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I cut a branch from a tree in my yard to put in my boa's cage and I was going to put it in the oven for a while but its too big. Whats another way to sterilize it?

F R E E Z E IT !!
If it still wont fit make *two* branches

>>I cut a branch from a tree in my yard to put in my boa's cage and I was going to put it in the oven for a while but its too big. Whats another way to sterilize it?

Freezing isn't going to sterilze it. Many pathenogens can survive freezing. My method is to place it in black plastic garbage bags with about a 1/2 cup of household bleach, seal the bag and leave it to sit in the sun for a few days. The bag will act as a solar oven reaching temps around 180*F and the chlorine will vaporize and penetrate into the wood. If the branch is too large for one bag then use two and tape the seam shut. Once it's had adequate time to bake this way remove from the bag, rinse and let it air dry in the sun for a couple more days or until you're sure you can no longer smell the bleach.
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Hope this helps.

BigT

knock yer self out there bud :rolleyes:
FYI Bleach never totally disipates and the residual isnt healthy for the critters.Brush up on your chemistry and you`ll discover your putting your critters at risk for no reason.

AND YES ! Freezing that stick for 3-5 days will kill anything in it/on it or around it.
Its a proven method and recommended by just as many.
All those harmful microb`s in all those frozen feeders just imagine if people were to thaw out a frozen prey item and feed it to the snake MY GAAAAAWWDD !!
Not likely you`ll get to many followers on the bleach oven concept for prey or for sticks.

Common Sense will likely intervene .......

T/

>>Freezing isn't going to sterilze it. Many pathenogens can survive freezing. My method is to place it in black plastic garbage bags with about a 1/2 cup of household bleach, seal the bag and leave it to sit in the sun for a few days. The bag will act as a solar oven reaching temps around 180*F and the chlorine will vaporize and penetrate into the wood. If the branch is too large for one bag then use two and tape the seam shut. Once it's had adequate time to bake this way remove from the bag, rinse and let it air dry in the sun for a couple more days or until you're sure you can no longer smell the bleach.
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>>Hope this helps.
>>
>>BigT