Types of rocks for beardie?

[saden99]

Alright, so I am moving Rupert into a larger cage (75 gallon) and have a collection of rocks from the store already, but I want to bring in some rocks from the outside because the store is expensive for [whatever] some reason.

I was wondering if there are any types of rocks that aren't suggested? I really only have huge chunks (and I mean HUGE) of granite, slate, sandstone and quartz(!! using for decoration). I'll clean them in bleach-water solution with a toothbrush since they'll be covered in dirt.

His 30 gallon tank at the moment just seems so bland with tiles, a few rocks and a large climbing log (which he occupies about 80% of the time). I just want there to be so much more in the new tank and even some places for him to just wedge himself since I know they love to do that. Like I always do I'll make sure that anything I put into the tank can withstand some force on it because I don't want to crush him so it'll take a little while before I get it just how I want it and hopefully how he likes it.

 

[daner923]

I think anything that doesn't crumble is okay. Just make sure after you bleach it that you bake it in the oven at 250 or so for about 30-45 minutes to kill anything leftover.

 

[diamc]

[Moved here from ER forum]

 

[saden99]

This was posted in the ER forum?!

Wow, I'm sorry. I was quite sure I clicked on enclosures when I made the topic. Unless I was tabbed with several different threads/forums and THOUGHT I was in the right one.



Thank you for moving it. Are you sure that it's okay to heat the rocks in an oven? I figured bleach-water solution would kill anything and being in the oven might cause the rock to fracture if there is water inside of it?

 

[daner923]

It's possible, but that's not TOO high of a temp. The bleach water will not kill everything, though. Some parasites and bacteria are not affected by bleach. In particular, coccidia cannot be killed with bleach, and it is a common, if not ubiquitous, parasite in bearded dragons.

 

[Gail]

No need to cook and bleach a rock, one or the other works just fine. Personally, I use soak in bleach water and scrub really well. I would be iffy about using sandstone, if its porous at all, liquid waste could soak in and get nasty.
Slate is fantastic, so is granite which is what I use.