How to completely rid your substrate of mites and other parasites

Mikoh4792 · 05-10-13, 04:23 PM

I just got a few bags of cypress mulch and I noticed there were tiny little white bugs moving around. Are these mites?

I heard to heat treat the mulch you have to cook it in the oven for 20 minutes on 250 degrees. Is this correct? What other methods are there?(soaking in water?)

poison123 · 05-10-13, 04:24 PM

More then likely wood mites. These bugs are very helpful to have in the enclosure. They help with mold.

Lankyrob · 05-10-13, 04:25 PM

Just chuck it in the viv, the insects wont harm your animals as they arere most likely wood mites and the like. We often get small bugs in with our repti bark, the only issue they cause is drowning themselves in the wateer bowls

Mikoh4792 · 05-10-13, 04:55 PM

Learned something new. Also, I have some pvc pipes that I want to use as perches however I don't know what to use for perch holders. Do you know where I can get some sort of V or U - shaped plastic peices that I can glue on the sides of my cage?

Lankyrob · 05-10-13, 05:08 PM

Get pvc pipe ends and cut part of the O to make a U, you then know that your pipe will fit

Terranaut · 05-10-13, 05:09 PM

Buy a chunk of 1 size larger pipe and cut two 1"-2" pieces off . Then cut them almost in 1/2. Silicone or screw (depending on enclosure material) these on either side of the enclosure. Now snap in your piece of pipe. It's removable and you can control the fit by how you cut the pieces in almost 1/2. I hope this makes sense