Any cleaning tricks for cypress mulch?
I keep two (soon to be 4) AP T8s with cypress mulch bedding. When I do a full cleaning, I remove all the bedding by hand using work gloves so as to not prick myself, and usually scoop it up into garbage bags I insert into the cage for the purpose of not spilling.
Afterwards, I spray the cage down with F10 SCXD followed by F10 SC with washing of water in-between and after. I also spray down all the "furniture" and water dishes similarly during this process.
The part that takes forever and is usually messy is the actual removal of the mulch. And it's difficult to get it all out, as it sticks to the silicon that seals the AP cage.
Is there a trick to this? My process usually takes nearly 3 hours for just 2 snakes, so I have to assume people with dozens or hundreds have a more efficient method. Or do they all use paper or carpet or something?
I tried looking in the forums and on youtube a bit but didn't come up with anything in my initial search.
Thanks!
Re: Any cleaning tricks for cypress mulch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dkspftw
I keep two (soon to be 4) AP T8s with cypress mulch bedding. When I do a full cleaning, I remove all the bedding by hand using work gloves so as to not prick myself, and usually scoop it up into garbage bags I insert into the cage for the purpose of not spilling.
Afterwards, I spray the cage down with F10 SCXD followed by F10 SC with washing of water in-between and after. I also spray down all the "furniture" and water dishes similarly during this process.
The part that takes forever and is usually messy is the actual removal of the mulch. And it's difficult to get it all out, as it sticks to the silicon that seals the AP cage.
Is there a trick to this? My process usually takes nearly 3 hours for just 2 snakes, so I have to assume people with dozens or hundreds have a more efficient method. Or do they all use paper or carpet or something?
I tried looking in the forums and on youtube a bit but didn't come up with anything in my initial search.
Thanks!
Those with hundreds or even dozens typically use a rack/tub system so it's as easy as sliding the tub out and dumping it in the trash. Have you considered a shop-vac?
Re: Any cleaning tricks for cypress mulch?
Right, I sort of assumed as much and that makes sense.
No I have not. I've got a wet-dry vac I got from home depot in case of a fish tank emergency, but I assume you mean something different? I'm a hardware noob so if you have a link or name of a product that would be extra helpful. I imagine it'd have to be pretty hardcore to suck up actual cypress chips, though, no?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
jclaiborne
I have a mini shop vac and a little dust buster that I use to suck up the left over substrate that I didn't get with my scoop.
What kind of scoop do you use? I tried using like, a cat litter scooper and it didn't work so well.
Re: Any cleaning tricks for cypress mulch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dkspftw
Right, I sort of assumed as much and that makes sense.
No I have not. I've got a wet-dry vac I got from home depot in case of a fish tank emergency, but I assume you mean something different? I'm a hardware noob so if you have a link or name of a product that would be extra helpful. I imagine it'd have to be pretty hardcore to suck up actual cypress chips, though, no?
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What kind of scoop do you use? I tried using like, a cat litter scooper and it didn't work so well.
This is the dust buster I use: http://www.google.com/imgres?sa=X&bi...ed=0CGQQrQMwAw
and this is the mini shop vac: http://www.google.com/imgres?biw=134...ed=0CHAQrQMwCg
For the scoop I was in a hurry one day and I grabbed one of my sons plastic shovels that we had in a beach bag and use that, it works perfect.
Re: Any cleaning tricks for cypress mulch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jclaiborne
Oh that's a great idea! I should hit up a 99 cent store and get some beach toys haha.
