Leaves toxic to hoggies?

MosesT · 05-21-15, 08:55 PM

I was planing on placing a bunch of oak leaves for leaf litter for my hoggie enclosure, are oak leaves toxic to them? Are there any other leaves that I should be concerned about that are toxic?

DDW · 05-22-15, 04:23 AM

I'm not sure if the leaves themselves would be toxic but about where they come from and what is on them. I would worry about introducing diseases and parasites even if the oak leaves are not directly toxic. I'm not sure if there is a way to sterilize a leaf, I'd be cautious of anything that is not proven disease/parasite free. Anything can be in there. The same reasons wild caught prey isn't recommended and wood is extensively sterilized. Perhaps you can get some fake leaves that can be sterilized and they don't decay and that would solve the toxicity problem if they are toxic. ^.=.^

Sasha2 · 05-22-15, 07:11 AM

I have oak and maple in mine. Maple breaks down fast but the oak leaves last longer.
If your worried about bacteria you can soak them in a combo of water, vinegar and peroxide. Bleach wont work and breaks down the cells.

MosesT · 05-22-15, 05:59 PM

I just got a bunch of dry leaves from my backyard and I just boiled them for half an hour and then threw them in the oven for a bit.. that should sterilize them from any bacteria...

eminart · 05-22-15, 10:06 PM

And then there's those of us that deliberately put dirt, wood, and leaves in our enclosures along with all the bacteria and bugs that come with it.