How to Bake Driftwood for Bearded Dragons

Enriching your bearded dragon's habitat with wood and other accessories gives your pet a better quality of life and reduces stress. However, found items such as driftwood may carry pathogens and parasites, some of which could prove fatal to the dragon. Sterilizing the items by baking or boiling reduces the risk enormously. High enough temperatures kill nearly all microorganisms. Baking has the advantage over boiling in that you do not need to let the wood dry afterward.

Things You'll Need

  • Stiff brush
  • Baking tray
  • Oven
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush off any encrusted dirt, dust and debris from the driftwood.

    • 2

      Preheat the oven to 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Place the driftwood on the tray and bake for about 40 minutes. Check occasionally to ensure it doesn't smolder.

    • 4

      Allow the wood to cool completely before placing in the dragon's tank.