spot cleaning question

So i spot clean my enclosure every day, but the one place i dont like to check in under her hide. i was wondering if it is worth disturbing a young ball python by lifting the hide every day to see if she pooped/soild under it, or if she will leave to poo

Best not disturbing any snake ANYTIME they're asleep in my opinion especially Royals/Balls who can be a tad sensitive..
Check the hides when they're not in them I'd suggest.


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My snakes will not poop in their hides. Always right outside but never in their hides.

My snake pooped and shed in her hide once, I only figured it out because I noticed she wasn't going in her hide for a couple days. So I wouldn't disturb her, just check if you notice she's not in there for a bit.


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I usually only do a clean when I find poop or urine in the cage which is once a week. Since I use paper as a substrate, it's usually a quick clean.

I've always been a little unsure of the proper cleaning techniques. I use chlorhexadine for disinfecting the enclosure, hides, etc... but I never know if I should wash them down 1st w/ soap and then disinfect or vice versa.

Also, as for lifting hides....my BP can be found in his hide 99.8% of the time so I have to lift it. I'll let him know I'm coming w/ a simple tap and he's always been very calm.

I lift, check, and move them into the other hide if cleaning is needed.

I have had messes IN the hide, or right around the edge ;)

After a while they get used to this routine and it doesn't bother them anymore. They usually know "something" is about to happen by the tub moving when I slide it open. So they do not get "startled". I also move the hide slowly but deliberately. I don't just yank it off suddenly.

If you have a tank or a cage and nothing moves or vibrates when you open it, you could always wiggle the hide a bit to give a fair warning that something is about to "move" or happen.

They quickly get used to "routine" things happening.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

I usually only do a clean when I find poop or urine in the cage which is once a week. Since I use paper as a substrate, it's usually a quick clean.

I've always been a little unsure of the proper cleaning techniques. I use chlorhexadine for disinfecting the enclosure, hides, etc... but I never know if I should wash them down 1st w/ soap and then disinfect or vice versa.

Also, as for lifting hides....my BP can be found in his hide 99.8% of the time so I have to lift it. I'll let him know I'm coming w/ a simple tap and he's always been very calm.

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Mine tend to move from the warm hide to the cool hide and back , can't think of any who spend all their time in one hide ..


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I lift it sometimes, but snake feces and urine both have a smell, so if you have an average sense of smell you should be all set as long as the enclosure passes the sniff test.

I have my hide set in such a way that i can see in them without having to open the enclosure. Makes it so much easier to stop check.

I do my cleaning in the evening when she is out and about. And she loves to come out so it's not a big deal for me. Plus her poo stinks so I can tell before the clips come of the tub. :)

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Originally Posted by SDA

I have my hide set in such a way that i can see in them without having to open the enclosure. Makes it so much easier to stop check.

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I tried this once, but then Maze wouldn't use the hides if she could see me walking around lol! Now I have the lower half off the tub blocked with construction paper, and she's none the wiser..... and neither am I about whether to spot clean. I just check under everything once a day, except the hide she's in if I can see her.

As for the smell.... it depends on your substrate choice. I use coco chip and can't smell pees, but I can definitely smell poops.

Speaking of which, I think I caught her about to Do the Deed.... didn't see her under the humid hide until I picked it up lol. Poor noodle.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...afwo1_1280.jpg

(Maybe later, then.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kcl

I lift it sometimes, but snake feces and urine both have a smell, so if you have an average sense of smell you should be all set as long as the enclosure passes the sniff test.

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That's exactly the method I use and it's been great to me.

There's no requirement to check daily, especially if you have s nice substrate that soaks up the liquids anyway. I do check under the hides for poop. Mine poop in their hide often enough. The smell is also rancid, so if you smell it and don't see it, that's a sign. :P

It also doesn't really disturb most ball pythons to have a hide lifted up for a peek. Ball pythons are a rather chill species, and they're not made of terrified tissue paper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Starscream

I tried this once, but then Maze wouldn't use the hides if she could see me walking around lol! Now I have the lower half off the tub blocked with construction paper, and she's none the wiser..... and neither am I about whether to spot clean. I just check under everything once a day, except the hide she's in if I can see her.

As for the smell.... it depends on your substrate choice. I use coco chip and can't smell pees, but I can definitely smell poops.

Speaking of which, I think I caught her about to Do the Deed.... didn't see her under the humid hide until I picked it up lol. Poor noodle.


(Maybe later, then.)

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I can still smell the urine with coco fiber personally as long as I try, so YMMV on that I guess. Also, noodle needs privacy! Poor noodle indeed.