacrifice(I hate to say it) some fish first. Put some feeder fish perhaps and let them live in the tank with the treated wood for a while. If nothing happens for a month or so, I guess it safe for other fish?(but I'd suggest don't put the expensive pleco yet).
joe_jaskot
10-07-2011, 08:33 AM
It's the same as when you hear of someone selling a tank that once housed reptiles, I would never take the chance and make it an aquarium.
The "potential" of toxins is there...why chance your fish?
The problem of many reptile tanks is not toxicity, but more of a construction issue. Many reptile tanks are made with thinner glass as compared to an aquarium of the same size. Also care is not taken to ensure a watertight seal on reptile tanks, since in most cases they aren't built to contain water.
You could always place it in a seperate tank after bleach and water, add a few feeder fish to see how they do.
dogofwar
10-07-2011, 09:00 PM
I'd just rinse it off really well...and drop it into a tank or bucket with some test fish.
...and go from there...
Matt
You could always place it in a seperate tank after bleach and water, add a few feeder fish to see how they do.
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