Sticks from outdoors!!!

[CDN-Cresties]

Hi, i went camping this past long weekend and i found some awesome climbing branches for my crested geckos but i wanted to know how i could make the branches free of bacteria and all of that nasty stuff.
Thanks for the help!!

-Steve-

[jaymo]

clean them well with antibacterial soap, rinse them well (real well!), then cook them in the oven for a wee bit, then keep them in a sealed plastic bag for at least a week but the longer the better. That should be enough to kill anything in there. Also try and use hardwood like oak, but especially cherry or apple.

[CDN-Cresties]

How hot should the oven be?
Thanks

-Steve-

[Oliverian]

Probably not too hot.... I don't know for sure but make sure you watch it to make sure it doesn't catch on fire.. ~TR~

[reptiledude21]

you could also bath then with bleach and soap and then rinse them off REALLY good and let them dry in the sun...thats what i did.

[lordkovacs]

i think heating is the best method... stick in oven for around 30-45 minutes on about 300F. stay close by though! good luck..
MIKE

[reptiledude21]

Ya, if u heat it stay close to the oven with something to put it out if it does catch on fire.

[Invictus]

Forget the oven. Soak it in 10% bleach/water solution for half an hour, then rinse with SALT water to dilute the bleach. Soak in salt water for a few hours. Rinse thoroughly with normal water and let soak for another hour or so. No more parasites. If the branch still smells like chlorine, use more salt water.

[Tim and Julie B]

I like to soak the branches and the likes in water for about an hour, then I place them inside a damp paper bag and bake for 1 hour at about 150 degrees. Mis the bag a few times if it gets too dry. Kills off everything (soaking allows stream to build up inside and heats up to kill off the nasties)

[lordkovacs]

yeah, i forgot to say about the misting... didn't ever hear about hte paper bag...it would have to be damp for sure or it could flame. cheers,
MIKE