Do you sterilise substrate before using it?

[Gradderz]

May I ask why this is needed? I do not have access to an oven at the moment for the amount I need to put in my tank, I've never heard of sterilising substrate until I just thought of it there...

[Mentat]

For the same reason we wipe tank and plastics with 10% bleach solution, remove soil and soak plants (not mosses) in same solution, and bake pieces of wood or stones. To kill any nasties and prevent them entering vivarium as part of a preventive procedure similar to keeping new frogs in quarantine.

Sorry; but if you do not have access to any oven, there are no alternative steps in regards to substrate as far as I know and will have to take a higher risk of a pathogen slipping in .