cage cleaning

[L.West]

I am currently using Reptile Carpet in my Ball Python cage - how often should I be changing the reptile carpet.

I always check for poopers or urates and remove them promptly but i know sometimes they actually produce liquid urine - how often should I be replacing this carpet??

Currently I replace the actual carpet weekly but I wasn't sure if this was correct. I also clean and disinfect everything at that time also.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[chimpkin]

Do you replace it or just clean it? That could get expensive. You should check into using indented Kraft paper. It's like thick brown kraft paper that has small rounded ridges. It is very absorbent and the best thing is when they crap on it you pull it and put in a new piece.

Some other options are cypress mulch, aspen, and newspaper. All of which would be easier than trying to maintain cage carpet.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ideally, you'd clean everything every time it's dirty. Sometimes, some of the tubs here get cleaned two or three times a day if we find them dirty over and over again (or tipped water bowl, etc). Keep the enclosure clean is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your animals stays healthy and stress free.

Wayyyy back in the day when I had snakes in tanks and used to use reptile carpet, I actually kept a bunch of extra pieces in a box under the tanks ... when a tank was dirty, I just swapped out the reptile carpet real quick and did a full cleaning when I had the time.

Sounds like you're on the right track with what you're doing ... but if you're snake is doing well and eating well, don't be afraid to do full cleanings more often than once a week if you have the time ... it will only help.

-adam

[L.West]

Great, thanks for the info. I do have extra pieces ready to go but I also like the idea of using the indented craft paper - at least when that gets pee'd on you can see it. It's hard to tell if there is pee on the reptile carpet short of touching it - yuck!!!!

It seems to me that snakes produce those urates more often than actual pee - is this true??

Thanks everyone.

[Inknsteel]

Mine seem to produce urine and urates at the same time... It's not always A LOT of urine, but it's always there...

[justin81]

Mine seem to produce urine and urates at the same time... It's not always A LOT of urine, but it's always there...

Mine too. I use reptile carpet too and could smell the urine, but couldn't always see where it was. I've started using aspen on top of the carpet to help soak up some of the urine.

[starmom]

Great, thanks for the info. I do have extra pieces ready to go but I also like the idea of using the indented craft paper - at least when that gets pee'd on you can see it. It's hard to tell if there is pee on the reptile carpet short of touching it - yuck!!!!

It seems to me that snakes produce those urates more often than actual pee - is this true??

Thanks everyone.

Indented Kraft paper rocks!!!!
Here's a link: http://www.packagingsupplies.com/Kra..._Products.html

[L.West]

I'm convinced that I can not possibly keep the cage completely dry and clean using the reptile carpet so I just ordered a large roll of the indented craft paper from Uline.

I will feel better knowing the cage is always clean and dry.

Thank you for the help.