Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Neffy · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject: Corkbark?

I bought a piece of corkbark from my local pet store yesterday,brought it home brushed all the particals off it, scraped all the webs out of a few cracks in it and microwaved it for around 5 mins ( got a really bad burning smell ).
Do ya think this would have killed anything living inside it by now?
Can snakes get mites from corkbark?, thats my main worry i heard they can be a pain to get rid of.

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

Let me guess you nuked it while it was dry? This would explain the burning smell. For the actual sake of the microwave it is not recommended to use it for anything that is totally dry, it can damage it. Microwaves work on the moisture in the item. (though I will say I may be a tad incorrect on some details as it has been a while since I studied physics).

I soak mine in water and then nuke, no burning smell, and I always do it three times, I am just paranoid I suppose Laughing

It should have killed anything in it by now. If you are concerned you could soak then nuke again.

Another possibility for the burning small is if it is a combination microwave and you might have turned on the grilling part as well. I have done that on a couple of occasions before when mine was new and I had forgotten it was a combi type one.

Neffy · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject:

err yes i nuked whilst dry lol. The guy in the shop didn't tell me to soak if first :/

The burning smell went away after a few mins, so it wasnt too bad. I've since put the corkbark into my viv and havn't seen anything live running around apart from my snake ofc, who seems to be really enjoying her new bit of decor. Smile

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

I wouldn't have either as like him I would assume that it is common knowledge that microwaves should not be run dry. Assumptions should never be made I do admit that, maybe he tried to explain to a couple of people and they've said something along the lines of "I know that I am not stupid" and so he thought well then not saying it again.

It is my favourite cleaning method for such things, soak, nuke and leave out to dry. I do it with stuff I ahve had for a while as well, they all get a 8 weekly nuke.

christophermchale · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:48 am Post subject:

to answer your other question, reptiles can certainly get mites from bark.
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Scott W · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:33 am Post subject:

Placing items in the freezer is another great way of killing off any little bugs that are hiding.

Overall there isn't too much you need to worry about anyway, unless of course the shop has mites in their stock (so some may be hiding in the cork you buy). Mites and bugs found in wood are not after your snakes, only snake mites feed on snakes.
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christophermchale · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

wood mites will stress out animals if they climb on them though.
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Neffy · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:39 am Post subject:

Putting it in the microwave worked well, nothing at all was left alive after doing it.
Thx for all your replies ppl Smile