Sanitizing/Disinfecting Q + Hemostats

I am getting tired of the amount of rinsing that comes with using a bleach solution to sanitize everything in my enclosure. Are there any other options that are cheap as well?

Also, I am looking to get some hemostats soon, what length do you all think I should go with? I am mostly thinking either 8" or 12". I have mice right now, but will be getting ASF's soon. Also, should I get it with or without teeth?

You could wash all your things in the dish washer. It really depends on how many snakes you have, or will get, once my ball( and when I get more) gets really large I will buy larger ones, I will use the smaller ones for my babie balls.

I only have one, but wouldnt the dishwasher get too hot and maybe deform/melt the plastic? She is in a sterilite tub, that could probably take the heat, but her hides are...gladware? I think. I dont know for sure, but they are more flimsy plastic. They seem like they would not hold up well in the dishwasher

I hope you never plan to breed! If your tired of taking care of one little snake..

I didnt say I was tired of taking care of my snake, I said I was tired of having to rinse after sanitizing 50 million times. I actually like taking care of my snake, I just want to make sure there are not any other options for sanitation that may be easier. What harm is there in trying to make my job easier?

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

I didnt say I was tired of taking care of my snake, I said I was tired of having to rinse after sanitizing 50 million times. I actually like taking care of my snake, I just want to make sure there are not any other options for sanitation that may be easier. What harm is there in trying to make my job easier?

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Is that a buggie?:rofl:

i have the 12' hemos and i got the ones with the teeth because i feed thawed and its a lil hard to hold onto them w.o the teeth especialy when you get into the heavier rats and such. regarding the rinsing.... shouldnt there be some type of spray or something? wipeout2 its called?

I wash mine in the sink with standard dishwashing soap.

If I have a lot I'd just throw them in the dishwasher.

I found a chlorhexadine solution on a couple of sites, and I have heard people talk about it before on the forum. I think I will be getting some of this soon. Label says 1-2 oz per gallon, then just spray and wipe. 16oz bottle is only 8 bucks, so it is pretty cheap too.

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Originally Posted by naba2002

i have the 12' hemos

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Wow thats longer than my surfboard!!!:D

Wow- ThyTempest, you need to use the search feature and stop asking the same questions in each post. Since lots of people have already weighed in on your tweezer/stat question in another post, I will remind you that lots of people use Novalsan (generic= chlorhexidine). You don't need to rinse and it sanitizes just fine. Don't know why you're bleaching all the time....
Use the search feature... you'll find lots of good info :gj:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Wow- ThyTempest, you need to use the search feature and stop asking the same questions in each post. Since lots of people have already weighed in on your tweezer/stat question in another post, I will remind you that lots of people use Novalsan (generic= chlorhexidine). You don't need to rinse and it sanitizes just fine. Don't know why you're bleaching all the time....
Use the search feature... you'll find lots of good info :gj:

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I have not used the search feature for this topic, but I have used it before, and, well, it kinda stinks. Stuff does not come up like it should. Esp when words like rat mouse and size are in just about every post.

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Originally Posted by the bull

I have not used the search feature for this topic, but I have used it before, and, well, it kinda stinks. Stuff does not come up like it should. Esp when words like rat mouse and size are in just about every post.

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Agreed, and I did do a search. I tried....sanitizer, sanitation, disinfect, and clean. Imagine that, nothing defintive. I make the thread because I was not satisfied with what I could find through the search.

Well, I just did a search "tubs cleaner" and came up with your answer. That was the first thing that I typed in.

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Originally Posted by Starmom

Well, I just did a search "tubs cleaner" and came up with your answer. That was the first thing that I typed in.

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But what if ya dont use a tub?

I did one for RBI cage cleaner, got dupped, on the min. 4 word thing!

:O

Upon searching "tubs cleaner", I find my thread as the first, with only one other mildly useful post a couple threads down. I did read this one, and with different people spitting out several different answers, I wanted to make my own topic. If dishsoap were good enough to disinfect as well as clean, I believe we would all be using it, so it makes me wonder if it is good enough as a disinfectant. My thoughts lead me to no, it isn't. Alcohol is no good, not only the smell, but from what I know about chemistry, it would take a long time for it to actually have a disinfectant property. That leaves the two proponents that I was mostly in question over. Bleach and commercial disinfectants, ie chlorhexidine.

There's a ton of info when you use that search. You just need to read.

We've been using chlorhexidine pretty much exclusively for over a year now. It's non-toxic, and works great. A gallon of the stuff is like $25 from reptile basics, and will make something along the lines of 64 quart bottles.

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Originally Posted by the bull

But what if ya dont use a tub?

I did one for RBI cage cleaner, got dupped, on the min. 4 word thing!

:O

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Hi,

The four letter limit used to annoy me too till some nice person pointed out I could use a wildcard character at the end of the search string. :)

So, in your previous example, you would search for "RBI* cage cleaner". Note - I did try this and didn't find anything though. :P

I did get a lot of hits for "RBI*" on its own but I don't know if the information you need would be in there somewhere.

ThyTempest,

There are two types of chlorhexidine and it is important to use the correct one in a given situation.

Becky (Satanicintention) explains the differences in this post and more options can be found in the thread containing that post and also in many others.

A more indepth discussion is on this thread on another forum.

This took me about 5 minutes using our search function and the words cleaning and disinfecting so the information is there once you work out the right keywords to use. :)

There were many other threads but I will leave you to find them and explore yourself. :gj:


dr del

Thanks for the tip on the wildcard searches.

As for the chlorhexidine, I read the posts about the different kind. Is it neccesary to use the diacetate to clean the tub, bowl, etc, or will the gluconate form work sufficiently? The last thread from the other forum made it sound like they have differing purposes, and that the diacetate form must still be rinsed thoroughly, just like bleach, but that it may rinse away easier?

Clarification on this would be great. Thanks

Get a gallon of chlorhexidine gluconate concentrate, and you'll be set. 2-3oz per gallon of water. Use distilled water if you want it to last longer.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...2-00b0d0204ae5