Habitat - Indoor :: Cleaning

[KatieSmeltzer]

When you introduce a new "toy" into your turtle's tank, what's the proper way to clean it? I normally just rinse them off with really hot water. But I'm not sure if it's going to make my water dirty or add any kind of bacteria?

[jozzep]

I don't put toys in my turtle tank....But when i add decorations (from a store) i don't really stress over it.Just rinse off with some water and throw in.
if it's something i found at the pond or in the woods like stones or particular looking wood, i would boil it for a while to kill bacteria then add it to the tank.

[theartbook35]

I do the same thing as jozzep. Just rinse it off with really hot water.

If I suspect it may have any debris or non-turtle friendly stuff on it, that's when I give it the same cleaning I give their other stuff (bleach and rinse like hell till it no longer smells like bleach... If the object is not bleachable, that's another story...)

[BullDog]

Depends on what it is. Like Jozzep and artbook said, if it's like an aquarium decoration that was new from the store, then a good rinse (inside and out) with hot water should do it.
Rocks I boil for a few minutes (and make sure you cool them off before throwing them in the tank).
Anything else that I don't think will survive boiling or won't fit (or needs a more thorough cleaning), I pour diluted vinegar over it, then give it a good rinse of with hot water.