Baking substrate

[sir slithers]

Hi I'm using beech chips as substrate for my snakes and as always its baked first. My question is What oven temps do people use for baking substrate and how long for? Mine is always done at 150 c for around half hour. Obviously if this is wrong please tell me (as i know you will). Thanks all

[Mik3F]

I use 100c for around an hour

[DJ Villa]

Not sure on your substrate but i used to bake orchard bark at 150c for an hour.

[Dexter612]

Wouldn't they be pre-baked if sold at a rep shop?

[Blackecho]

160C for an hour

[sir slithers]

Originally Posted by Dexter612

Wouldn't they be pre-baked if sold at a rep shop?

You'd like to think so but why take the chance. That's why everyone on here sterilises their substrate at home to be 100% sure that it has been. I have my method and i've asked for opinions so everyone (including myself) can see what everyone uses. i.e. After reading just the responses so far i will be upping my times as everyone else seems to do it for longer than me. You learn something new everyday.

[sunnyskeg]

nuke it in the microwave

[Dexter612]

How do you go about baking a full bag of it? Not sure if I have anything deep enough to fill with enough substrate to cover a 3 foot viv without baking and cooling multiple times, seems like it'd be a time consuming farce.

[Blackecho]

I don't bake my substrate, I use Aubiose or Aspen and have never had an issue. I do bake things like bits of bark or branches if I've bought them from a show or found them in a forest though.

[Gomjaba]

Originally Posted by Blackecho

I don't bake my substrate, I use Aubiose or Aspen and have never had an issue. I do bake things like bits of bark or branches if I've bought them from a show or found them in a forest though.

^^ that ;-)