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I found some nice river stones at a National Park here in my state. What would be the best way to clean these? I'm pretty sure they don’t spray around there, tons of insects...

I think because it came from a national park it would be pretty clean. But to make sure you can always boil the rock, or you can try baking the rock just to make sure, and using a brush you can scrub all the dirt off it.

HTH
Daniel
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I wouldnt bake it...Im guessing the rocks are from a humid environment. That increases the risk of it 'exploding' or atleast, cracking while bakeing in the oven.

I would just wash or use a slight bleach solution, and rinse.

M.N

bleaching thme could lead to problems as some if it may not rinse out. Leaving a small ammount of soil on them would be harmless in the vivarium and may contain micro fauna which would be beneficial. I too collect rocks from the Carter Caves region here in Kentucky and have found many 'living' pieces covered in algae, moss and liverwart. As a general rule, if the area they come from is tursted to be clean, they will be fine as they are.

-Bill J
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I've always found it funny that people will go out in the woods, get moss, slap it in their tank and think nothing about it.
Then they go out in the same woods and get rock/wood and want to sanitize it?!
I've harped on this subject before so I'll keep it short. As long as you collect from a pesticide/poison free area, don't bother cleaning it. You'll benefit more from the microfauna, spores, algea etc... than you will from a sterile lump of rock or wood.

Hey, the man asked how to clean rocks. I answered him.

I, however, also dont steralize anything. Like you said, i also get a rich pile of springtails and aphids for decomposing. The only thing "bad" i got was a large spider actually, but i have a feeling it died already.

M.N

My post wasn't meant to be sarcastic but after going back and reading it ... I guess it was. Wasn't aimed at you. Sorry if you thought it was.
The point is, people buy/collect moss which is not sterile so why worry over a rock or wood collected?
On the other hand if you get rock or wood from an unknown source better to be safe.

Hm......I learn a new thing ever day. I didn't know baking caused some rocks to explode. But, I have the same problem with clay, if you have air bubbles within the clay while you put it in the kiln, it would explode.
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>>I found some nice river stones at a National Park here in my state. What would be the best way to clean these? I'm pretty sure they don’t spray around there, tons of insects...

Just go down to a hardware store and buy a package or two of river rocks. Wash them off, and you're finished. Most national parks will have rules on what you can and can't take out and rocks might be among those you can't, plus there's the bonus that store bought rocks been dry for a long while.

With natural rocks I always boil them in water before using. Watch for rocks with high iron content (red coloration), these tend to rust in humid conditions. I don't know if that is harmful to frogs but it can change the chemical breakdown of your water or soil so I don't use them. River stones are generally a safe bet.

Hmmmm I juss so happin to have a nice flat light RED rock. I was going to use it as the base to my waterfall. I'd only be hurting my self to use it in the tank? Any one else have a problem with rocks rusting?

rocks that contain iron are usually porous, if it is flat and solid it is probably shale which wouldn't rust.

Good point! It can bring a a very stiff fine as well!