Cleaning??

[Jennifer1]

I love the look of some of the desert landscapes people have made using foam and mortar, and more importantly how it gives the gecko more usuable space and a more natural habitat. I would like to try somthing like this at some point, but I have a few questions/concerns.

(1) Is this something that is removable, or permanent?

(2) How the heck do you clean/disinfect it??

(3) How to be sure the materials you use (foam, covering, & paint) are safe for the animal?

Thanks!

 

[drillman]

I wouldn't use any paint that is labeled as "exterior" paint. They may have the largest amount of fungicides/mildewcides of all the paints. Paints marked as "kitchen or bathroom" may have some fungicides/mildewcides. Read the label on the paint. It will be in real small print and you won't see it until you get home. I've called the paint manufacturer and couldn't get a straight answer out of them as what were the mildewcides in the paint. The safest paints to use would be interior acrylic or enamel latex paint. I wouldn't use any oil based paint. If you paint a surface it may be hard for any lizard/gecko with claws to climb as the surface will be smooth.

 

[LadyShayla]

I'm just cleaning my cresteds space for the first time (not had for long), I'm curious what ratio of water:vinegar one would use for sanitizing the glass as I am not interested in bleach cleaning for my pets.

Thanks!

 

[CrestedRick]

What are you trying to get off the glass? Water marks? Try using distilled water for misting instead. As far as the ratio goes, I use a 5% bleach so maybe try that with vinegar instead.

 

[LadyShayla]

I was trying to get water marks, defecation off and just get an overall good clean since I'm not sure when the last time it was done. Like I said previously, I'm not interested in bleach or cleaner 'chemicals' for my pets.

I received my geckos free in November and I did a wipe down with just a wet cloth in December.

So here is what *I* did yesterday:
-I cleared out the whole terrarium, accessories and substrate.
-Soaked all items in HOT tap water (not boiled) for at least 30 minutes
-Spritzed the glass down with my mister and used a razor to scrape all hard water and other off the glass.
-Sprayed down whole terrarium again.
-Using 1:3 vinegar to water ratio, I spritzed the tank down good and let stand for 5 minutes, then wiped off.
-Rinse, rinse, rinse good until no more vinegar smell and dried with paper towels
-Then scrubbed accessories good while terrarium 'aired out'

Continued my set up and this is it!

View attachment 28222

Meet Zeus (Right) and Xena (Left)!

View attachment 28223

 

[shawn101]

Vinegar is only 5% to begin with so it's fine. I use it mixed with a little water or hydrogen peroxide mixed with water. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down to water and oxygen, so nice and safe.

Dawn ultra bacterial would be safe too, used it to clean my tiles once.