Cleaning out a used cage.

[TheRedFox]

Hello everyone. I recently acquired a 75 gallon tank I plan to use for a ball python and had some questions on how to safely clean and sterilize the tank.

First a little information on it: The tank when purchased was filled with sand that I dumped and then cleaned out with a garden hose. I believe the tank was used for Sandfish (Don't know the proper name of the lizard) but has been uninhabited for some time ( There are several cobwebs I had to clean out). Also the tank after I clean it will remain uninhabited for at least 2 months due to my current living situation (Who I live with) but I will be moving soon. Until then the tank will be stored in my room.

I am really interested in what I should use to ensure the tank is clean and wont harm my python when I get it and also if I can use 'harsh' cleaning supplies such as windex to clean it.

The next question I have is with this tank came a rather large piece of wood from a pet shop, its clean just has some of the sand in the holes that I plan to spray with an air compressor sooner or later. The question here is if this can be saved and used safely for my python and if so whats the best way to go about this.

Thank you all so much for your time and any input will be greatly appreciated.

~TheRedFox

[Emily Hubbard]

I would say clean everything like you would if the snake were currently living in it. There are professional non toxic cleaners out there, which are great, but most of us just use a 10% bleach solution and then rinse well. You can clean with a little dish soap if there is any nasty on the glass that needs a scrub. Then just disinfect with bleach.

I personally would feel more iffy about the wood just not knowing what it has been through. But I clean mine in the same 10% bleach solution and then rinse really really well. Some people bake them as well. I would do both with unfamiliar wood. It's probably fine though as long as it is good shape, not rotted or crumbling or moldy.

[TheRedFox]

Alright, thanks very much for your input, I never would have thought to bake the wood after cleaning, that would probably help with the pours swelling as well, thanks so much. Also would windex be harmful? I'd like to make the glass look nice since its going to be sitting in my room for a while empty.

[Mike41793]

Yup it can all be cleaned. 10% bleach solution, chlorahexdine, or F10 all would work. For the wood id scrub it really well with the solution really well and rinse it off really well too. Then bake it for 10-15minutes in the oven to kill anything else. The chlorahexadine and the F10, if you choose to use them, can be bought here: http://www.reptilebasics.com/cleaning-products

[kitedemon]

Id not bother with windex but look to just water and dry towel or vinegar and dry towel. Bleach is fine but it is best before returning the snake to leave it for an hour or so in direct unfiltered sunlight. This breaks down the chlorine. Bleach is toxic for people and animals. Just for future reference. The space of time you are talking it doesn't matter about using bleach if you choose. I personally choose to use a safer product than bleach. I have used Chlorhexidine and F10 I prefer F10 for its keeping stability.

Baking the wood should be fine. I might suggest longer but either way it should be good. I spray wood stuff with f10 also but I have it so...

[Slim]

Great suggestions here for how to clean your tank.

But, on a different note, why do you want to keep a BP in a 75 gal tank? It's going to be very hard to heat properly, and keeping the correct humidity level will be a nightmare. Not to mention that a 75 gal is waaaay to big for a young BP, and probably overkill for a full sized adult.

Just wondering if you've really done the reseach or are just using this tank because it's what you have on hand?

If you want use this 75 gal as a display tank, I urge you to look into corn or milk snakes. You may find yourself disapointed with the display qualities of a ball python.

[TheRedFox]

Sorry I must have been a mistype, its actually a 55 gallon (I don't know how I got 75 there...) but I was able to get it for virtually nothing. Thanks again to everyone for the advice on this topic it is much better than I could have asked for and answers all questions I had. Thank you all again so much.

Now for a question Slim raised, do you think a 55 (48x13x20) would be too much for a female ball?

[Slim]

Now for a question Slim raised, do you think a 55 (48x13x20) would be too much for a female ball?

Not too much for an adult female, but if you get her as a baby, it's could be overwhelming to her. At a minimum, I would suggest you cover three sides of the tank with construction paper or something else that will block the view. I used to use black foamcore when I still used tanks.

[TheRedFox]

Alright, thanks very much, I have a 15 gallon tank that may work better while its younger, Otherwise I might just put something between her area and the rest of the tank. Thanks so much for your time and the much needed advice, I'll be sure to come back with any questions or concerns I may have.