Ever Wanted to Find Madrona/Manzanita Wood?

Look at your local bird pet stores!!! Seriously. I found some really great pieces at affordable prices! I got these two at a bird grooming store called "Port Orchard Parrots" they were having a sale, buy 1 get 1 when I went in, so I basically got these two wonderful specimens for only $9.99 (They don't do tax either! They're awesome!).

So yeah, just a heads up, check out your local bird pet shops and see if they have any manzanita or madrona "perches" usually they are just straight branches, but if you look harder, you can find ones that look really intricate! Since they're meant for birds, they come with metal screws and washers that supposedly screw onto the bird cage. I was able to just unscrew them with vice-grip pliers and it came out with ease.

Also, ask and make sure that the mazanita/madrona wood is NOT treated with anything. Port Orchard Pets had some manzanita wood that were sand blasted, but I opted for the madrona wood instead. They look awesome! I plan on sanding off the outer layer of smooth bark, to reveal the lighter color of the wood, which I will put in the 36 gallon tank, eventually (in the far future) . . . .

Here's what they look like![You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Attach some weeping moss to that, and put it around seiryu stones, and layer out the gravel then add a nice carpet (of ur choice) and you'll have a B E A U T I F U L aquascape with that nice piece of wood!
(ps I'm jealous that you found such an awesome deal!)

Nice find. The second one is gorgeous. If you decide not to use it please lmk(I have anubias, Java Fern Narrow Leaf, ABN to trade)

Hey if you guys ever want madrona like that I've got tons of that stuff. Little late now i guess but if anyone else needs some let me know.

BillHN: Dang, I wish I had some weeping moss, unfortunately, I'm just going to make do with the java moss I have =P But yes, that's generally the same idea I was thinking about! WOOO!!

flo77: Thanks! I'm most likely going to be using the 1st one in my 36 gallon bow front tank, and the 2nd one in my 20 gallon long planted tank. I think there's a bird specialty/grooming shop over there in Lynnwood, definitely worth checking out to see if they have any madrona/manzanita wood for sale!

Nick_87: Dang seriously? Are the branches fully dead and sand blasted? I've seen lots of madrona trees around here in Bremerton, especially in the Illahee Reserve, but I choose not to use those because curing and waiting for the branches to "die out" just takes way too long. lol

There are Like 10 Madrona trees behind my house...hmmmm

From what I can tell, it's "illegal" to harvest madrona in the wild. *shrug* I guess it's only illegal if you get caught. HEH HEH HEH...

Good to know haha

Not to mention, if you were to harvest it from the wild, you'd have to spend so much time and effort curing it, and making sure it's dead... I don't know if there are any repercussions for using driftwood that hasn't fully died.

I have never heard of Madrona being illegal to harvest, unless doing so on someones private land . The only trees that shouldn't be cut down (according to the forrest rangers we met while camping are cedar......) but like I said, all of the madrona I have ever cut down (for fire wood...it burns better than other woods) was either on my grandparents land in lacey, or on my beach property on Harsteine Island.


But Poke, 10 bucks is an incredible deal. it looks great.

lloyd378, I s'pose if it's in private property, then it's considered legal, since it's in your own property. But yes, still...the work of curing it and all that other jazz... I'd prefer it be done already. =P

And yes, $10 for these branches were such a good deal! I just might head back in the future!