Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to know if anyone could tell me how to properly sterilize a log or piece of wood from outside to put in my ball pythons cage. Is there a way to bake it to get any parasites and chemicals off of it. I can not boil it the cage is a 125 gallon so the log will be much to big to fit in a boiling pot thanks

i dont know how big your freezer is or if whoever your live with will like this but you can also freeze it to sterilize it...good luck with that

thank you i will try that

Heat is a better killer of organisms than cold. Think of all the nasties that survive months of sub-freezing temperatures in the winter.

Hi, here is what I do with anything I put into reptile enclosures. Take 1 part bleach (unsented) to 10 parts water. Use the tub. Soak the items for at least 30 minutes. Wash the item off with clean water. Place it in the sun for two days or with wood until completely dry. The bleach will kill amost every thing. The suns UV rays will dry the item and finish the job.I do this with cages, water bowels, and furnishings. Hope this helps you...Dann

that sounds like a pretty good idea but when it's sitting outside drying wont the bugs get back on it??? thanks for your ideas

Nope, never had that problem of bugs crawling back on anything soaked in bleach. Just set it out in the sun and bring it in at night.
Also jfmoore gave you a quick way to do it. If your log/stick will fit in the oven. Heat it to 200 degrees put the log in the oven leave the door cracked open just alittle for 30 to 40 minutes. The heat will have the same effect as bleach and water. Kills every-thing. Stay in the room with the oven on just in case! (Sorry had to put that in there fire safty is part of my job) Good luck...Dann

Just make sure you set it out in the sun in a well ventilated area since this also produces chlorine gas which can be lethal in some cases.
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Jeremy Carroll
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Propagation and Conservation
http://www.onet.net/~eagle/Reptile/index.htm

I run the wood under hot water (in sink or bathtub) and then spritz the whole piece with common vinegar sold in supermarkets.
It has a germ/bacteria kill ratio of over 95%, compared to bleaches' 75%. Let it sit for 1/2 hour, rinse and place in cage.

Mike