Cleaning leaves?

Hisserdude said:
Did you put the can in the microwave? You're not supposed to put metal in a microwave, you can easily start a fire like that. Still, sounds like you need a better, safer microwave! :P

Freezing does not always kill some pests, including mites. Still, it's better than just dumping the stuff straight in the cage I suppose.

While sterilizing the leaves probably gets rid of some nutrients, it is better to clean them than to let harmful pests and fungi into your enclosures. Once you have such pests, it can be almost impossible to eliminate them. The roaches do just fine with sterilized leaves/wood, and the pros of sterilising far outweigh the come.
Click to expand...
First, LOL! I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT! XD I tell this story to people all the time, and you're the first one to catch that. I didn't ever think of that! I guess that's the reason why it caught fire lol.

Second, I agree with your statement on sterilization. I did toss some bark that I had pulled off a dead tree into a roach bin without sterilization, and there were no pest organisms on it, and the bark seems to be doing just fine as well as mold is concerned. However, because leaves are found on the ground, they are more vulnerable to carrying pests. Said leaves have been buried under snow for several weeks now, so I'm not as concerned about mites as I normally would be, but I'm sure that if the cold doesn't kill them, the vinegar will.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
What kinds of pests are transferred into the enclosures, that are so hard to eliminate? I'm not familiar, but curious to know. As for the mold and fungi, if it affects the keeper with allergies and such, I can understand. But I don't think it's any more harmful to the roaches than any mold and fungi they encounter in the wild. There's all kinds of fungus in the tropical environments many roaches come from. I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't suffer from allergies much, and I also run an air purifier in my roach room, and have yet to experience any negative reactions to the wood and leaves I put into my enclosures.

 
Tenevanica said:
First, LOL! I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT! XD I tell this story to people all the time, and you're the first one to catch that. I didn't ever think of that! I guess that's the reason why it caught fire lol.

Second, I agree with your statement on sterilization. I did toss some bark that I had pulled off a dead tree into a roach bin without sterilization, and there were no pest organisms on it, and the bark seems to be doing just fine as well as mold is concerned. However, because leaves are found on the ground, they are more vulnerable to carrying pests. Said leaves have been buried under snow for several weeks now, so I'm not as concerned about mites as I normally would be, but I'm sure that if the cold doesn't kill them, the vinegar will.
Click to expand...
Omg well that explains it! I once accidentally put a potato covered in aluminum foil in my microwave, there was a mini light show of sparks and fire in there, lol! :lol:

Yes it's always possible to be lucky and not get any pests, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just last month, I put some unsterilised leaves in a couple of my cages. A few weeks after, my roaches started getting attacked by entomophagous mold. Luckily I was able to save most of the roaches and I gave them new substrate, decor etc., but still, if I had just sterilized the leaves the whole thing would have most likely never happened.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sleepy Lemur said:
What kinds of pests are transferred into the enclosures, that are so hard to eliminate? I'm not familiar, but curious to know. As for the mold and fungi, if it affects the keeper with allergies and such, I can understand. But I don't think it's any more harmful to the roaches than any mold and fungi they encounter in the wild. There's all kinds of fungus in the tropical environments many roaches come from. I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't suffer from allergies much, and I also run an air purifier in my roach room, and have yet to experience any negative reactions to the wood and leaves I put into my enclosures.
Click to expand...
As I said, entomophagous mold, mites, nematodes, mites, oh wait, did I forget to mention mites? I have several different species of mites in my enclosures, all of them seem to be more prolific than my springtails. I HATE them. :angry:

 
Sleepy Lemur said:
What kinds of pests are transferred into the enclosures, that are so hard to eliminate? I'm not familiar, but curious to know. As for the mold and fungi, if it affects the keeper with allergies and such, I can understand. But I don't think it's any more harmful to the roaches than any mold and fungi they encounter in the wild. There's all kinds of fungus in the tropical environments many roaches come from. I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't suffer from allergies much, and I also run an air purifier in my roach room, and have yet to experience any negative reactions to the wood and leaves I put into my enclosures.
Click to expand...
Mites are the worst. They can directly harm your roaches, and you can never get 100% of them out. Phorid fly and fungus gnat larvae and pupae are also nasty things that can be hiding in leaf litter. As for mold, your roaches will not be used to and adapted to the native molds in your area. They are used to living with the molds in their natural environment. And who says roaches don't die from molds in the wild? I'm sure it happens all the time!

 
Hisserdude said:
As I said, entomophagous mold, mites, nematodes, mites, oh wait, did I forget to mention mites? I have several different species of mites in my enclosures, all of them seem to be more prolific than my springtails. I HATE them. :angry:
Click to expand...
OH BEAT ME BY TWO SECONDS! You win this time @Hisserdude!

 
Hisserdude said:
Ha. Haha. Muhahahahahah! :D Told ya I would be ready, my rapid typing and psychic skills have improved greatly since then, all in preparation for this moment! :lol:
Click to expand...
I'm glad to see you have been training. Soon you'll be as fast of a replier (replier?) as I!

 
Tenevanica said:
Not quite. I have a 2-1 record against you! (This discussion could go on for hours, couldn't it?)
Click to expand...
Ah, I see your point, I'll just have to keep trying then! So watch your back! :ph34r: (And yes, it could! :lol: ).

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I would put leaves, sticks, or whatever in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 minutes. I've done that before with no problems. Just make sure you have it in or on a metal container. Anything touching the oven elements can catch fire. Of course you would keep an eye on things and always have a fire extinguisher near by any time you use an oven or stove top.

 
Why can't I edit my post? Anyways, I was going to add that heating to 200 degrees won't get rid of pesticides, just pests. The vinegar bath and fresh water rinse looks promising to remove pesticides.

 
lovebugfarm said:
Thats a great point about the fact spraying doesnt happen in winter. We have had a wet year so im feeling much better about them. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
Click to expand...
My pleasure. I had to ponder to prevent you from having to run with a dog behind your butt in a private forest. :lol:

 
if anymone wants clean hardwood leaves from a chemical free forest let me know. northern maine is mostly commercial forest. they cut every 20 yrs. or so but besides thinning theres no chemicals put on the trees. and its so cold up here pests are nonexistant. we don't even have ticks!

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top