spot cleaning question

[Starscream]

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 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.)

[Mr. Misha]

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.

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

[redshepherd]

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.

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.

[Kcl]

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.)

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.