Tips on disinfecting wood chews?

by MooMouse Sat 31 Dec 2016, 1:27 pm

So Rogue had a URI earlier this week that he is currently being treated for. I am cleaning out his tank really well so that hopefully, any germs that were in there won't be in there anymore when he returns to living in it. I threw out all of the cardboard and a few smaller wooden chews but there was a really nice wooden reptile log in there that is brand new and that I don't particularly want to throw out. That being said, is it possible to disinfect this log thing in the oven? I read on a reptile page that you can put wood in the oven on 200-250° F for 2-3 hours but that just sounds like a really long time for a small wood log. If anyone had tried this before any advice would be appreciated Smile

by Peachy Sat 31 Dec 2016, 2:33 pm

I've seen different times for baking, but I prefer to boil wood toys for 15-20 minutes. You can get cheap pots at a dollar store.

by scaredymouse Sat 31 Dec 2016, 5:44 pm

I don't bake very often but when I do, i bake at 250 for 2 hours. I have this nice grapewood piece and when it needs cleaning I scrub it down in the sink with soap and water, then bake. That piece of wood is way too big to fit in a pot on the stove. So I just got used to soaking things in the sink in soapy water and then baking.

by Plazmotech Sat 04 Feb 2017, 2:31 am

My girls actually had URI's that I treated them both for, but I didn't even think of disinfecting their toys. Problem is, their home is made of wood that seems to be glued together… if I were to boil it the wood would actually fall apart and they'd lose their little hut. Is it necessary? They've been URI free for a week now

by scaredymouse Sat 04 Feb 2017, 5:27 am

If they have both been treated and you don't share the house with any other mice, I wouldn't worry about it.

By the way, the name Nibbles is adorable! I have a hamster named Slappy, you can probably imagine how I came up with that Wink