Cleaning question

I'm aware that I should be cleaning my snake's habitat once a month and spot cleaning weekly. What cleaning procedure do you go through? I have chlorhexadine and healthy habitat spray from reptile basics. Do I use healthy habitat as a cleaner then use chlorhexadine? Or do I wash everything with dawn dishwasher soap, then disinfect with chlorhexadine and then use healthy habitat? Is healthy habitat even a cleaner? When my snake has a bowel movement, can I use healthy habitat to clean I do I need to disinfect also with chlorhexadine? Sorry for the barrage of questions but I was not sure of what I am supposed to do step by step and I couldn't find anything on the stickies section or anything details from the search function. And in planning to switch to f10 since it can last longer when mixed with tap water in a container.

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Originally Posted by barbie.dragon

I'm aware that I should be cleaning my snake's habitat once a month and spot cleaning weekly. What cleaning procedure do you go through? I have chlorhexadine and healthy habitat spray from reptile basics. Do I use healthy habitat as a cleaner then use chlorhexadine? Or do I wash everything with dawn dishwasher soap, then disinfect with chlorhexadine and then use healthy habitat? Is healthy habitat even a cleaner? When my snake has a bowel movement, can I use healthy habitat to clean I do I need to disinfect also with chlorhexadine? Sorry for the barrage of questions but I was not sure of what I am supposed to do step by step and I couldn't find anything on the stickies section or anything details from the search function. And in planning to switch to f10 since it can last longer when mixed with tap water in a container.

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Once a month? I'm doing once a week on all our BP's. Never know what bacteria can grow/ how fast it can spread. Guess I'm just a bit obsessive ha.
I spray all the cages out with a diluted solution of 10-15% chlorhexadine once a week and wipe down the tub very well.(along with the top and bottom of each cubbyhole where the tubs sit) Once every two weeks I take out everyone's water bowls, fill them up with 20% vinegar and 80% hot water. I let them sit for 10-15 min. That way all the hardwater deposit that is caked on the sides comes off with ease. Then I wash them out with dawn antibacterial soap and fill them with fresh water :)

Then BAM! you got your self a clean rack, with happy snakes :)

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Originally Posted by Mrl249

Once a month? I'm doing once a week on all our BP's. Never know what bacteria can grow/ how fast it can spread. Guess I'm just a bit obsessive

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X2

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Originally Posted by Mrl249

along with the top and bottom of each cubbyhole where the tubs sit

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That is the one reason I love my racks!!, Built them to run with lids on:gj:

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Originally Posted by Mrl249

Once every two weeks I take out everyone's water bowls, fill them up with 20% vinegar and 80% hot water. I let them sit for 10-15 min. That way all the hardwater deposit that is caked on the sides comes off with ease. Then I wash them out with dawn antibacterial soap and fill them with fresh water

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I really need to start doing this.



To answer Barbie, weekly cleanings are really easy but I use paper towels and I also use chlorohexadine, F10 and/or green soap.

I spray all my tubs with f10 when my snakes urinate and defecate. I like for them to be in a clean environment at all times. I don't give bacteria a chance to build up. My snakes both have a bad habit of using their water bowls for toilets, so I am constantly cleaning out their bowls too.

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant not a cleaner. It is made inactive when there is organic compounds present in any quantity. The correct procedure (manufacturers instructions) is that you need to use soap/detergent and water and first scrub out all surfaces, rinse everything well and then SATURATE everything with the chlorhexidine and let stand for 10 min (contact time) vertical surfaces often need to have more applied as it runs off before 10 min has passed. I then dry out the enclosure and will lightly mist healthy habitat as a oder control.

F10 is the same but f10 recommends using f10sc XD cleaner first then using the f10sc disinfectant following basically the same method as I have all ready outlined.

The thing to remember with chlorhexidine is it is not stable when mixed with tap water in a sealed container it only is good for one week. Distilled water extends this to 6 weeks.

http://images49.fotki.com/v566/photo...37_39AM-vi.jpgHosted on Fotki

http://images54.fotki.com/v101/photo.../pfizer-vi.jpgHosted on Fotki

http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-359873_mfr.pdf
http://www.f10biocare.co.uk/vetguidelines1.pdf

We generally spot clean each tub about 3 times a week. As for our big clean, every 2 weeks we wash the tubs with Dawn, then spray down with F10 and let air dry completely. Replace substrate and move on. We also use disposable deli cups in our tubs for their water so each snake gets a new cup weekly unless they use it as their bathroom and then we replace it immediately. Hope this helps, it works for us.

interesting the variations of frequency I spot clean daily and do a full clean and full disinfect every month or so. I usually will at the first of the month do one or two and then an other every few days until I am done. I then start all over It is loosely monthly.

I just did a quick Goggle on this "F10" seems all the prices were in Pounds, not dollars? Is this something I can get at a pet store or a show here in the US ?

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Originally Posted by BillinIndiana

Is this something I can get at a pet store or a show here in the US ?

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Reptile Basics

I got my F10 from Big Reptile World( John Berry's website). Click on the American flag under currency and it gives the price in $USD. I believe Brian at BHB reptiles sells it as well. Hope this helps.