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cleaning the viv...dont wanna poison my lil guy!

C

cornonthecobsnake

New member
So I have had my corn for just under a month, and i think im going to clean his cage soon (i have been spot cleaning, but i know you have do a full on clean once in a while).

I am going to remove the aspen and rub the glass down with some kind of cleaning solution. What do you guys recommend? i dont want to use anything too strong that may harm my snake! Also, how do you recommend disinfecting his water dish? Do you think rubbing alcohol would be okay?
 
...no, I think. A mild bleach solution is the way to go. And I mean very little bleach. Someone else could probably be more specific.
 
I really don't see any reason to use anything other than water to clean the cage if the snake isn't/hasn't been sick. *shrugs* Seems unnecessary.

But if you DO want to, you can use a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution, let it air dry, then rinse it off with normal water.
 
I'd think some sort of cleaning agent would be necessary eventually. It's like washing up your plates and cutlery just using hot water. You'd get away with it for a while, but you're eventually going to start getting stomach bugs from bacterial build-up that hot water alone won't wash off.

You can buy reptile-safe disinfectants online - they're my preferred option.
 
Most of the time, I just use an antibacterial dish soap to clean my tanks and accessories(water bowls, fake plants, etc.) About 1 in 5 cleans, I'll use a very diluted (1/32) bleach solution to disinfect everything. Use a spray bottle to spray every square inch and let sit for 5 minutes - 10 minutes is usually recommended but not necessary. Then rinse WELL(at least 3 minutes) with water. Make sure there is NO bleach smell before you put everything including the snake back in the tank.

In cases where the tank is too large to effectively clean with bleach and water, (or if you just don't want to deal bleach PERIOD) reptile disinfectants are probably the way to go. You can find safe, ready to use products at most pet stores but what I would recommend is a concentrated product like this:

http://www.vetafarm.com.au/products/HERPACARE-CONCENTRATE-500mL.html

It may seem a little pricey but it makes quite a bit of solution and will save you a LOT of money in the long run.
 
I use 2% Chlorhexidine diluted with water in a spray bottle for spot cleaning. In the tubs I also use non-scented baby wipes.

I also use the diluted chlorhexidine for full cleaning and cleaning hides and water dishes.
 
Vinegar. Vinegar is an antibacterial agent.
Put about half vinegar/half warm water in a spray bottle. Spray it, let it sit for at least a minute. Wipe off.
Not only will it kill germs, but it will deodorize as it dries. It also will leave no smell once it fully dries.
 
Naagas said:
Vinegar. Vinegar is an antibacterial agent.
Put about half vinegar/half warm water in a spray bottle. Spray it, let it sit for at least a minute. Wipe off.
Not only will it kill germs, but it will deodorize as it dries. It also will leave no smell once it fully dries.
Click to expand...

Did not know you could use vinegar for snake tanks. Do you use the same distilled white wine vinegar that goes in the washing machine? I've just used one cap full of bleach for every twenty gallons. I fill up the tank with everything in it and soak for ten fifteen minuets, then rinse and scrub, and rinse until the smell in gone.
 
I use hydrogen peroxide mixed with water and a little bit of baking soda. Gets the smell out and hydrogen peroxide is a great disinfectant.
 
Yeah, I just use the plain old white vinegar. You could use more expensive stuff if you want. Hydrogen Peroxide also works great, and vinegar with hydrogen peroxide is what I use to disinfect my bathrooms/kitchen. Both are cheap and readily available at any store. And snake-safe
 
You could, but isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide fight the same spectrum of bacteria, so it would be kinda useless. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide do slightly different, yet overlapping spectrums, so you get something like 99% removal of bacteria when you mix them (according to some blog I read, so it could be wrong). Plus, hydrogen peroxide smells less than alcohol does. Vinegar is probably the least harmful antibacterial agent you can use, and you don't need anything stronger unless you are dealing with sick snakes. (I'm not an authority or anything, it is just my theory that chemicals used can do more damage to your snakes than a few bacteria, especially since most bacteria are harmless or beneficial)
 
It is general knowledge that one should not mix different household chemicals together. Both isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are flammable and combustible. Hydrogen peroxide vapours may also spontaneously ignite. Adding isopropyl alcohol will make the solution more volatile and increase the hazard. Just stick to the basics, the snake does not need to live in an absolute sterile environment, as it normally lives outdoors. Choose one of the above methods and you should be fine.
 
Dreamsnake said:
Did not know you could use vinegar for snake tanks. Do you use the same distilled white wine vinegar that goes in the washing machine? I've just used one cap full of bleach for every twenty gallons. I fill up the tank with everything in it and soak for ten fifteen minuets, then rinse and scrub, and rinse until the smell in gone.
Click to expand...

I also use vinegar and water (you only need a small amount of vinegar) - I cleaned our tanks when I brought them home from the store and will clean them out again in about 6-9 months. I spot clean their messes using Jurassi Wipes and our tanks look great and are very clean. Water is changed almost daily and I give our guys generic purified water - cheap gallon jugs from the store, I just don't trust our city water for drinking purposes.

In about 6-9 months I may clean it out completely. After 2-3 months, I re-arrange their tanks so it keeps it interesting for them to explore.

John
 
I'm glad there are other people using vinegar! I rinse the tanks/accessories with a bit of boiling water, scrub everything with white vinegar and rinse well. Any sticks I've given the snakes get baked in the oven periodically.

Vinegar is a miracle of nature. Not only is it safe and effective as a cleaner, but it removes strong odors from everything, including fabric. Ariadne has had a couple of "accidents" on my couch, and all I had to do was wipe it off and soak the spot in a bit of vinegar. Once the vinegar dried it was like nothing had ever happened.
 
I've also been using a vinegar/water solution to clean my tanks, hides and water dishes for almost 8 years. Those above have already done a great job stating its benefits.
 
Naagas said:
Vinegar. Vinegar is an antibacterial agent.
Put about half vinegar/half warm water in a spray bottle. Spray it, let it sit for at least a minute. Wipe off.
Not only will it kill germs, but it will deodorize as it dries. It also will leave no smell once it fully dries.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I do for all my pets :) Use vinegar, it is safe, kills odors and germs. IF I think its not strong enough (if a pet has been ill for example) I add lavender eo. Is it also a natural antibacterial.
 
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