Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Need some advice from you guys with large collections. I have a small, but growing, collection of around 50 balls and several odds and ends, as well as a small rat breeding colony. I spot clean reptile cages daily and totally clean cages monthly. I also clean rat cages every 5 days. However, my close non reptile friends and, more importantly, my girlfriend and landlord have commented on the "animal smell" that eminates from my collection. As I am sure that most of you can relate to, I am attuned to overdue rat smell, uneaten feeder rat smell, and fresh snake feces, but the daily smell of rats and reptiles has become something that I take for granted. Not wanting to offend friends, get kicked out of my rental, or, more importantly, push my gf away, I would love to read some of your more effective means of odor control. For that matter, if you would like to share things that you tried that definitely don't work, I would like to hear that too. Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Derek

I don't think this would work on a large scale like your's, but perhaps there is a scaled-up version. What we just bought is a Febreeze air filter that we plugged in right outside the rodent/snake room. Currently, you cannot tell we have the mass of pets we do. The little thing is really doing a pretty amazing job.
You would probably need 2-3 of the things to get near the same effect, but there is probably a larger version you could purchase at a hardware store.
The key is to look for a filter that eliminates odors. Most filters just remove dust and allergens, which doesn't help much with the smell.
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Lincoln, NE
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Thanks for the suggestion. Trying to track them down now. Looks like Target is the only major retailer that carries them.

Depending on your setup with regards to air movement, circulation, and room dimensions, not knowing any of these things, you could try a vast array of things like a dehumidifier as "stink" sticks to moisture in the air particles, an activated carbon filter attached to your window for air redirection, Glade Plug-Ins for the room, an air exchange system, opening a window, or even something as simple as forgetting about trying to eliminate the odours and just masking them with candles.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

I would clean the rats every three days at the longest. I used to do once a week and the amonia from their urine became unbearable. Mice are even worse and probably need to be changed every other day. Now that I clean every three days the smell doesn't get a chance to start.

Also, what kind of bedding do you use for the snakes? Any kind of aspen, care fresh, etc bedding will still absorb smell from urine and feces even if you spot clean. I use packing paper for my balls and it's easy to replace even for urates.

I started out changing the rats weekly, but when breeding really kicked in, I quickly changed that. I am up to every 4 days. However, if I have to change them more often, it really reduces the value to breeding my own due to increased time and bedding material.
I use aspen right now for snake bedding, but am switching to a corrugated packing paper, which should allow me to change the cages more often.
Thanks for your input.

Derek

I haven't read the other posts but this is an easy question with an even easier solution. Find a new GF and a new rental. There is no way to completely eliminate the smell rats produce especially if you have a rat colony that is large enough to feed all 50 of your reptiles. Also a reptile collection of that size will need to be cleaned weekly completely not monthly to cut down on the smell. Trying to cover the smell will just proudce urine flavored flowers, lol.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Josh has a good point.. I have about 10 ball pythons and 3 large burms all in a room... I clean them out as much as I can but it never seems to amaze that once you clean and put them back they will poop/piss by the next morning...

I pretty much clean 2-3 times/week and clean everything out fully (no spot cleaning, because I use newspaper)..
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Seeking bigger cages for the family

You can clean clean clean clean clean - this might work for the rats but doesn't work so well for the balls -- the constant cleaning may stress them out and they tend to like having their smell around.

You might want to consider switching your snakes to f.t. and eliminate the rats and most of the smell altogether.

You could also change whatever substrate you are keeping the snakes on to something that covers the smell a little more. As well there are a variety of air purifiers that might help.

But I think Josh is on the right track -- if they are going to complain find a situation that is more accepting of your collection -- or be prepared for the inevitable.

Good luck.
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Tosha
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