Tegu substrate, bugs, permethrin

Lucille · #1 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 02:14 PM

From reading around i see that many people use bags of cypress mulch from the garden center as substrate for their tegus. For the rest of my lizards I use waffled kraft paper as substrate but tegus like to burrow.
Here, a lot of the mulch has little bugs in it; it would be a gigantic job to bake the amount of mulch required for a large enclosure.
Is it OK to spray the mulch with permethrin and subsequently use it as tegu bedding? I have a misting system installed to keep humidity up so the mulch will never really be totally dry.
What are your thoughts?

morti · #2 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 02:52 PM

I wouldn't because of feeding crickets and such to the tegu. I wouldn't want to feed anything that has been in contact with the permethrin.

Could you freeze the substrate?

Lucille · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 04:15 PM

I could empty my small freezer and freeze a bag at a time. How long would you think it needs to be frozen to kill the bugs? Good idea, I never thought of that.

morti · #4 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 04:26 PM

At the standard freezer temp of just barely 30 degrees, I'd say overnight would be sufficient.

This is just an educated guess so don't blame me personally if you get bugs.

Ameivaboy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 04:38 PM

The little bugs found in mulch are nothing to be concerned with,
just ask my tegus

I would think it would take more than overnight in a freezer to kill all of them as the mulch would act like an insulation layer.
Personally I use redwood mulch as cypress is not available in my area.

Lucille · #6 (**permalink**) 12-28-2007, 04:39 PM

Morti, I'm gonna make you come over here and pick every bug outta their cage

RehabRalphy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-29-2007, 07:24 PM

Permethrin is great for killing bugs. But, like everyone else said, if you feed crickets inside the cage, goodluck with keeping them alive. Though, I do not feed any insects inside the cage UNLESS its on a surface where no particles can be found. I do not want my tegus to ingest any of the mulch in the cage. A lot of people just dump a bunch of crickets into a 8'x4'x4' and they their tegu munch on them when they want. But what they dont realize is that half of those crickets are going to find crack, hole, etc. and go hind in it. Most of time, they'll hide in the mulch and eventually just die. Its waste of money, then you have to worry about your tegu getting a mouth full of mulch.

On a side note, I've had a tegu get wood chip in their mouth when chasing crickets inside the cage, this is why I refuse to do this anymore. If you want them to have a fun time chasing them, get yourself a Wal-Mart kiddy pool for $20. Its like 6' in diameter and they can have a blast chasing the crickets and get some sun outside at the same time. They'll just love it.

Same goes with any rodents on mulch as well. I feed F/T, which usually means that the rodents are wet by the time they thaw. If you throw a wet dead rat into a mulch filled cage, expect the rodent to get all dirty from the mulch. Dirt as in little pieces of wood attached to it. Now, you wouldn't want your tegu eating woodchips now do you?

Overtime, you'll figure out ways to feed your tegus. Once you starting building your "collection" of tegu's, you'll figure ways out to "cheat" when feeding to make it easier on them and you.

Back to your main question though, Permethrin on the substrate? Do I? Yes, I do. But then again, I don't feed insects on the mulch

Advertisement