Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I use Sterilite bins for all my quarantine containers. Much easier to clean than aquariums, and I don't feel bad about throwing one away if it is uncleanable.

My question is... I put down the corn with Eimeria. I've heard that ammonia should be used to clean the enclosure with. What strength should I use? All I could find was ammonia from the store... it's ammonium hydroxide according to the container. Should I dilute it in any way?

This time around, I just used it straight, and the container has been sitting with ammonia in it for 2 days now. Is that good enough? I want to make sure any other snake using the container isn't going to get eimeria... unfortunately, I have no way to microscopically look and make sure the eimeria oocysts aren't there.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

It would be impossible to check the entire bin microscopicly for oocysts. A 2 day soak should be more than enough. Follow this with a good rinse and air drying. I'm not a big fan of ammonia, perhaps scroll downward for discussions on other disinfectants. If using ammonia, use good ventilation, rinse well, and don't use in the herp room. (have a seperate cleaning area)

Buy Vinegar sold in supermarkets. Better than bleach, ammonia, and much safer. Add a little lemon juice to get rid of vinegar smell.

Mike

A non-toxic but effective bacteriacide is to spray vinegar and then standard 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria. When using this method, it would be best to first wash off all organic matter within the enclosure/caging; ie. substrate, feces, etc. Below is a link re: this method
Link

>>A non-toxic but effective bacteriacide is to spray vinegar and then standard 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria. When using this method, it would be best to first wash off all organic matter within the enclosure/caging; ie. substrate, feces, etc. Below is a link re: this method
>>Link

I'm trying to eliminate coccidia (eimeria) not bacteria. Have bleach for bacteria
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

The vinegar idea is fine for routine cleaning but as you suggested, not the greatest for your concerns. Again, I believe what you are doing is adequate, but I have no hard data on it.
More important to what you use is the cleaning, rinsing, drying action. What you can use if still concerned is Quatsyl which is a quatarnary ammonium compound and is used in veterinary clinics all over. (I'm in Canada, so I'm not sure what the brand name would be in the states)
I believe you had stated this is for disinfecting cages, but I thought I'd just remind you to through out all wooden or unsealed cage furniture as this is where contamination will be hardest to eliminate.

>>The vinegar idea is fine for routine cleaning but as you suggested, not the greatest for your concerns. Again, I believe what you are doing is adequate, but I have no hard data on it.
>>More important to what you use is the cleaning, rinsing, drying action. What you can use if still concerned is Quatsyl which is a quatarnary ammonium compound and is used in veterinary clinics all over. (I'm in Canada, so I'm not sure what the brand name would be in the states)
>>I believe you had stated this is for disinfecting cages, but I thought I'd just remind you to through out all wooden or unsealed cage furniture as this is where contamination will be hardest to eliminate.

I'm using plastic sterilite bins. I hate wood caging.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

I was checking into my mis-informed answer for disinfection of Coccidia spp. & found this website that applies mostly to farm animals and poultry. It should work with Eimeria spp. that infect reptiles. It's uses a 2-step method of ammonium crystals and sodium hydroxide with an organic disinfectant to purge the oocysts from restarting their infection cycle. Link is below:
Link

Hey,
If you're really interested in a great product for disinfecting your cages, why not invest your money in Novalsan, or just some very cheap and obtainable Bleach.
-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

>>Hey,
>>If you're really interested in a great product for disinfecting your cages, why not invest your money in Novalsan, or just some very cheap and obtainable Bleach.
>>-Angel
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>>"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
>>-Henry Miller.

I have read that Nolvasan doesn't get rid of coccidia and other oocyst critters. I use Nolvasan or bleach otherwise. I was asking about ammonia because ammonia does get rid of coccidia.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Hey,
Where'd you read that? Please post here.
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil