sterilizing stuff ect.

[jeffjeff]

could any one advise on what's the best way to sterilize all the rocks and the wood of an enclosure? I've took it all to bits and plan to build a new one before we get another tort. I'd like to re use as much of the materials as possible to keep the costs down, also I've found a breeder who has good references and has provided me with loads of info, pictures a long care sheet and an open invitation to visit. if any one want to look it over and give me a second opinion whether its good or if any thing missing that would be awesome. thanks

 

[tortdad]

Do you know what you did wrong with the last one?

Soak anything plus like water dishes in water with some bleach in it. Wood, I don't know......I think I would toss it.

 

[jeffjeff]

Do you know what you did wrong with the last one?

Soak anything plus like water dishes in water with some bleach in it. Wood, I don't know......I think I would toss it.

no unfortunately we don't know what went wrong. I don't think we did any thing majorly wrong a few beginner mistakes that where changed as soon as i found this forum. he stopped eating and just slept all the time. he never was a good eater and his appetite went up and down all the time as did his activity. I think it was possibly something wrong before we had him as he only grew a couple mm and gained about 5grams in the year we had him. we got him from a pet shop where he never got very good care kept on shavings and fed fruit and veg. unfortunately at the time we knew no better.

 

[tortdad]

no unfortunately we don't know what went wrong. I don't think we did any thing majorly wrong a few beginner mistakes that where changed as soon as i found this forum. he stopped eating and just slept all the time. he never was a good eater and his appetite went up and down all the time as did his activity. I think it was possibly something wrong before we had him as he only grew a couple mm and gained about 5grams in the year we had him. we got him from a pet shop where he never got very good care kept on shavings and fed fruit and veg. unfortunately at the time we knew no better.

Well sound like you're on the right track with your next one by getting it from a breeder. Just make sure it's a good breeder because there are bad breeders too. I would clean and reuse anything that is made of a hard non porous surface like plastic or metal and toss anything that was absorbent like wood.

 

[FujiBaird]

I've heard that wood can be sterilized by leaving it in an oven at a low temperature (200-250 F) for 2-3 hours. However, you may want to err on the side of caution and toss it since Sparky was unwell. Sorry for your loss

 

[jeffjeff]

thanks, i'll just buy new stuff then. for what a couple sheets of plywood costs its just not worth the risk.

 

[DutchieAmanda]

The rocks you can just boil in hot water. I wouldn't do that with the wood though...

 

[Tom]

1. Wash non porous items with hot soapy water. Then soak it in a 10-20$ bleach solution for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well and let it sun dry until you can't smell any bleach.
2. Bleach kills bacteria when used correctly, but some tortoise pathogens can survive it. Using a 10% ammonia solution, instead of the bleach, has been recommended to me by more than one vet.
3. Boiling for 20-30 minutes should work too.

Porous items like wood, half logs, substrate, etc..., should be thrown away.

Plastic or glass enclosures can be cleaned using number 1 or 2 above. Wood enclosures should be burned or thrown away.

 

[jeffjeff]

1. Wash non porous items with hot soapy water. Then soak it in a 10-20$ bleach solution for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well and let it sun dry until you can't smell any bleach.
2. Bleach kills bacteria when used correctly, but some tortoise pathogens can survive it. Using a 10% ammonia solution, instead of the bleach, has been recommended to me by more than one vet.
3. Boiling for 20-30 minutes should work too.

Porous items like wood, half logs, substrate, etc..., should be thrown away.

Plastic or glass enclosures can be cleaned using number 1 or 2 above. Wood enclosures should be burned or thrown away.

thankyou

 

[jeffjeff]

The rocks you can just boil in hot water. I wouldn't do that with the wood though...

thankyou