Woods that should NOT be used for Snake Caging?

As an enclosure material pine is fine. The surface area of an enclosure when compared to a chip bedding is miniscule, adding in that a proper enclosure would have a treated surface to protect the material for long term. Pine has been used as a bedding by many people with no ill effects, with that it has shown to raise kidney enzymes as a bedding with rabbits, but I do not know of any research study to show its effect as an enclosure material, and highly doubt one would be found. As John said lining the interior with shower board is an option, or as mentioned above the use of plastic sheeting (you can find very inexpensive sheets in the .10" range to use as a liner for under 40 dollars for a 4'x8'.)

Thanks a lot for the clarification on pine, it helps a great deal. Just one more stupid question and then I'll go away and let you concentrate...

If pine is treated against insects and rot, is there a time period after which is is safe to use in enclosure construction, or should it never be used? In the tropics all pine we buy is treated in this way, and friends of mine who used a small amount as supports in an outdoor tank have just had an unexplained death....

Thanks again

Without knowing what type of chemicals that the wood was treated with, you can't really know for sure how much if any hand it had in the death of the animal. Sorry that the answer is a "don't know".

Yes, I guess it was a kind of broad question, thanks for thinking about it!

Wait, so in conclusion, any wood with a scent is bad?