I am thinking about building an outdoor enclosure for my Russian tortoise. Are railroad ties safe to use for a tortoise enclosure?
Railroad ties for outdoor enclosure?
- Thread starter Taylor T.
- Start date
Yes they are safe, but they have a lot of nooks and crannies for tortoises to get a foot hold and russians are masters of escape. I would use something smoother, or have a completely covered and escape proof top.
Interesting, I would never thnk to use them because of the smell.
Would it work if I lined it with something? I could also make a slight overhang on the top railroad ties.
I have heard that it's NOT a good idea to use railroad ties because of the creosote they're soaked in. Creosote will be harmful to the tortoise, and if it is fairly fresh, will soak down into the ground.
I use old railroad ties for my outdoor enclosures. They have to be reeeeally old though or they smell and melt in the summer. The ones i use are at least 10 years old. I put a lip around the entire enclosure and capped corners.
Yes. And the overhang is a great idea.
Creosote
CAS ID #: 8021-39-4, 8001-58-9
Affected Organ Systems: Dermal (Skin), Hepatic (Liver)
Cancer Effects: None
Chemical Classification: None
Summary: Creosote is the name used for a variety of products: wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. These products are mixtures of many chemicals created by high-temperature treatment of beech and other woods, coal, or from the resin of the creosote bush. Wood creosote is a colorless to yellowish greasy liquid with a smoky odor and burned taste. Coal tar creosote is a thick, oily liquid that is typically amber to black in color. Coal tar and coal tar pitch are usually thick, black, or dark-brown liquids or semisolids with a smoky odor. Wood creosote has been used as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a cough treatment, but is rarely used these ways today. Coal tar products are used in medicines to treat skin diseases such as psoriasis, and are also used as animal and bird repellents, insecticides, restricted pesticides, animal dips, and fungicides. Coal tar creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in the United States. Coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles are used for roofing, road paving, aluminum smelting, and coking.
CAS ID #: 8021-39-4, 8001-58-9
Affected Organ Systems: Dermal (Skin), Hepatic (Liver)
Cancer Effects: None
Chemical Classification: None
Summary: Creosote is the name used for a variety of products: wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. These products are mixtures of many chemicals created by high-temperature treatment of beech and other woods, coal, or from the resin of the creosote bush. Wood creosote is a colorless to yellowish greasy liquid with a smoky odor and burned taste. Coal tar creosote is a thick, oily liquid that is typically amber to black in color. Coal tar and coal tar pitch are usually thick, black, or dark-brown liquids or semisolids with a smoky odor. Wood creosote has been used as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a cough treatment, but is rarely used these ways today. Coal tar products are used in medicines to treat skin diseases such as psoriasis, and are also used as animal and bird repellents, insecticides, restricted pesticides, animal dips, and fungicides. Coal tar creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in the United States. Coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles are used for roofing, road paving, aluminum smelting, and coking.
Will creosote last forever or will it go away after a while?
