| THE BASICS OF DRIFTWOOD USE IN AQUARIUMS, | | | | varieties in appearance. It is also self-sinking. The |
| REPTILE HABITATS, OR VIVARIUMS | | | | differences in this variety lie in its elongated branches. |
| According to the Webster's Dictionary, driftwood is | | | | It is the driftwood of choice for attaching Java ferns |
| defined as "Wood debris which has been washed up | | | | or other plants. |
| or is floating in a body of fresh or salt water". For | | | | HOW TO PREPARE DRIFTWOOD |
| aquarium, habitat, and vivarium lovers, it is highly | | | | Before a piece of natural driftwood can be used in |
| desired, especially when the driftwood is of a rare | | | | any habitat, it is vitally important to have it |
| variety. Driftwood adds a natural, esthetically pleasing | | | | thoroughly cleaned. Driftwood can be exposed to |
| touch to these environments. | | | | disease or infestation from the ground or the |
| VARIETIES OF DRIFTWOOD | | | | shorelines where they are found. Smaller driftwood |
| Although there are several different types of | | | | specimens can be easily cleaned through boiling. Using |
| driftwood on the market, the four most common | | | | a large pot, boil the pieces for about 15 minutes in |
| varieties include standard, African, and Malaysian | | | | three separate sessions, draining the water between |
| driftwoods, and Savanna or African root. Each | | | | each boiling. Large driftwood specimens can be |
| variety offers its own unique characteristics. | | | | cleaned using very hot water and a potato scrubber. |
| Standard driftwood is found in any body of water | | | | It may seem useless to cleanse a natural product for |
| throughout North America, and is often the remnants | | | | use in a natural habitat. In the wild, native fish and |
| of branches which fell into the water. These pieces | | | | animals are able to stay away from certain fungus, |
| are washed by the water over time, removing all | | | | diseases, infestations, and so forth. Likewise, if they |
| bark, and finally resting upon the shore. Because | | | | were to become exposed, these creatures may be |
| standard driftwood pieces float, something heavy will | | | | able to fight off the resulting health issues. Finally, the |
| have to be attached to it in order to make it sink in | | | | open air of the wilderness and the wide open bodies |
| an aquarium. In a reptile environment or vivarium you | | | | of water greatly dilute the potency of these |
| may choose to slightly anchor the pieces to prevent | | | | infestations. In an aquarium or habitat, creatures are |
| movement as well. | | | | not awarded these environmental benefits, and |
| Savanna or African root is the second most | | | | therefore, are more susceptible to severe illness or |
| commonly found type of driftwood. Like African | | | | death. It is better to be safe than to be sorry, |
| driftwood, it is also self-sinking. Its appearance is | | | | especially when it comes to your prized aquariums, |
| gnarled on one side while smooth on the opposite. It | | | | terrariums, reptilian friends, and vivariums. One spore |
| is relatively inexpensive. | | | | of fungus, one tiny infestation, can destroy all that |
| African driftwood looks very similar to standard | | | | you have worked so hard to establish! |
| driftwood. The difference between the two is that | | | | FINAL WORD |
| the African variety is self-sinking, meaning that it will | | | | Driftwood can be a beautiful addition to any habitat. |
| sink to the bottom of an aquarium without any sort | | | | However, without careful consideration, proper care, |
| of weight or anchoring. The wood also exhibits | | | | detailed preparation, and precise placement, this |
| darker colors and is more intricately patterned, with a | | | | seemingly natural decorative can quickly become |
| ribbed or hollow appearance. True African driftwood | | | | hazardous. If driftwood is properly prepared it can be |
| is commonly more than a hundred years old and is | | | | a delightful addition, making your aquarium or |
| quite expensive. | | | | terrarium look as if a professional designed it! |
| Malaysian driftwood is similar to standard and African | | | | |