How To Disinfect A Leaf Litter & Driftwood For Reptile Tanks! 🍁🍂

Today we'll be going to the forest, collecting leaves and disinfecting/sterilising the leaf litter, as well as some drift wood to make sure it's safe for our bio active reptile tanks!
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#LeafLitter #BioActiveTank #Reptiles

[@jamfamreptiles1286]

I love seeing people be soo respectful of nature and all creatures (how you sorted through the leaf litter before taking it🙂)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Will Jamison 😊 I would just hate to think that I accidentally took a bug out of the forest then flushed it down the sink when I got home 😭

[@anaoaaugehauq5093]

"You're just watching someone try to bake wood, I don't know" I love your videos😂

[@prestigenoob6355]

The cloudiness of the critter keeper is from using the rough side of the sponge, it causes micro scratches on the acrylic

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Emely Vaca yeah I realised afterward and was like nooooooo😩😩

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

Yes, acrylic is very sensible to being scratched. I had acrylic panels on the sides of my aviary (on the bottoms) for years, to avoid too much of the debris falling out and the acrylic was basically ruined after the first week and got worse with every scrub (but you sure have to get that bird poop off of there)

[@mossypants32]

I am soon getting a leopard gecko and I am so glad I found your channel! Thank you so much! I love your channel! I am very grateful that I know how to properly care for the gecko I’m getting! I know this isn’t really a gecko video but I still wanted to thank you!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Libbi Chibi aw thanks so much!!

[@mossypants32]

Aaaah! No problem! You are such an amazing youtuber!

[@yeawhatevstrevs6315]

Oh wow this will save me money! I love making bio active tanks and it gives me an excuse to go outside! Excellent video as per usual ❤️❤️❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

YeaWhatevsTrevs thank you!! Yeah the forest is autumn is amazing, we ended up walking round for an hour or so lol

[@mackenziekarsonovich1073]

I’ve done this with wood from the forest by my house. My geckos and my toad love it, and it was free! (Not that I didn’t blow a ton of money of hides anyway lol)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

MacKenzie Karsonovich ☺️☺️ ah cool! Yeah I’ve spent too much on leaves people have already baked in the past, I figured it’s time I go out and get some myself lol

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

Just keep in mind, that not everywhere it is allowed to collect plant matter like wood and take it home with you. There are cities where law prohibits you from taking anything from nature.

[@leahjvr3245]

@@petrescuework-difficultcas6581 Yep

[@illyannaturtle6950]

I know that I say this in every comment I post on this channel but YOU ARE SO HELPFUL!! I’m planning on getting a leopard gecko next summer, after I move and have room for the tank. I’ve been saving up, which is taking a while because I’m 13 and getting $$ is an uncommon occurrence. Hopefully I’ll have more than enough by next summer though 😃 Once again, Tysm for everything kind stranger

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Illyanna Turtle thank you :) it’s okay I was there once, had to save money and do research from the age of 10, until I could finally get a Gecko when I was 13. ☺️

[@illyannaturtle6950]

Leopard Gecko oh my gosh, right after I posted this comment I got a call from a friend saying that she has a friend who is trying to sell her leopard gecko! (They got unexpected foster kittens and can’t show the leopard gecko and much attention as he deserves) She is selling the Leo and all his stuff for only $50 and I already have $100 saved up in my leopard gecko funds! I asked my parents and they said yes Haha so I guess now I can finally use all the built up knowledge I’ve collected from watching your videos 😆😁 Hopefully I’ll get him within a week! Edit: as for the space issue I’m planning on cleaning out the guest room and putting a lot of the stuff that’s in there into boxes and into the garage, that way I can also move my snake in there and it’ll BUH-EE the reptile room

[@aaliyahwilliams9007]

You are such a great KZbinr, you have given me so much good advice for my gecko pascel 🌝🌝😘❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aaliyah Williams thank you 😊 love his name too!

[@aquaterraexoticpets]

Awesome video! I recommend using boiling them since it will real ease tannins but if you are using them for land reptiles it’s ok to heat them.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah yeah true, though for aquatics I've heard tannins can be beneficial, just turns your water a bit brown lol

[@aquaterraexoticpets]

Lol ya it actually can keep your water parameters good but exactly brown! Lol

[@daan8934]

Ahhh, thanks for this vid!! My gecko's will surely love some leaves!!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

IceMint thanks :)

[@theincredible9168]

My two hobbies, collecting tarantulas (currently have 21) and hunting. It's always funny because I'll be looking for whitetail signs, then get excited cause I find some wood, cool leaves or bark for my Ts and then find deer signs and get excited over that. Never thought these two hobbies would interact.

[@leahjvr3245]

It's usually "Hi guys and welcome to today's video" but now it's "Hi guys so today We're in the forest"😄

[@XsospoonX]

Love the video. You have a great sense of humor and a lovely accent! Have great day!

[@renees766]

I need this! Haven't e een watched it yet, but THANK YOU!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Renee S no problem :)

[@saraheck9004]

Yupp!! All my stuff was bought online but still gonna disenfect because you never know if they truly sold it clean!

[@TheSynapz]

Hey @Leopard Gecko I am no owner of a leo yet but want to thank you for all the work you did giving us so much Information. I probably watched more than 8h of your videos the last 5 days 😂 But I want to make sure to know all important stuff before I get my gecko. If you need new ideas for content I would like to see how you would setup a temporary tank for a vet visit or even when you would move into another town. Again thanks for sharing your wisdom with newbies like me🙇‍♂️

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Those chestnut leaves look incredible! It IS a hardwood tree, so I feel safe assuming they are acceptable for use.

[@nittygritty7034]

Adorable catapiller!

[@Damian-xt9cd]

Quick question about the deep heat projector: does the hide underneath the projector get hotter than the other hides

[@fionashepley478]

Yes. Especially if it’s made of slate or another heat conducting material. Ideally it should get to 90 inside but not too hot on top.

[@Damian-xt9cd]

Thank you for your help I really think the deep heat projector is cool but was worried that my leopard gecko wouldn’t be able to hide and stay warm at the same time

[@kezkreations1313]

Thanks for the tutorial! I’m trying to make my own enclosure to get a jumping spider :]

[@lostfound8112]

Love your content and your accent

[@willowsatterfield4126]

Hi, I recently got a leopard gecko and I’ve noticed in the past couple of days she hasn’t been in her warm or humid hide as much. Right now she is in the corner of her terrarium with her feet and hands on the glass. When we first got her she would normally be in her warm hide. But as I said now she is normally in the corner of her terrarium where her pooping spot is. Even during the day.

[@dtkgameandmusic]

Your video is very helpful

[@patryikhuayra9176]

Supper excited about my new hype gecko I will be getting soon 😁 thanks your channel is very informative

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Patryik Huayra exciting!! :) no problem 😊😊

[@darrenhurrell]

How long did the leaves take in the oven? I’ve seen various methods. Some say hours, others minutes.

[@dandelion6069]

Thanks so much for being so helpful! I'm soon making a bioactive Leopard gecko tank for my gecko Pip Squeak! I love your channel so much! thanks again!!!! Pip is a girl btw.

[@GamerGirlMaster]

So you can bake the leaves and wood from outside for your leopard geckos?

[@marzmarley]

I'm sorry what was the temperature (gas mark 1?) that you baked the leaves on after washing them?

[@pricklypear1704]

I know this is an older vid, but can someone please tell me why the only method i see for terrarium wood sterilization is baking for a long duration of time? Couldn't i just boil it for smaller pieces? I find it odd that the only time wood is boiled is when it is used in a fish tank. Just somewhat confusing to me

[@Royalexotics7269]

can I use a ligustrum bush branch for a tropical set up??? Will it rot? I am using it in a background so I doint want it rotting in my background.

[@ewanp7580]

I wonder, seeing as you’ve been to marwell, if this is the new forest?

[@laineykiser19]

If you use salt with the vinegar it supposed to help clean

[@strayargus9382]

Never before find leaves so valuable lol

[@daulpenino5542]

I like my leaves w garlic and lots of butter in the oven for 30 minutes. Leave chips Yum 😋

[@RaikouHDGamer]

Daul Penino wtf

[@leopardgeckotalk]

it did feel like a bit of a cooking video lol

[@flaviaravida6110]

I love your channel! It’s soo helpful, thank you very much. I have since 2 weeks an adult leopardgecko from the animal shelter. He didn’t get handled much. If I am trying to hold him, he freaks out. What should I do? I’m so desperate

[@rubyhillier2664]

where i live, wood or reptiles and fish is like 20$.

[@stefanvanderwals8918]

Chestnut is fine to use.i use it in my aquariums so for the terrarium its fine.

[@coreygendron3766]

How long and what temp did you bake them?

[@facundogomez2531]

Those are definitely chestnuts

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Pet Country 🙈🙈 it was only after filming I was like...hmm they seem a bit small to be conkers

[@facundogomez2531]

Lol 😂

[@Cheesefiddlehorn]

What about rocks?

[@beanwater4830]

That tank you got for one pound is the same as the first tank my Leopard Gecko was in(Also I'm from the U.S. sorry if that's not the right kind of pound )

[@creedz3719]

Say if I go on holiday for like a week , do I need to feed the geckos before I go or get someone to do it whilst I'm gone?? Luv ur vids btw as are very helpful 👍

[@jameswhite7969]

How long did you bake the leaves for?

[@mugawari_cici313]

Hello, I was planning on switching my crested geckos Vivarium to a bioactive setup and I’ve been researching about Isopods and noticed their is dwarf isopods and giant isopods and I was wondering which one you think is best to put in the setup?

[@dragonflygirl79]

I use the dwarf isopods they are great as a clean up crew.

[@hostronic]

If spiders hate conkers, does that mean spider mites hate them too? Spider mite repellent?

[@puggaliciouskittykats7014]

Yaaaasss

[@sumerburton]

What temperature

[@kronosrogers1182]

🤣 love this

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Kronos Rogers thank you :)

[@kronosrogers1182]

@@leopardgeckotalk your welcome :)

[@charitysheppard4549]

The American learned all kinds of U.K. slang today. I had to look up "conkers." However, I was able to figure out "fairy liquid." Strange how we can speak the same language, yet..........not. 😂😂 As a baker, I cannot comprehend how you only have "gas marks" and not temperature sets. I'd burn everything.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Charity Sheppard 😂😂 I thought everyone knew about conkers lol. Oh yeah when following any recipe or instruction from America it can be a bit of a pain when do it in gas marks and grams or ml instead of cups ☺️

[@coolguyko8583]

I'm Picky When Collecting Items

[@carolynd1679]

I want to do this, but baking the wood for me is out of the question/ What are my alternatives?

[@lillianbitner2769]

GREAT VIDEO😀😁👍😊

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Lillian Bitner thank you!!

[@demmemess4456]

How long should I put them in the oven

[@alliebenner3856]

Is any leaves good or are there any dangerous ones

[@dfhfgjhgj]

:O what forest is this??? I really want to visit it ;-;

[@leopardgeckotalk]

hunakar just a random forest ☺️. The forest in autumn is awesome though

[@dfhfgjhgj]

@@leopardgeckotalk eek so it doesn't have a name?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

it does, but its local to me, so i'm not going to share that online :')

[@dfhfgjhgj]

@@leopardgeckotalk ok that's fair enough

[@Futurebound_jpg]

Hi

[@chrisselbygreen]

Hi. I have subscribed and hit the notifications and also follow your Instagram

[@trentonreptiles2468]

Are there any leaves that are harmful to Leos?

[@sanaminatozaki9064]

So kyut

[@julieaime4594]

Someone help! What is a gas mark?!

[@OttawaOldFart]

The only reason to boil wood that long would be to remove tanins so your tank does not turn yellow, personally I like the tint it gives my tank and it is good for the fish as this is more in line with their evolutionary environment. . Water is safe to drink after boiling it for only a few minutes so it makes no sense to boil wood for six hours.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah fair enough, yeah I imagine that's more of a problem in aquariums or paludariums

[@aza8800]

Very late, but I suggest almond leaves. Gives a great tint

[@bobkob]

Great video, I’ve used wild sanitized Magnolia leaves before, but what types of tree woods are safe for reptile use after sanitized ?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah nice, I often see those types of leaves for sale for tanks :). I'm not 100% sure, I always use cork, driftwood and bogwood :)

[@bobkob]

Leopard Gecko thankyou

[@nildaluzrodriguez]

What did you use to wash the critter keeper? Is it safe to use soap and tap water? I heard it isn't.

[@pricklypear1704]

Depends on what you keep in it. If you use a mild soap like dawn and rinse well its fine. She mentioned in the video that she used white vinegar.

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

Oak material contains tanning agents and aldehydes which are poisonous to consumption and can lead to troubles when being breathed in. I avoid any prolonged exposure of my pets to oak material.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

How strange, oak leaves are one of the common types of leaves for sale for tanks. My Isopods have pretty much devoured all the oak leaves I’ve already used.

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

@@leopardgeckotalk Maybe insects react differently to that because they have a different metabolism and respiratory system. My information is for the exposure on mammals. I don't know if it is transferrable to reptiles, but I wouldn't take a risk if there are alternatives (which there are).

[@MomoDollie]

Leopard Gecko can you make a video about Guinea Pig Care? I'm Planning to be a Pig mommy soon to baby piggys and I would love to hear some tips from you as you are my favorite Pet KZbinr! 💕💖

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Momo aw thanks, one channel I watched before getting piggies was SkinnyPigs1 :)

[@MomoDollie]

@@leopardgeckotalk Okay thank you!

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

They always need a social partner (at least one other guinea pig, no socialization with rabbits). Their diet mostly consist out of hay and herbs (dry or fresh), fresh veggies and greens (which you should offer several times a day) and grain. The standard guinea pig diet from a pet store isn't healthy nor good for them. In no pet store you can buy adequate cages. You have to build them yourself. Or better, let them free roam in a dedicated room which is rodent proof. Some guinea pigs never like to be touched. This has to be trained. They get stressed out easily. They aren't a typical lap pet. They like to chew on things to shorten their teeth, so you should offer them safe wood to do so.

[@MomoDollie]

@@petrescuework-difficultcas6581 Okay thank you! I'm getting babies so this really helps

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

@@MomoDollie Just remember, they can reproduce at 4 weeks of age. That means if you get a male and a female, the male has to be neutered before he may have contact to the female. Like all animals, when puberty strikes, two females or also two males will fight over their order of rank. This can get rough sometimes, you have to monitor this. If you have two males, you might have to get castrate them.

[@h0nkycat818]

Hello!! I have a deep heat light, do my leopard geckos still need a heat pad? They’re ~14 years old (rescued them) so I’m not sure if that changes anything! Love your channel ❤️❤️❤️

[@GreinFein]

Faded Draws as long as the heat lamp is infrared, it should be fine for the geckos. Make sure it has a basking spot and the temperature is correct

[@jamiewalter3235]

Faded Draws Kim Nguyen actually leopard geckos DONT need a basking spot as they are crepuscular/ nocturnal and come out at night. they absorbed heat through their belly’s so yes, they do need a heat pad to properly digest their food.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

If it’s the deep heat projector it doesn’t produce visible light - just heat. So yep that’s all you need. Just make sure you’re using a dimming stat :)

[@TheFlyingChair24]

Hey I need help so what do I need to do to prepare for hibernation

[@fionashepley478]

If you’re talking about leopard geckos, nothing.

[@honey2691]

I wanna get a leopard geko but I got a cat. It’s not like she’s gonna eat them, but could it be stressful for the gekos,if my cat would watch them or something?

[@fionashepley478]

Just make sure the gecko and cat are never allowed to interact. The cat must be kept out of the room when the gecko is out. Make sure the cat can’t break into or knock over the enclosure. If your cat shows too much interest in the gecko keep them out of the room 24/7.

[@BuissonYt]

I put my leaves in the oven at 250C and a fire started in my oven so I'm just telling you be very careful, I thought for a second my house would burn down...

[@tonyself5673]

I have two baby leopard geckos in the same tank and I can’t tell their genders yet. So how long can I have them together until I should separate them?

[@fionashepley478]

You should separate them as soon as possible.

[@averybelle1301]

Hey! I know this isn’t related to the video too much, but my crestie, Nora, had skin on top of her head peeled back. I was able to see it. I turned back off the light in my room and went back to what I was doing. An hour later, I checked back and it was gone. I took her out and there isn’t any shed beginning to peel. What is happening? It’s been 24 hours, still nothing!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Avery Belle she probably ate it. They shed really really quickly. I rarely get to see Lyra do it.

[@tokki963]

I have a question. Is it ok to give a wide variety of worms for your Leo? Like if you want to give it 10 worms could you do 2 mealworms, 2 butter worms,2 Dubias, 2 silkworms,etc? I heard it was bad but I’m not sure and your a more reliable source haha tyyy!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Usually when feeding geckos I’ll stick to one or two insects. Like I may mix up mealworms and their pupas.

[@tokki963]

Leopard Gecko ok thank you!

[@deepfriedbutter5805]

If I tried to cook driftwood my house would light on fire I'm glad I have a rocky cage for my gecko

[@wildboigreg2032]

What type of tank do you use for your leopard geckos

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Jordan Mayer they’re wooden Vivariums :)

[@mattdann5479]

Hi 👋🏼 I’m looking to make a bio active vivarium for my leopard gecko. I am going to use a Arcadia Mini UVB Kit 2.4% light. Will I be able to use a Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED might aswell. Will this be too much light and hurt my geckos eyes? and should I get 9 or 13 watt jungle dawn LED? Thanks for your help

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Nah what you’ll probably want to do is a light schedule like 7-9am UV 9am-4pm led, 4-6pm UV :) timers really help for this :)

[@mattdann5479]

Leopard Gecko Thanks! Your channel has really helped me out

[@phi6129]

Some of those are chestnuts not conkers 😁

[@EmilianoGonzales416]

Can leopard geckos eat some wild insects?

[@fionashepley478]

No. Wild insects can carry parasites and pesticides.

[@Blarg_Blarg]

My leopard gecko keeps sitting in a corner waving his tail in the air and won’t eat what should I do

[@schleichcrafter9900]

Blarg blarg it sounds like he’s stressed or scared. Maybe check if there’s something not right about the enclosure or the area around it and leave him be for a while?

[@glichard._.5522]

Dart comes name comes from stranger things XD

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Fin WeliasYT thought so 😊😊

[@cathijohnson5867]

please help!!!! how do i keep fruit flies out of my crickets and meal worms?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

im not really sure, i've never had that problem before. Have you googled it to see if anyone has mentioned it in a forum or anything?

[@petrescuework-difficultcas6581]

Set up a fruit fly trap right next to your feeder insects bin. Fill a glass (can be a shot glass) up one third with apple vinegar and then water (about the same amount or a bit more). Place the glass where you want to leave it. Then slightly drop a tiny(!) amount of dish soap in there (I have made the experience, that if you put the dish soap in and then move the glass, it doesn't work that well). Then just wait. The fruit flies will be attracted by the vinegar and try to drink it. But because of the lack of surface tension, they are sucked into the liquid and drown. Throw the liquid out every week. Rinse thoroughly and repeat until there are no more fruit flies. It might take a few weeks (or until the source is eliminated).

[@cathijohnson5867]

@@leopardgeckotalk no I have not. But I don't have them anywhere except in my feeder insects

[@Scorpion_overlord]

first moment i wondering what the hell is WO WA ... then i get it ... she mean : WATER -_-

[@cheesegoblin8339]

You mean... buckeyes not konkers

[@trippy_wrld1380]

I know this dumb but did you put these in your lepored gecko tank

[@maxiieegamer9164]

Dude

[@sumerburton]

Yes

[@Floris254]

80th

[@oakenletzer6781]

Those arent conkers

[@tortoisetarzan]

First!

[@DoodleBugLisa]

I think you are lovely and very informative, but I wish u could be a bit more succinct, as the time I have for my animals, I’d prefer giving to them, rather than watching you do stuff.