Tank cleaning question

[Brokenangelr]

So I will be cleaning out my tank for the first time on Sunday. My original plan was to get it into my shower and use my cleaner and hose it out with the shower head (on a hose). I seem to have overlooked the UTH that is adhered to the underside of the tank.


My question is, can I still do this if I let the UTH cool down and keep the cord out of the water?

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[adamsky27]

I wouldn't do it. It will still get wet. I would just get a bucket of water and cleaning solution and clean it out. When I had that type of setup I would remove all of the substrate, then use a vacuum if needed. Then I would use the bucket with soapy water to clean it.

[Dracoluna]

Personally, I recommend a shop vac, paper towels, and a spray bottle with a bleach solution. Vacuum it out well, spray the bleach/cleaning solution around and use the paper towels to wipe it out. I also leave it for about 30 minutes after I wipe it down to make sure that any fumes have dissipated and anything I missed has evaporated. That way you don't risk your UTH or dropping/damaging the tank.

[Ashleigh91]

How often is it necessary to do a full on clean like this?

[Slim]

How often is it necessary to do a full on clean like this?

For the short period of time I used tanks, I broke it down and did a total cleaning once a month.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Back when I used tanks I cleaned them once a month, with Chlorhexidine solution. Bleach is nasty stuff

[DooLittle]

I'm so paranoid about any chemicals...ugh. We have tubs, and flexwatt is on shelf, not tub, for just such reasons. I would not put it in the shower.

[Brokenangelr]

Thanks for all the input. I have a cleaning solution made by flukers that I plan on using. Paper towels and a bucket it is. If (or better yet when) I get more animals i will definitely be using a different setup. This is my first snake so i went with glass for the tank. Thanks again for all the advice

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[captainjack0000]

How often is it necessary to do a full on clean like this?

I would think this would depend on the poo size and freqency relative to the tank being used. If you have a pretty big snake that gives you really wet squishy poo like a big ol' rat snake in a 20L you might have to clean it more frequently than a baby ball in a 40 gal.

Also the substrate probably makes a difference. Paper towel might need being replaced more frequently than cedar bark chips or aspen. I like the cedar chips myself, because it looks natural, smells great, and works like kitty litter. They clump together around poo and urates.

Do you do any light cleaning in between as well? I remove poo and urates as soon as I see them, and I check every day.

I'm not saying once a month is a bad idea, but I've had success with my snakes and I only do a total tank clean every 3 months.

Also

Personally, I recommend a shop vac, paper towels, and a spray bottle with a bleach solution. Vacuum it out well, spray the bleach/cleaning solution around and use the paper towels to wipe it out. I also leave it for about 30 minutes after I wipe it down to make sure that any fumes have dissipated and anything I missed has evaporated. That way you don't risk your UTH or dropping/damaging the tank.

This is essentially my approach. The other option is use a plastic milk jug with the top cut off (or like object) to scoop out as much of the mulch as you can instead of the shop vac. remove the bits of leftover mulch with a regular vac or pick it out by hand.

[tlich]

[QUOTE=captainjack0000;1780041]Also the substrate probably makes a difference. Paper towel might need being replaced more frequently than cedar bark chips or aspen. I like the cedar chips myself, because it looks natural, smells great, and works like kitty litter. They clump together around poo and urates.

Never use cedar or pine it right in the caresheet...
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet