Reptile & Amphibian Forums

With it being fall there are a lot of leaves round the ground. How do you guys sanatize them before putting them into the cages?
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FB
(Watch this space for the raining viv)
0.1.1 Water Dragon (Jade, Kaltrex)
0.1.0 Hypomelanistic Corn (Willow)
0.1.1 Leopard Gecko (Barghesta [Patternless], unnamed)
1.0.0 Satanic Leaftail Gecko (Melkor)
0.1.0 Cat (Cleo)
0.1.0 Wife (Tammy)
(hmmm, not much testosterone in here...)

i try not to pick up leaves from the ground, ive tried best to clip off freshly grown ones in springtime, which i would freeze. thats what ive done for most of mine, just freeze and dry for a long time. i guess you could possibly boil them in a large pot, dont know if that would damage the leaves though. maybe even spray them with something like provent-a-mite, then let them sit aside for approximately 1 month.
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-Mike Martin
North Carolina

I was thinking about ripping some leaves off one of the branches while it's still attached but colorful. This would add some color to the tank.
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FB
(Watch this space for the raining viv)
0.1.1 Water Dragon (Jade, Kaltrex)
0.1.0 Hypomelanistic Corn (Willow)
0.1.1 Leopard Gecko (Barghesta [Patternless], unnamed)
1.0.0 Satanic Leaftail Gecko (Melkor)
0.1.0 Cat (Cleo)
0.1.0 Wife (Tammy)
(hmmm, not much testosterone in here...)

NEVER NEVER EVER USE PROVENT A MITE IN A GECKO ENCLOSURE!!!! It will kill your gecko. It is designed for snakes and monitors. DO NOT USE PROVENT A MITE.

jason

most mites and other nasties cant take temps over 160F leaves and other thin material can be washed in hot(160F ) dish soap water, rinsed in hot water and dried off, where I work we've done this to kill mites on living soybean plants quick dunkings in the hot water and the mites die the plants live(plants were being fed to research insects so no chemicals could be used)where you can have trouble is larger sticks and bark which can provide safe haven spots(I wash those and have use of a large dry oven, 3 or 4 days at 175F take out almost any thing) If in doubt don't do it , If in doubt and your a cat wash!

We just use hardwood leaves like oak. the rest will decay too fast and you'll have issues with springtails etc.

also, a 5% bleach solution can be used but rinse VERY WELL afterwards. you can just rinse them in a sink if you know
where they came from; backyard etc.

Deven | Terra5Designs

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