Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had this driftwood log in my salmander home for a few years now. Recently I noticed little crawlies (mites?) living on it. They didn't seem to bother the sallies, but I did not like them in there. So I tried baking the log for about an hour at 250 degrees. It sorta solved the problem, but it was replaced with fungus. so I soaked the log in about a 10% bleach solution. Figuring that would kill anything bad. After rinsing it forever, I let it dry. But the mold came right back.

Should I bleach again, and maybe dry it in the oven? I also have access to an autoclave, but I see bad things happening with that. Or should I just give up and buy a new log. Or maybe one of those rock they can hide in?

I am in desparate need of suggestions.

The specifics: 2 tigers, 1 spotted, & a fire belly toad (living in harmony for 2.5 years), 30 gallons, small gravel substrate, and 1/3 of it is water where they go for a dip if they choose. Cheapo duetto filter, but I do bi-monthly clean-ups and always remove feces and shed skin upon first sight? The point is, I've done it this way for years, and this problem only developed recently.

Bleaching carries the risk of harming your pets if not washed off completely. Its well known in the fish community that baking wood will cause it to float in water, boiling would be a better option. A solution to preventing fungus, I once heard, is to coat the entire wood surface with some paint or lacquer although I've never done this myself. I think it should be safe as long a non-toxic coat is used.
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My forum Caudata Zone

You may have goofed. They were probably springtails (white and a little elogated). I keep a colony of springtails that I purposely put into my enclosures to assist in the breakdown of waste.

RUSS