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Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 24th, 2018, 1:16 pm
by Bryan Hamilton
I'm looking for any advice on ways to make snake cage cleaning easier and more efficient. This has become very important since I no longer have a snake room and the snakes share my bedroom.

I appreciate any advice that isn't "Stop feeding em".

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 24th, 2018, 3:37 pm
by craigb
Tools that work for you, simple hide aways, and frequency.

I use plastic salad tongs to pick up poo and aspen mixture. Sometimes for massive ones I use a plastic spatula.
I use cereal boxes, yogurt containers, even take out food boxes as hides. If they get stinky or stained just toss them out.

I spot check and clean daily and feed every third day.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 24th, 2018, 4:08 pm
by Fire Drake
craigb wrote:Tools that work for you, simple hide aways, and frequency.

I use plastic salad tongs to pick up poo and aspen mixture. Sometimes for massive ones I use a plastic spatula.
I use cereal boxes, yogurt containers, even take out food boxes as hides. If they get stinky or stained just toss them out.

I spot check and clean daily and feed every third day.
All good advice. I would take it a step further and ask if you have ever considered a rack system. I am in the exact same boat you are with respect to my room. As long as the tubs are appropriately sized, there should be no issues. When I got my first rack, my maintenance times plummeted, my snakes felt more secure, started to feed better and show more predictable behavior. I still have a few showcase animals in the other parts of my house too. Both methods have merit.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 24th, 2018, 7:55 pm
by Kelly Mc
Bryan I very highly recommend getting familiar with Hydrogen Peroxide. not the kind picked up at Walgreens but comes in an opaque white plastic containers and its certified food grade 35%. Its used in agriculture and human well water disinfection.

Its to be properly diluted. Is quite caustic but in dilutes according to purpose it will replace almost any other cleaners. I most frequently use a 7 to 10 percent solution. There are methods of use for vivaria artifacts, bowls and cage surfaces that have a bit of a experiential curve but the mechanical dynamic and antisepsis usefulness are unmatched, no odor, residues and its effective even against oocysts.

But its like having a helper surgically scrub your stuff.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 25th, 2018, 7:50 am
by BillMcGighan
All so far are great.

After a fresh deposit, especially with animals in the house, a $100 investment can speed up the smell going away.

All my animals are in an outdoor shed now (but once were in the house). If I feed 20 animals at a time, 20 poop about the same time. Even with prompt cleaning and fresh air source, the smell can linger longer. This device runs all the time and the smell dissipates quicker.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/GermGuardian ... 3=&veh=sem

The addition of UV-C germicide is a bonus.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 25th, 2018, 3:44 pm
by Fire Drake
Kelly Mc wrote:Bryan I very highly recommend getting familiar with Hydrogen Peroxide. not the kind picked up at Walgreens but comes in an opaque white plastic containers and its certified food grade 35%. Its used in agriculture and human well water disinfection.

Its to be properly diluted. Is quite caustic but in dilutes according to purpose it will replace almost any other cleaners. I most frequently use a 7 to 10 percent solution. There are methods of use for vivaria artifacts, bowls and cage surfaces that have a bit of a experiential curve but the mechanical dynamic and antisepsis usefulness are unmatched, no odor, residues and its effective even against oocysts.

But its like having a helper surgically scrub your stuff.
This is interesting. I have long used H2O2 for household applications but did no know of the higher concentration. By oocysts, do you mean Crypto? Have you ever used or heard of a product called X-10?

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 25th, 2018, 4:39 pm
by Kelly Mc
Hey FD, If its used with hoof stock as a spray I know of similar, but I dont remember it exactly as x-10.
yes h202 well data'd with cryptosporidium, and has positive "bed side manner" as far as use in tight service areas around sensitive taxa. More hospitable to be around than ammonia. I get 4 half liters at a time and they last a long time.

Its very compatible with Herp work I have found. Really reduces scrub time, and micro thorough. Can mess up finishes and the like with strong dilutions but luckily there are clear lists of materials that it could harm at higher strengths.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 27th, 2018, 12:01 pm
by Bryan Hamilton
Thanks for the great advice. I really appreciate it.

I agree racks are easy cleaning but I've had too many escapees. I also have several rattlesnakes and I need really secure cages for them. Someday maybe I'll go back to a rack system.

I might try the air purifier. I actually have a ozonater for dead animal smells and skeleton prep. I think I'll give it a try with the snake feces smell first.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 27th, 2018, 2:57 pm
by BillMcGighan
The ozonater sounds good, Bryan, and I'm asking out of ignorance, but isn't 03 possibly harmful to pets and humans?

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 27th, 2018, 3:52 pm
by Bryan Hamilton
BillMcGighan wrote:isn't 03 possibly harmful to pets and humans?
Now that you mention it, it does say "For use only in unoccupied spaces...."

Thanks for catching that.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 29th, 2018, 12:21 pm
by Fire Drake
Kelly Mc wrote:Hey FD, If its used with hoof stock as a spray I know of similar, but I dont remember it exactly as x-10.
yes h202 well data'd with cryptosporidium, and has positive "bed side manner" as far as use in tight service areas around sensitive taxa. More hospitable to be around than ammonia. I get 4 half liters at a time and they last a long time.

Its very compatible with Herp work I have found. Really reduces scrub time, and micro thorough. Can mess up finishes and the like with strong dilutions but luckily there are clear lists of materials that it could harm at higher strengths.
Thanks a bunch!

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 29th, 2018, 12:37 pm
by Fire Drake
Kelly Mc wrote:Hey FD, If its used with hoof stock as a spray I know of similar, but I dont remember it exactly as x-10.
yes h202 well data'd with cryptosporidium, and has positive "bed side manner" as far as use in tight service areas around sensitive taxa. More hospitable to be around than ammonia. I get 4 half liters at a time and they last a long time.

Its very compatible with Herp work I have found. Really reduces scrub time, and micro thorough. Can mess up finishes and the like with strong dilutions but luckily there are clear lists of materials that it could harm at higher strengths.
Not to beat a disinfected horse or to dispute your great advice re: h2o2, but I did find this...it was recommended by ViperKeeper (seriously one of the best YouTube channels around IMO). His day job is in the medical industry and he swears by this stuff. I also put a link in regarding the X-10 I mentioned. My age is showing and I did not remember it correctly...it is F10 NOT X10. I don't know if F10=DC10 or not, but they both seem pretty good.

http://lionsdentalsupply.com/files/31574762.htm
http://www.lllreptile.com/products/2647 ... izer-100ml

Now I know my ABC's...won't you clean a cage with me...!

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 29th, 2018, 10:46 pm
by Kelly Mc
That is some nice badass worry killer in a jug that is!

I like that channel too. Haha Mrs Viperkeeper cracks me up.


Its like watching sports on tv which I dont really, but the same glowing enchantment of familiar and iconic matter and form. Yes you can smell the room but he knows how to read his guys and man i love watching those animals

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 30th, 2018, 9:47 am
by Fire Drake
Kelly Mc wrote:That is some nice badass worry killer in a jug that is!

I like that channel too. Haha Mrs Viperkeeper cracks me up.


Its like watching sports on tv which I dont really, but the same glowing enchantment of familiar and iconic matter and form. Yes you can smell the room but he knows how to read his guys and man i love watching those animals
I do as well, I doooo as well.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 30th, 2018, 10:23 am
by Kelly Mc
:thumb:

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: May 31st, 2018, 9:17 am
by Kelly Mc
Sometimes our animal rooms look better than other times. And we all know that a small change or upgrade can mean more moving things around or involvement with tangental work , in the name of being thorough, than what we first intend.

Ours partners are Herp Room Widows/rs of this phenomenon.

But mine has been a great helper too. Shes always lookin out for everybody and what they might enjoy or benefit them. She shops for supplies and is really good at all that .

Another thing I like is how familiar little odds and ends and stuff laying around, are in everyone's herp room.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: June 2nd, 2018, 10:59 am
by BillMcGighan
Anyone have any strong oppinions on "nolvasan s" (chlorhexidine diacetate) when used as directed as a cage surface disinfectant?

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: June 2nd, 2018, 1:34 pm
by Kelly Mc
I like different things for different purposes, Nolvasan in solution was my favorite for peripheral service areas and I used it on the floor of my tegu's play area. I still have a gallon left from my A.C time and we have a strong dilute of it in a spray bottle for the sink, and the kitchen floor after I use the turtle siphon but Bill I dont care for its harsh olfactory notes for most interior spaces.

A note very helpful about nolvasan is it kills ants on contact well, taking the place of more toxic agents. I used a pretty deep blue strong dilute for that and it was pleasantly effective.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: June 2nd, 2018, 4:03 pm
by BillMcGighan
intesting stuff, thanks.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: June 28th, 2018, 7:50 am
by Kfen
Is Hydrogen peroxide better at disinfecting than chlorhexidine? I use chlorhexidine pretty regularly to clean enclosures and water bowls. I have used it to soak a snake and turtles directly before so it seems safe.

Re: Tips for cleaning snake cages

Posted: July 1st, 2018, 10:16 am
by Kelly Mc
I like hydrogen peroxide for its mechanical behavior on soiled artifacts and dishes. It foams up, rinses away to nothingness easily, quickly.

That's my favorite thing about it. It does destroy microbes, by basically blowing them apart but I use it as a physical surfactant with that added and variable plus but not because of it.

Nolvasan is great tho