Cleaning

[nevvie]

I am confused by the different advice on cleaning vivariums, that I have read on the web. It ranges from a major clean at least once a week to every six months! Also, I have used mopani wood (might be driftwood in US?) for my agamas to climb and bask on, and they have pooped on it. I can only get so much off with a quick wipe, so what would be recommended for keeping this clean? And!....yes there's more....I would love to do a nice background. I was thinking of using foam and sprinkling sand on it to simulate a rocky face. Again, as with the wood, how do I keep this clean?

Any advice would be appreciated

Nevvie

[2manypets]

I have found that cleaning the viv can depend on the substrate u r using. I used to use some kind of bark chipping that seemed 2 b incredibly dusty and everything in the tank started to get brown quickly since then I've changed to a cork bark substrate that is soooo much cleaner (plus its larger so no chance of my water dragon swallowing it!). Luckily my water dragon tends to use his water bowl as a toilet so as long as thats cleaned daily I can keep the rest of the cleaning down to a minimum although I generally go for the rule when theres food thats been left and kicked around the tank then I clean, and when the glass is splatter from over enthusiastic bathing I clean that to. But generally i give everything a good clean every 2 months. As for the mopani problem I did a stint working in Petsmart and they used to use a fine sandpaper on wooden bird perches, if u can remove the wood from the viv try giving it a soft rub with sandpaper, u should need to be to brutal! If u can't remove the wood then I wouldn't do this with your agamas still in there as it could effect there breathing.

Hope this helps

2manypets

[2manypets]

sorry that line should read "you SHOULDN'T need to be brutal"!!!!

my fingers tend to work faster than my brain! or just skip letters when they feel like it!

[nevvie]

Originally Posted by 2manypets

sorry that line should read "you SHOULDN'T need to be brutal"!!!!

my fingers tend to work faster than my brain! or just skip letters when they feel like it!

Mine do the same, we must need a finger doctor!

Thank you for that advice, it seems sensible and common sense. I also thought it might be a plan to soak the mopani wood once every few months, in a reptile friendly disinfectant, or is this too much?

[2manypets]

Sounds a feasible idea but I've never tried it so I can't recommend any particular products. Hope someone else can answer that for you.

Happy cleaning!

[Sammy]

I think you will find something on google search , as i did the same thing....


Sammy