Cleaning - Tips & Tricks

So I am trying to create a good routine to keep my snake healthy and in tip top shape. I spot clean my tank as needed and have yet to do a full clean as my tank has only been operating for about a week and a half.

Wanted to know what cleaning products, habits or methods are suggested to disinfect/clean the various aspects of the tank... ie Synthetic Leaves, Hides/Bowls, Climbing Wood, Glass etc. I didn't know if I could use some sort of household cleaner (non-toxic) or if homemade mixes of iodine/water were more suggested. I know everyone has their own little tips and tricks of things to do and 'NOT' do, all are welcome!

Thanks,

I use a chlorhexidine solution. I empty out the tub or tank and spray it with chlorhexidine and let it set for about 15 minutes then wipe it out clean it is great because you do not have to rinse like you do with bleach.

For the water dishes, hides and plants I put them in the sink and spay them down with chlorhexidine and let them set for about 15 minutes then I rinse them with hot water and dry them off well and put them back in after I am finished.

If you buy 1 gallon of chlorhexidine it makes about 128 gallons after you mix it with water so it goes a long way.

Not sure how this would apply to snakes but I used to work in an Infectious Diseases office and I do know that chlorhexidine use for humans should be monitored. Using it to often or for to long a period can result in it killing good flora that the body needs to help fight infections.

As I said, I haven't a clue on how that might affect a snake.

I use baby wipes to clean out the obvious bits, then haul tubs to the bathroom and clean them in the bathtub with hot water and plenty of soap. Once they dry, I spray them down with chlorhexidine and let that dry. Once that's dry, I spray them with P.A.M. and let that dry. Then they're ready for snakes. I keep a stack ready to go so I can go down the line and just plop snakes from dirty enclosures into clean ones and then clean them in groups afterward.

For hides and ceramic water bowls, I wash them in the dishwasher with it set as high as it will go (water temp). Afterward I soak the dishes and hides in a bleach solution, rinse well, and then dry before use.

I use chlorohexidine too (sold as the brand Nolvasan - you can get it at places like Tractor Supply but it's not cheap), but I will be switching back to bleach as soon as this bottle runs out. It's too expensive for my taste whenever I can do the same thing with a cheap bottle of bleach. Once you dilute it to the recommended amount, it should last you for a long time.

Follow the directions on the bottle too... a lot of people just wipe things down and assume they're clean but the directions on both say to leave the item submerged for ~10 minutes.

I've also heard of people using vinegar, but I can't imagine how bad the smell would be after awhile.

I use good old bleach. Its cheap and it does the job. I use a half a cup of bleach and fill the rest with water in a regular spray bottle. Works great.

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My routine is to take the snake from a dirty tub and plop them into the weighing tub (it has a locking lid) and take the dirtied paper towel out, remove any poop/urates/shed, and then wash the tub well with hot soapy water. I then rinse well and spray with a bleach solution and let stand several minutes. Rinse again and dry with a towel. I put in new paper towel and return the snake to their tub. After all the tubs are done, I take all of the water bowls and wash them in the sink with hot soapy water, rinse, spray with bleach, let stand, rinse well, and let dry before refilling them with water and putting them in the tubs.

It is a bit time consuming and I hope to upgrade everyone to ceramic bowls so that I can simply wash them in the dishwasher.

Thanks for all the replies!!!

The product that I picked up when I first bought everything and setup the tank was chlorhexidine based. It was just a tiny little bottle and only had enough to clean for the initial setup. I spoke to one of the Animal Hospitals today too (where I take my dog) and brought this topic up while I was on the phone and they also suggested chlorhexidine based products or bleach mixtures in limited use and limited amounts.

Happy Cleaning - and kudos to you guys/gals who have to clean so many tubs/tanks. Between my turtle, fish and snake alone it feels like a lifetime of constant cleaning! =)

How often do you guys clean with the solutions? Every time they poop?

I use a combination spot clean (just scope up dirty substrate add some fresh and done) as necessary and a full total clean about once every 5 or 6 weeks.

I clean out all the substrate (shop vac) then I use a steam cleaner to blast the inside of the enclosure or tub. Wipe everything out with a rag then a spray with Chlorohexidine (1 oz of 2% sol'n to a quart) Leave that for at least 20 min.

While I am waiting I clean all the cage furniture (plants bowls ect.) I use a soap called bactistat CHD or an iodine based soap whatever is handy I use a brush and some soap hot water scrub everything and leave the soap suds on for 20 min (Most disinfectants need some time to work)

Back to the cage steam again and wipe out with a clean rag. Back to the sink and rinse all the rest of the 'furniture' with hot hot water and dry it out then everything goes back.

Here is a link for a Canadian Chlorhexidine supplier it is hard to bring over the boarder. (controlled substance)

http://www.exclusivesnakes.com/

Alex