Using sticks from outside

[sapphire_moon]

I have this in the general enclosure forum to....but does anyone know how to "cure" sticks from outside.....I've heard of baking them and freezing them.....but any additional info on getting rid of possible mites/parasites from the sticks would be great! Thanks in advance for the info!!!

[lordkovacs]

i've always just baked mine with no problems at all. course, ya gotta stand by just in case though! if i'm not mistaken, mine were in for 30 minutes at 375 F. Good luck,
MIKE

[sapphire_moon]

Is that all it should take? Or should I do this a couple of times?

[Neo]

u could boil them too i guess if u dont wanna risk spontaneous combustion

[burmer]

I've always baked them at 350 for an hour.

[sapphire_moon]

ya but I don't have this 3ft long metal pan to boil them in, so it's baking......it actually smells like store bought mini pizza's! It's makin me hungry!

[Neo]

u mean none of you guys have your handy dandy 3 ft metal pan? aw, thats a shame hehe jk.. i guess i dont think big enough seeing that i only own leos..

[RaVeNo888o]

i think some people use the bleach method but i would probably bake them, i would think it is safer for the herps

[drewlowe]

Originally posted by Neo
u could boil them too i guess if u dont wanna risk spontaneous combustion

Is that true if you bake them they will explode?
What if you get a piece of wood to big for an oven how would you disenfect it. Would soaking it in bleach work then with some really good rinsing???

[Invictus]

1) Soak in bleach water (10% bleach) for 1 hour.
2) Rinse thoroughly in SALT water (which dilutes the chlorine)
3) Soak in normal water for another hour.

Let dry, and place in enclosure. :)

[Mr.Lizard]

DIAZONON,DIAZONON,DIAZONON!!!....then rinse thoroughly with diazonon.

jk haha.....actually that baking thing sounds pretty good to me,no risk of residual toxins.

[chas*e]

-Bleach solution and rinse is a good way
-Never freeze anything it doesn't kill some types of bacteria
-Don't forget to take off the bark---it is a hide spot for mites/ticks and whatever...here is a good sitewww.anapsid.org/wildwood.html
***MAKE SURE YOU USE A TYPE OF WOOD THAT IS NON-TOXIC TO SNAKES(no soft woods as a rule)
there is a web site that can give you an idea of what types to use
www.calzoo.com/html/toxicvegetation.html

[Linds]

In the future please refrain from cross-posting threads. Here is the lost reply from the one that was removed...

Originally posted by Wuntu Menny
I always give them a good scrape and stiff bristle brush followed by a long soak in 10% bleach solution. After the bleach, rinse thoroughly brushing again to remove anything that's loosened during the soak. Leave to dry in the sun.

I have resorted to baking coarse bark and irregular shaped pieces of wood. Again, a good long soak in a disinfectant solution followed by 1-2 hours in the oven at 200-225F. The funk is pretty high so you may want to do this during warm weather with the windows open.

WM