ball python peed in water bowl! how do I properly clean it?!

Hi everyone! I just randomly woke up at seven in the morning and then just out of habit, went to check on my snake (ball python).When I looked down and noticed she had peed all in her water bowl.

I need to be better about changing her water daily but usually since she normally always pees somewhere in the enclosure, I just wait and change her water when I change her paper-towels and make sure her water is always filled. I realize I need to be better about changing it daily and I will from now on.

Anyway, I was wondering the best safest way to clean my snake's water bowl after she peed in it.

However, after watching a ton of stuff about it and searching this place, I also realize I might not have some of the stuff needed to clean it depending on what you guys recommend.

I don't have:

- f10
- bleach

I have:

- dish soap
- water
- vinegar

let me know if there is a safe way to clean it/disinfect it using this stuff I already have. Thanks so much! :)

I am using a spare bowl from in my cabinets while I wait. :)

Hot water and some elbow grease is what cleans mine most of the time. I do use chlorhexidine on everything when I do my big enclosure cleans, but on the regular I just rotate two bowls in and out and the bowl not being used gets a good hot soak and a scrubbing with dish soap. Rinse it well, let it air dry, put it back in rotation.

Ok, thanks so much! Is the dish soap harmful to the snake at all?

The dish soap is to the snakes like it is to us. As long as you rinse all the soap off, it's fine. I use dish soap to clean the water bowls as well. I actually use antibacterial dish soap when cleaning the snake stuff, but that's really not necessary. I just do because, heck, why not.

If you have "hard water" where you are, you might also find white vinegar (full strength) to be useful for both removing minerals + mild disinfection of water bowls. I often use it for that.

As above, dish soap on a scrubber pad of some kind (then thoroughly rinsed out) is fine, as is chlorhexidine spray to disinfect. (Bleach is way over-kill for this. ;) )

Ok, thanks so much to all! Will do. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Ok, thanks so much to all! Will do. :gj:

---

Just remember that when any pet pees or defecates, you need to physically remove the contamination first (soap & water is best), & only THEN use disinfectant if you're going to. Disinfectant won't work if it's just sprayed on the contamination- that's too much to ask. ;)

Yes, my mom taught me that a while ago. Thanks! :)