HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello,

I bought a magnetic ledge made out of polyurethane foam resin on Amazon for my bearded dragon. It was sold as "used- like new" and I didn't think much of it until earlier today. I realized it could've been in contact with a sick animal, you just never know, and I would hate to make such a mistake. It arrived this evening and I haven't put it in the tank yet.

Is there any safe way to sanitize it? Can it withstand oven or steam temps? Will ammonia ruin it? Or should I just return it?

According to my reptile vet, straight bleach or ammonia or high heat is enough to kill everything on something that is not porous. I would be very worried about heat, bleach and ammonia ruining the finish on the ledge though. That said, I have only ruined the finish on two items with bleach before, and both were painted resin.

Really the only thing to worry about with reptiles is cryptosporidiosis, and it is a nasty beat of a parasite. Hard to kill with chemicals, lives 18 months on surfaces, and it only takes 2 oocysts to infect an animal. That one makes me panic with any used item or new reptile, but so far I have only taken in one infected animal and it has not spread with disinfecting and reusing the cage and heater.

A good scrub in hot tap water would help dislodge some organics trapped...

Could you do a spot test - eg the underside - of a weak vinegar solution?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Upon closer inspection, it's porous. They painted it or added color somehow but it's not finished with anything that covers the foam. I was thinking of spot testing both steam and ammonia or bleach but, given that it's porous, would you advise against using it?

I also have magnaturals and if i was tp ever clean them id prpbably use a weak bleach solution and scrub them out. And then wash and dry. If they smell like bleach, continue to wash.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I think it depends on how paranoid you feel about it. The chance of there being something is slim, but if something did happen it would be horrible. I do the same mental calculations every time I get something used. Usually I go for it, but if I have a bad feeling I either pass on it entirely, or sterilize and put it into storage for the next year for everything to pass. Being foam, it isn't something you can be 100% sure that it is going to be clean and safe, if that helps any.