HCA: Hermit Crab Association

If my play sand says screened and washed, do I still need to wash and bake it? If I do have to bake it' what is the best thing to use? Just any metal baking tray? Can I line it with foil?

I don't bake mine at all. I am careful about what I buy, usually. Middle of the pile, no holes in the bag, etc.Peg

I don't bake mine. I sniff all the bags (sometimes they smell like oil - like car oil!) and check for holes in the bag. I make sure the sand looks clean and dry.

If you purchase your play sand from an in-door display and it says screened and washed then you don't need to do anything to it to sterilize it as its already sterilized. If you purchase your play sand from an out door display and it looks wet or dirty then try to get your bags from the center of the pile near the bottom as these bags will be cleanest.I never bake my sand after purchasing it as I don't find it necessary.

Thanks again! Sorry for all the newbie questions! So, if you don't bake, does this mean you don't rinse either?

Nope

Thank goodness! That makes things a lot easier! Thanks for all the continued help Crabber85 and finalfantasyxii!

Welcome

I am brand new, but due to advise from here I baked it. I used a disposable turkey roasting pan I got from the dollar tree. They are flimsy so I put it on a baking sheet first.