Disinfecting Racks?

I've seen several references to disinfecting racks. When is this necessary? Are we talking about after some kind of sickness in a snake, or as a part of regular maintenance?

I clean the top of the shelves where the animal has access to when I clean the tub. It's easy to forget since you can't see it, but you will be surprised at how nasty it gets.

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Originally Posted by mikel81

I clean the top of the shelves where the animal has access to when I clean the tub. It's easy to forget since you can't see it, but you will be surprised at how nasty it gets.

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That makes sense, and not something I'd thought of. How often do you clean your tubs?

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Originally Posted by ChaosAffect

That makes sense, and not something I'd thought of. How often do you clean your tubs?

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I just clean as they need it. I use paper towels for substrate and they soil it often enough. I scrub the tubs with a toilet cleaning brush, and F10 them to disinfect. For the shelves I spray some F10 on paper towels and wipe it down.

Does a small bottle of that F10 stuff last a while? I'm about to start using a rack and that's about the only thing I haven't covered as far as maintenance.

The small bottle of F10 should last you a while if you have a small collection. I've had mine for at least 6 months and its at about 1/4 now. Granted I'm caring for 15 snakes 6 geckos and a BD.

I change the substrate out fairly often when it starts smelling bad. Tub cleaning goes along with a fresh substrate change too. Same as wiping down the rack slot.

I find it better to clean as you go. I also use deli cups for water bowls in a pvc coupler. Best decision I've made for my collection.

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Monthly for me.

Disinfectants have very specific directions. Failure to follow the directions does not disinfect. A recent study found not only does this poor procedures generate disinfectant resistant bacteria, virus, and fungi. It also found that it leads to antibiotic resistance even if the antibiotic is unrelated to the disinfectant.

http://www.nuigalway.ie/our-research...superbugs.html
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc.../mole00868.htm

F10 instructions...
clear away loose debris, clean with F10scxd (I suspect any detergent or soap could be substituted that is a best guess on my part) or F919sc biofilm remover if necessary and rinse off. Apply F10sc at the recommended dilution. Apply as a wash, or spray and leave to dry.

The contact time is ten minutes.

http://www.education.nh.gov/instruct...infectants.pdf

Most disenfectants are very similar, wash, saturate, wait. Easy peasy!