Chlorhexidine or Nolvasan for Tub Cleaning (disinfecting) )

What's the difference? Is Chlorhexadine a generic Nolvasan?
I can buy a gallon of Chlorhexidine for around $22.00 and Nolvasan costs about $60.00.

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Originally Posted by spk329

What's the difference? Is Chlorhexadine a generic Nolvasan?
I can buy a gallon of Chlorhexidine for around $22.00 and Nolvasan costs about $60.00.

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I believe Nolvasan is chlorhexidine diacetate, and most of the generic chlorhexidine products are chlorhexidine gluconate. I have no idea what this means in terms of its safety, effectiveness, etc.

Most people that I know use the chlorahexadine solution to clean tubs including myself.

Nolvasan- Commercial name for Chlorhexidine diacetate. A topical antiseptic used to clean, disinfect, and treat external cuts or wounds on animals. Available in liquid and ointment form. From what I can tell, it is similar to Neosporin or Bacitracin...

Chlorhexidine Gluconate- Antiseptic/ disinfectant commonly used in oral rinses to treat gingivitis.

I imagine the reason Nolvasan is more expensive is possibly because of other ingredients added to it to make it more of a medical grade product...

Nolvasan is Chlorhexidine diacetate - a strong disinfectant registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hibiclens is Chlorhexidine Gluconate - also known as surgical scrub! A strong disinfectand used by some hospitals as a surgical scrub to prevent cross-contamination and ect.


There is a difference between these two products - but nothing that you or I need to worry about. Both of these disinfectants are strong enough to wipe out the 'bugs' that snake keepers run into. Make sure the chlorhexidine you are looking at is close to 4% and you are good to go!

(by the way, I am at work at the Pharmacy, and just checked all my factoids with my Pharmacist :D)

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Originally Posted by CopperNightShade

Make sure the chlorhexidine you are looking at is close to 4% and you are good to go!

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Where can you get the 4% concentration from? The three websites I know of only sell 2%...

Yeah thats interesting, I've only seen and used the 2%. I see the 4% in the Hibiclens from Walmart though.

The only thing about Nolvasan (Chlorhexidine diacetate) is it isnt as safe as the Chlorhexidine gluconate.

Therefore I wouldn't use it as a mouth rinse, or soak the animal in a solution of it for something like scale rot.

i have cleaned with it before and found it irritating to my eyes.

I would also suggest rinsing tubs or enclosures out after using it where as with the Gluconate, I just spray and wipe and let dry.

HTH

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Where can you get the 4% concentration from? The three websites I know of only sell 2%...

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Personally I spend $0.99 on a gallon of Clorox and mix it 10% to water. Works great. :)

Of the two I prefer the Chlorhexidine. Nolvasan has a strong odor and requires a lot of rinsing, it irritates my eyes and nose so I can't imagine what it's doing to the geckos and snakes.
I think the difference between them is that Nolvasan is a bactericide and virucide, Chlorhexidine is just a bactericide.