-
Reptiles – How To Properly Care For Them
Posted on June 28th, 2013Cage maintenance for your reptile should receive proper attention.
Reptiles are susceptible to bacterial infections of the skin and digestive tract so cages and housing must be thoroughly and regularly cleaned.
In order to a safe and healthy home for your reptile, routine cage maintenance is necessary by keeping the cage odor-free. It is ideal to place an Odor Remover Bag in the cage to help keep away any foul odors. Clear the Air is completely non-toxic and 100% safe around all types of animals.
Certain precautions need to be taken during cleaning since the fecal matter of reptiles may harbor harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. It is most commonly transmitted to humans through oral ingestion after handling a reptile or contaminated equipment, through open cuts or sores during handling, or through contact with contaminated soil or environmental items. For this reason, your reptile’s cage, furnishings, and cleaning equipment need to be cleaned regularly and periodically disinfected. Sprinkling Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminator will eliminate any odors in your cage and will help to keep your reptile enjoying his home.Wear protective gloves during maintenance and wash your hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water after handling reptiles, reptile cages and equipment, and the stool of reptiles.
Cage Accessories – Before introducing natural items such as rocks and branches into your reptile’s home, make sure they are sterile. Rocks should be thoroughly cleaned and then boiled in water for 30 minutes. Sand can be rinsed with large amounts of water to remove any particulate matter and then heated in an oven at 200-250°F for 30 minutes. Branches should also be cleaned and heated in the same manner.
How Often Should You Clean – The frequency and degree of routine cage cleaning will vary from species to species depending on the size and habits of your reptile. Always read and learn as much as possible regarding the needs and preferences of your reptile, and tailor your cleaning schedule around the needs of your particular pet. For example, cages of large iguanas require more work than those of a snake. As you become more familiar with the needs of your pet, you may have to alter your cleaning schedule as needed. However, in general, you will need to:
- Perform daily cleaning to remove spills, uneaten food, shed skin, and other waste materials. Clean and disinfect food and water dishes daily when providing fresh food and water.
- Clean and disinfect the entire cage, substrate, and decorations weekly.
Do you have any tips of keeping your reptile happy and healthy? Please comment on our blog!
-
How To Clean Your Reptile’s Cage
Posted on March 27th, 2013Cleaning out your reptile cage.
Once a week you should clean out your reptile’s cage. Clear the Air would like to share some step by step tips to cleaning out your cage:
- Relocate your reptile to a temporary cage.
- Remove all decorations from the cage.
- Scoop out any feces from the cage along with shed skin. You can sprinkle Clear the Air’s Pet Odor Eliminator in the cage. It is all natural and 100% non-toxic to your reptile. We also recommend placing an Odor Eliminator Bag on top or near your cage to help keep odor down.
- Clean, rinse and disinfect your water and food bowls. Food and water dishes should be washed in hot, soapy water, and dried thoroughly. To provide more cleaning power, use a disinfectant. Always rinse well to be sure no trace of soap or disinfectant remains on the dishes.
- Clean all cage surfaces with soap and hot water and rinse well.
- Wash all decorations and non-disposable substrate with hot, soapy water. Scrub with brushes to remove wastes and dried liquids then rinse well. After washing use a disinfectant but be sure to rinse the cage and accessories with hot water until all residues are removed.
- Allow the cage and accessories to dry thoroughly before reassembling to reduce the risk of mold.
- Put all your decorations back in the cage once they are thoroughly dry.
- Once the cage is put back in order, you can return your reptile to his cage. Make sure to wash and thoroughly disinfect all cleaning equipment then lastly wash your hands with soap and water.