Habitat - Indoor :: Stinky River Rocks

[rexandflower]

A week or so ago I was cleaning my turtle's 55 gallon tank, this includes removing the rocks (on the bottom of the tank) from the setup to rinse off. I purchased medium sized rocks because small gravel+turtle=bad. I also had the intention of being able to re-use the rocks, becuase I am on a budget.
When I clean the tank I usually just throw the rocks in a colander and set them to the side for later rinsing. My sister's cat, Gus, took a long piss on the rocks, and so now they smell like pee. The turtles don't have any rocks in their aquarium (which I know isn't okay). Is there anyway I can safely clean the rocks? Should I just buy new?

[marisa]

I'm sorry, I couldn't help laughing when I read about Gus. lol

To clean the rocks, you could wash/soak them in a diluted bleach solution. Two oz of bleach to a gallon of water. Then rinse repeatedly (I usually rinse 6 times, sometimes I let them soak a bit and change the water) and let them air dry. You should be able to reuse them. As an alternative, you could boil them.

Or, if you don't have that many, you could just buy new ones.

BTW, it's prefectly fine not to have rocks on the bottom. Some keepers have bare bottoms with something like aquarium background under the tank. I do have some rocks because I like the way they look and it gives my turts someting to forage in. I don't have many, though, just some in one area of the tank.

[missibsu]

Some keepers have bare bottoms...

Ummm, my bottom's covered! Loved the wording, lol.

Sounds like Gus wanted some attention. If you want to add some variety, there are some decorative rocks available at Walmart that my turts love to push around. They are back in the craft section for like 2 bucks a bag.