Cleaning a glass tank

[NickP]

Hey guys

Two quick questions.

1. I just noticed that the warmer side's ground glass is super hot! It won't damage the snake in anyway because I had 2 layers of newspaper, 2 layers of paper towels then a thick layer of aspen, and now it's gonna be coconut husk. It never got hotter than 94 on the ground and in the hide, but the glass itself is super hot. Can that be bad?

2. Is Clorox or Lysol wipes safe to use to clean the tank? It's a 20g and I have no way of actually washing, so at the moment all I can do is disinfect with the clorox or lysol wipes. Would that be fine?

[Blu Mongoose]

If it's not getting over 94 it should be okay. Depends on what you consider super hot and can the snake get under the paper? Hopefully you have a thermostat to keep it from getting too high.


I wouldn,t recommend cleaning with either unless you have a way to rinse it very thoroughly. Cleaning residues and fumes can be harmful to your snake.

[NickP]

Well, the thermostat stops it from getting hotter than 94 at the substrate level, but at the glass it is too hot to the touch. Few seconds of contact will start burning. I put the probe on it. I'll get an accurate temp in few seconds.

I don't really have a way to rinse the tank right now, so what would you recommend me to do? It's not really that dirty, there are few dried water spots here and there but thats about it. So you're saying the leftover residues is what will be dangerous?

[Blu Mongoose]

If I had no way to wash it I would probably wipe it out with the cleaner, than take a damp rag and wipe it out, then allow it to dry, make sure there are no fumes before putting the snake back in.

[NickP]

Thnx. Also 1 more question. I think i put too much Coconut husk in and the UTHs don't heat this thing up enough to get the temperature up. The warm side is currently 80 and doesn't seem to be going higher. Should I take some Husk out? I wanna have enough to make sure my BP don't be able to dig down to the UTH. I also have 1 thick layer of newspapers and 1 layer of paper towels under it.

[Thunder Kat]

I keep a small UTH and a 75 watt lamp on the warm side and the temp stays around 91-92 degrees. I have a thick layer of repti bark in a tank that's about 2 1/2'-3' long 1' wide and 2' tall.

[dr del]

Hi,

The best recomendation is to have the glass temp at 92-95 maximum and the surface temperature at 90-93.

Easiest way is to set the glass temps then simply adjust the depth of the substrate.

It is in no way impossible for you snake to burrow down to the glass and get burnt.

This would also solve your too much substrate problem once and for all.


dr del