Tanks off of Craigslist

I was wondering just how risky it is to get a reptile setup off of Craigslist.

I know I have to thoroughly disinfect the cage and all components...however, is there still some risk?

Also, what about if they include any of the fixtures for your cage that are porous (ie hides, climbing sticks, etc)? Can those be safely disinfected?

Thanks, guys!

When I get a tank off of CL( or anything that has had other reptiles in it) I throw out any wood, plant like decor, and anything else that could be hard to clean or soak up materials. Any decor I keep I like to bleach( boil if I can) and the tank gets bleached and pressure washed, and I repeat everything..

I don't really care to use bleach for cleaning things like that, it's stinky and from what little I remember about highschool, it's not a very good disinfectant.

I use chlorhexidine for pretty much everything. Both the generic and the diactate.

Whether for animals or fish, I always pitch out all the rocks, sand, wood, anything porous at all. Anything with tiny crevices. You wouldn't believe how many tanks I have, that I was sold/given with the proud declaration "You can have all the gravel in it too!". Sometimes I told them that I would throw it all out, sometimes I didn't. I filled all the potholes in front of my shop with fish tank gravel over a 5 year period.

Yep, you can get tanks and cages through CL for some awesome deals. You just have to be meticulous in cleaning.

And bleach does stink, but it also does more than just disinfect. I just got up, so I can't remember what the main thing it does is... but I know that new used enclosures should be soaked in a bleach solution, rinsed thoroughly, and then sprayed well with Chlorexidine. Wish I could remember...

And just toss out ANYTHING wooden or otherwise porous and clean the rest.

I have gotten two tanks off CL: One was a lesson in asking for good pictures and descriptions, because the tank was fine... but the screen top was crap and it was a slide/lock screen so I couldn't just replace it. :( But at least I got my first bag of Harlan Teklad aspen from that deal...so there was a perk.
The other tank was dirty, but perfectly sound in every way.

Just had to say...

Quote:

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I filled all the potholes in front of my shop with fish tank gravel over a 5 year period.

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... is driving into the lot a bit like driving on a rainbow? ;)

Yes... at least until the sand and dirt gets in there enough to dull it.