Cork Bark

[Solar Dart]

Would you guys recommend boiling it before putting it in the animals cage? If so, for how long?

 

[Fuggrur]

YES! Boil IT!!!! I do, several times in fact... It turns the water a nasty rust color..

 

[Solar Dart]

Ok cool. How long should I let it boil?

 

[MrDeranged]

See, I don't think I've ever boiled or even washed off a piece of corkbark in my life. I just throw it in the tank. I never really thought about doing it to be honest with you, but now that you brought it up, it does sound like it would probably be a good idea....

Scott

 

[Solar Dart]

Yeah, when you really think about it it makes sense to boil it, just as you would a peice of wood from outside. I don't really think it's disinfected or anything before it's shipped off to the pet stores. And even if there's not any parasites inside it before it gets to the store, just think about the kinds of things that could get inside the bark once it does get there. My main concern would be mites.

 

[skinheaddave]

I'm a fan of baking. The con is that it wouldn't remove any of the dirt that was on the bark or soaked in. The pro is that the internal temperature of the piece would get much higher. Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius plus/minus some for atmospheric pressure etc. Once you've reached boiling, you have to throw a lot more energy into the water to raise the temperature further. Baking, on the other hand, simply keeps raising the temperature of the wood.

Cheers,
Dave

EDIT: I don't think I phrased that thing about boiling quite right. The point is that the water won't get above 100C, you can only superheat the steam at that point.

 

[Wade]

I heat it in the microwave when it's been used in annother animals cage, but new cork I usually don't bother. Probably should, though.

Wade

 

[Solar Dart]

Dave -
How long do you bake it for?

 

[skinheaddave]

Dart,

I generaly put wood in for about two hours on 350. As long as the internal temperature exceeds 120-something, it should be fine.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Solar Dart]

Nice. Thanks : )

 

[Kugellager]

Yes make sure you bake it for long enough. You don't want anything half-baked.;P

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I also bake any wood I find for my tanks. Don't put it much higher than 350 though...it will burn...

It will also smell the house up a bit depending on the type of the wood.

John
; ' /

 

[skinheaddave]

Sigh. Just couldn't leave it alone, could you John?

As smelly as some wood can be, sand is far worse. I hate the smell of baking sand.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Kugellager]

Yeah the smell of cooking sand kind of reminds me of cigarette ashes...but stronger.

John
; ' /