Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning on dunking each of my snake bins in a bleach solution before I wash them each week. How much water to how much bleach is safe for snakes??? I will do this with their water bowls too, so I want to be on the safe side. If anyone does this can you let me know how much bleach and water should be mixed to kill any bugs that might be there yet not harm the snakes.

Thanks!!

The amount isn't critical-just make sure you thoroughly rinse, so that there is no residual bleach smell. I use about a 10% bleach solution. Remember, in order to really kill all those nasty microorganisms (except crypto), you need at least a 10 minute soak.

If cryptosporidium is suspected, you'll need ammonia for a sure kill....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
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Thanks for the information! I didn't condisder the idea of soaking the bowls and bins but I will definately do that. Appreciate the help

Good advice Brad. I clean all my rack system tubs weekly, using anti-bacterial soap. Once a month I soak all my tubs in a 20% bleach solution for one hour, then rinse until they no longer have a bleach smell. Regarding waterers, I got a good idea from my son. He takes heavy 3 inch PVC pipe and slices off 2 inch pieces. He then buys disposable 3 inch deli cups that fit right inside the PVC pieces. The PVC is heavy enough to prevent the hognose from tipping the waterer over, and adult hogs cannot get inside to soak, thus keeping most of the bacteria out of their water. The disposable cups are replaced weekly, and the PVC bases soaked in bleach for an hour, then rinsed thoroughly.

I realize that some of you have large hognose collections, and can't clean as often as I do, but it works for me.

Wendell

I just want to say that sterilizing everything constantly isn't necessarily the best practice. Some bacteria are good....

Just my 2-cents,

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

Hi Chris

I'm a firm believer that good gut bacteria is essential to the health of our hogs. However, I see no benefit to allowing my hogs to slither through past defecations, or unclean enclosures, using the presumption that good bacteria are present. If you have read anything to assert that good bacteria in an enclosure can neutralize, or kill bad bacteria, point out the source. I'd like to read more about it.

Wendell

E-mail me and remind me to look it up (about to leave campus). I am fairly sure there is literature to support that living in a sterile environment can be detrimental to ones health. In the event that a foreign pathogen/bacteria/etc... enters the naïve environment, the creature in question may not have the means to deal with it (i.e. lack of antibodies, etc...).

I am not suggesting people don't clean their cages, but bleaching once a week might be a bit much.

I never bleach my enclosures, but rather replace them about once a year (I use mostly shoe/sweater tubs, PLEASE RECYCLE). I do spot clean and change bedding as needed. I also rinse/scrub tubs with soap as needed. The only time I use bleach or ammonia (only thing that kills cryptosporidium to the best of my knowledge) is when I am quarantining animals or suspect an illness/disease.

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC