My bf bought me a juvie T. blondi for my birthday today. She's going in a 30 gal tank, and I want to make it as realistic as possible but I am afraid of putting leaf litter in there because of mites and other bugs. What options do I have as far as using stuff from outside? I have always washed all sticks and baked them, but I can't do that with leaf litter... I know I could just go without it, but I really love the way a natural set up looks and I want some leaf litter!

(Pics to come later)