Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm moving my turtles from my 30G to an indoor pond, so that frees up a 30 G breeder. I'm going to be moving my collared lizard to this 30 G breeder. The collared lizard was originally in a 20G long which will now house my corn snake. What do I need to do as far as sanitizing and cleaning each enclosrue before moving them into their new tanks?

ive used clorox green works all purpose cleaner for my tanks. its all natural so you dont have to worry about all the toxins. just make sure you rinse it good. if you have any calci/water build up i use a small razor blade and scrape it clean.
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Jeff Kearney
Orlando, FL

1.0.0 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dino)
2.7.0 Bearded Dragons (Too many to name)
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Rex)
0.1.0 Ball Python (Ali)
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko (Layla)
1.0.0 Panther Gecko (Melman)
0.0.1 Corn Snake (Not sure yet)
0.0.2 Blue Phase Dumpys Tree Frog (Sticky, Squishy)

I've always used 5 - 10% bleach mixed with 95 - 90% water, with a small drop or two of Ivory or Dawn dishwashing liquid. I've done it for years and never had a problem.

I mist all tank surfaces and joints/corners and then scrub with a soft bristle scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly, dry it out with paper towels and it's usually aired out & ready to go within minutes.

I don't know the actual facts of it but word is that bleach looses it's germ-killing properties after 24 hrs of being mixed so most places that use bleach/water mix uses a new mix every day. I do.

Hope you find this helpful.
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

If you got hard water and there's lime or scale buildup I'd use an acid-based cleaner instead. I had turtles for years, so scale and lime were the biggest obstacle to getting their tanks clean.

Soaps actually reduce bleach's killing power somewhat, but if you only add a drop, it will be easier to apply. Just don't add too much or it will leave a residue.

Also, allow enough contact time.
Don't even bother with anti-bacterial soaps, as people don't give the soaps enough time to do their jobs, and the bacti that survive pass their immunities onto their progeny.

Why haven't bacteria adapted to the agents found in bleach, alcohol and lemon juice? The reason why bacteria aren't resistant to these agents is because they do not leave a residue. There is no chance for surviving bacteria to adapt within the residual environment, so bacteria are just as susceptible to bleach and alcohol as they were 100 years ago. Skip the antimicrobial smart bomb and go for the big bleach blockbuster.