Chlorhexidine: Mix a new batch weekly?

Yep, thats consistent with what i've heard about this. Really if all you are mixing is a spray bottles worth, its not that much of a pain and you use about half a capful of the stuff. My little 16oz bottle will prollly last me 10 years LOL

If you're using half a cap full per bottle and you have to mix a new batch every time and you are cleaning weekly then your bottle wont really last that long.

Here you go folks..I mix small batches everytime I clean after reading this post a while back...

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Originally Posted by KLG

There are different types of Chlorhexidines available - diacetate (2%), gluconate (2%), digluconate (20%), etc. Each needs to be mixed specifically according to directions. Different dilutions have different contact times & effectiveness against various pathogens, so it's important to know what you're using & for how long, etc.

To my knowledge, chlorhexidine's effectiveness is reduced after prolonged exposure to organic matter - i.e. using a sink full of water mixed with clorhex, and soaking funky water bowls in it isn't going to be the most effective way to use this disinfectant, but spraying/let set/rinsing water bowls would be a better application. I've heard this from several sources that I trust (vets, experienced zookeepers, etc), and if I'm not mistaken it also got a mention in VPI's ball python book as well. Different water qualities (hard water vs. distilled vs. regular bottled) may be known to reduce the effectiveness also which is why I go by the "better safe than sorry" of mixing only what I'll need for that day/time, and going from there.

Not to say that the various Chlorhex's aren't good products - they can be very effective when used according to directions. It's just all the conflicting information about them that makes me nervous sometimes, but I'm a worrier by nature & would again, rather fall back on "better safe than sorry." I could easily go through a day's worth of mixed Chlorhex if I was using it for all my disinfecting, so that wouldn't be a problem...there are just other products I prefer to use instead. I personally use Nolvasan-S for wound irrigation (both human and animal), and either Trifectant or Virkon for all my other disinfecting applications.

The most important thing - regardless of what disinfectant you use - is to thoroughly research its effectiveness, necessary contact times, etc, and then make the best educated decision you can in terms of use for your collection. (which is why you're on B-P.net in the first place! :rockon: )

Just my $.02...hope it helps! :)

K~

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Another good post from the same thread...

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Thanks Kara! I love the Barker's book, and I refer to it often. So....here is what they have to say:


P. 178, Ball Pythons of the World, Vol II: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker

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Chlorhexidine gluconates

A variety of chlorohexidine disinfectants are found in use in snake rooms. Some of the brand names with which we are familiar are Nolvasan, Virosan, and a product simply called Chorhexidine Solution.

Chlorhexidine products are often used as disinfectants for inanimate objects or as antiseptics for cleaning skin wounds. Some chlorhexidine compounds contain alcohol, and these have been found to have antimicrobial properties superior to those containing only chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is effective against many bacterias, and against yeast (especially Candidia). It is not effective against most viruses, mycobacteria, bacterial and fungal spores or Pseudomonas.

Convenience is the main thing that chlorhexidine products have going for them. They are readily available and reasonably priced. They are a moderately effective disinfectant against many microorganisms. They are not corrosive to snake hooks or other equipment left to soak. We have used dilute solutions of Nolvasan to clean the shells of incubating ball python eggs of mold and fungal growth without any observed deleterious effects on the eggs.

The disadvantages are that this class of disinfectant has poor activity against most viruses and many gram-negative bacteria. Only Virosan has any activity against Pseudomonas (Johnson, 1996). Chlorhexidine products are not effective in the presence of organice debris. These products must be mixed and discarded daily.

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There is also an interesting section on Disinfectants and Why Use a Disinfectant at All if anyone is interested.

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

It is just crazy to me that it would loose it's effectiveness so fast just being in water...

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Actually many chemicals rapidly break down in an aqueous solution. I don't know specifics about chlorhexidine, but its not that uncommon.

I mix up a new batch everytime I clean. I got a gallon of the concentrate which = 128 gallons or working solution. I just mix up enough for a spray bottle's worth, I've had that gallon a couple of years, and its barely 1/4 of the way down. So far worth every penny I spent on it.

I figure its better safe than sorry, and with it being so cheap, no reason not to.

That probably means that it has ionic bonds in it, as water is very good at breaking ionic bonds (salt water anyone?)

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

Another good post from the same thread...

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this is where i read that you have to mix it fresh, now i remember.....can't go wrong with what the Barker's say about anything relating to ball pythons ;)

My line of thinking with it being fine in water is the fact that they put it in mouth rinses and such that sit on the shelves for longer then 1 day periods. I am going to have to change the way I currently do things starting today...

do you guys really do full weekly cage cleanings? I only do that once every 2-3 months, other than that I just spot clean

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Originally Posted by pvdgod

do you guys really do full weekly cage cleanings? I only do that once every 2-3 months, other than that I just spot clean

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I clean my tubs once a week. I use newsprint as a substrate so you can't really slack on cleaning. Once its wet it needs to be changed or you run the risk of scale rot. Other substrates are more forgiving and allow for spot cleaning, but even when I used aspen and tanks I would still clean everything once a month along with spot cleaning regularly.