Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just picked up some awesome looking slate tiles from Home Depot for my leo's tank. Very 'broken right from the earth' look to 'em. They're not the flattest tiles in the world, so if I just laid them in the tank, they'd wobble around. To rectify this, I picked up some white playsand as well. My plan is to lay out a 1/2" bed of the sand, and then lay the tiles on top of the sand, so as to stabilize them. I figure this will also help retain and emit the heat from the UTH.

But the tiles are dusty and the sand is damp. What's the best way to sanitize all this stuff before I set it up in the tank? My thought was to wash the tiles with mild soap & water, and rinse the sand in a bucket of water. Then lay it all out in sheet pans and bake it in the oven. Then let it cool obviously before using it.

If there's a better or faster way, please let me know. Also, if my idea is the ideal method, confirm it so I know it's a good way to go. Thanks.

Anoles were my first reptiles - when I was a kid, I used to cleanse their climbing branches in a water-bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and then "bake" them in the oven like you said. I've never baked slate, but it should be ok. I'd at least soak it in some bleach to take care of anything hiding in there. I guess you could boil the playsand (or sanitize and boil).

My current bins/cages are cleansed with several types of Wipe-Out. Except for the my Bandeds and others with cork bark, drift wood, and other wood bits in their homes. I'm still sketched out by how porous wood is and I still "bleach, boil, n' bake" as needed!

Works like a charm for those sketchy, "hard to reach" areas. Just make sure to get the bleach-y smell and any residue out so the critters are ok. OH YEAH -- and MOST importantly make sure no family members or roommates are around during the bake session because your kitchen WILL smell like a campfire. Best to just grab some hot cocoa, grill some hot dogs, and make the best of it, lol!
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Too many Leos
1.0 feline "Spot"
0.1 canine "Tika"