Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some help. I recently bought a large terrarium for housing a ball python. I am getting the cage ready for the snake and I can't seem to get rid of the smell of rodents (the former owner used the cage for mice). I have used bleach, vinegar, baking soda, but nothing seems to work. If anyone knows of a cleanser that would work or some home remedy, that would be great. Thanks!

What is it made out of? If you can soak it, oxyclean is safe for reptiles and removes virtually any odor.

409 and Windex (DONT MIX THEM!!!) are also good cleaners, but without soaking the cage I don't know if you can ever really get rid of the smell.

Good luck
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Currently have:
0.1 Antherystic Elaphe guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe vulpina gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Leucistic Elaphe obsoleta linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake

Saving for:
Agkistrodon Contortix Mokasen - Northern Copperhead
Epicrates Cenchria Cenchria - Brazilian Rainbow Boa

If all else fails, try laquer thinner.

Scott

will laquer thinner really work, I am getting pretty frustrated with this thing. Any suggestions will do. Thanks

It might. I'm not garanteeing anything. It's certainly worth a try though. You can get a quart can of it at your local harware store or Wal-Mart or K-Mart for about $2.00. That should be enough to give it a good rub down. Just be careful about the silicone rubber joints on your aquarium- don't let the thinner stay on the joints too long or the thinner might start attacking and disolving the silicone rubber joints. Wipe it on and then wipe it off fairly quickly.

Laquer thinner is a highly concentrated paint thinner solvent, so you need to use it in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors if possible.

When your done with the thinner, I would give it another rub down with a bleach solution and a final rinse with mild dish soap and water.

If you can still smell it, you might try cleaning it with heavy duty easy-off oven cleaner. As a matter of fact, if I were you, I would try using this stuff first, and if it doesn't cut the smell then I would use the paint thinner last.

Scott

The terrarium is made out of a (i think) a compressed fiber board, almost like you would find it at ikea (formica furniture). I have used oxi clean before on carpet (amazing) to get out stains, maybe it will work to get out the cage smell. Thanks

well, I soak the cage in oxi clean over night and the smell is still there. Some one posted about using laquer thinner to get rid of the smell, but that is toxic and I don't want to use anything that would harm the snake. Any more suggestions would be great, thanks.

Oxi-Clean didn't get the smell out?

Wow...
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Currently have:
0.1 Antherystic Elaphe guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe vulpina gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Leucistic Elaphe obsoleta linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake

Saving for:
Agkistrodon Contortix Mokasen - Northern Copperhead
Epicrates Cenchria Cenchria - Brazilian Rainbow Boa