Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm assuming that most of you probably sterilize any rocks you collect from outside before they go in your varanid cages, right?
How do you recommend going about this?
I know if there is too much moisture a heated rock can explode, so it seems like the oven like for wood would be a bad idea, so I was thinking perhaps a diluted bleach solution (1 to 4 bleach in water maybe?) and let it soak in there a bit before rinsing it and letting it soak in pure water for awhile?
Thanks!

If it's just a dirty rock, I just sprayed it off with a hose.
If it was real dirty with moss and fungus growing on it, I hooked up the pressure washer to my hotwater heater and sprayed a way. Be careful, high pressure can shoot a good sized rock across the yard and smush the neighboors cat.
Don't ask.....

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

So you aren't too concerned and haven't had any problems with any parasites or disease organisms on the rock being introduced by not sterilizing it?

Well, I would not worry about sterlizing anything unless you took it from the sewer or someones toilet.

You do understand that monitors come from outside where the rocks run free.

What makes me sad is, and it does make me sad, our government(Bush) really does need to invest in the education of our country.

OK, no, you do no need(unless from conditions stated above) to sterlize it. Cheers

Although I do believe that Bush needs to invest more money into education, it's not because of this.
The rocks from a monitors natural habitat are not from cities where pollution and chemicals are big problems and even in farmlands where pesticides are used. You guys have discussed man's intervention in nature and how man is screwing everything up. A person shouldn't be faulted when trying to protect his lizard as much as he/she can.

Ever hear the phrase "there are no stupid questions only stupid answers"?

Hmmmmmmmmm, of course you can say any old thing you like, but really, if you find rocks in a toxic spill, DON"T touch them. hahahahahahahahaha Its akind to my sewer or toilet comment.

But I guess I am lucky, I do not live in a giant toxic city(I would commit suicide first) I do not live near or in toxic spills. Do people really live in such places?

Please its all about common sense, I would not take a rock or tree limb that a cow pooped on. I would find a clean one. Its always amusing to me how people here go to extremes, Yea well, I would disinfect a rock from three mile island. DONT take a rock from three mile island. Cheers

Thanks,
of course I know varanids come from outside, but those varanids are often infected with ticks and mites and various other parasites and diseases, and although those species that infect wild varanids do not live in this region, there are other species that could infect my captive animals. I'm sure that you would agree that it is better to keep a mite and tick infestation out of your varanid enclosures?

I'm not sure how me not wanting my varanid infected with mites and ticks relates to the problems with education in the US. Personally my high school education could definitely have been better, but that is definitely not something I could say for the college education I am working on.

I do not want to often you, but somehow it does happen. You really should not worry about stuff that is not a problem. Which means you should worry about what is a problem. That is simple troubleshooting technique.

First mites and ticks and parasites are not a huge problem, they are an annoyance. They may be uncomfortable to a healthy monitor, but are not a problem. Allow your monitor to be healthy is prime.

But back to the problem. I have used natural materials for decades and have not have any problems related to the caged animals. You are far more likely to acquire mites from shaking hands with vendors at herp shows. Ok, shaking or touching anyones hands or tables or etc etc.

I know lots of monitor keepers and none had problems with wild pests bothering their monitors. How lets change the subject, If you would have said, to get rid of pests that bother you, thats another story. I have imported, wood wasps, ants, kissing bugs, and a grip of wild lizards, from collecting natural materials. These bothered me(not the lizards), but not the monitors, they kind of enjoyed other stuff in their cages.

The real point of this exercise is, healthy monitors are not bothered by mites, ticks, parasites. Those things only harm monitors without an immune system. You would be better off learning how to let the monitor/s have a strong immune system.

Please consider, its sad to me to watch work hard, spin their wheels, do this, do that, for things that are NOT important. When if they spend 1/2 that energy of doing whats needed, their monitors would kick booty.

About the education system. I learned much of this approach in school. Things like basic biology, you know, the part parasites play with living creatures(like your covered in them) Things like taking basic steps first. To be concerned with whats important, not whats not important.

Consider, while your dealing with this, you could have been doing something effective. Cheers

good point, and awsome lacies FR

"You do understand that monitors come from outside where the rocks run free."

lol kudos