Upon hearing the word reptile, one may say ‘Eww’ as few people are keen on keeping these slimy, slithery creatures as pets. But then again, there are reptile lovers out there who absolutely adore these creatures and bring them home to look after.
However, looking after reptiles isn’t an easy job, and hygiene factors play a crucial role. That’s why it is an absolute must to keep the reptile cages absolutely spotless so that the creatures have a clean place to stay and can also avoid trips to the vet.
Check out our guide to 10 tips for cleaning your reptile’s cage.
1. Cleaning Supplies
First and foremost, ensure you have gathered all the essential cleaning supplies like paper towels, trash bags, disinfectant spray, hot water, rubber gloves, and everything else needed to clean the cage.
2. Extra Cage
Yes, it would help if you had another extra cage to keep your pet while cleaning out their one so they can be kept safe and sound.
Otherwise, your reptile may end up heading out into the backyard if left loose!
3. Turn Off All Lighting Sources
Since reptiles need to be kept in warm surroundings, it’s obvious that the cage you have includes both lighting and heating devices.
Always switch off the lights, as warm bulbs could cause you to burn, and keep the heating devices aside, as they could get damaged while cleaning.
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4. Remove Everything Inside the Cage
To give the snake enclosures or other reptile cage a good clean, be sure to remove all the accessories inside, which could include plants, logs, trees, and whatever else is there.
Since these may contain feces or urine of the reptile, it is highly recommended to soak the non-disposal items in a bucket that is not used for any other purpose.
5. Throw Away the Substrate
If the substrate is disposable then simply throw it in a trash bag. If not, wash it in a bowl of hot water, then spread it out on a plain surface to let it dry.
6. Wash the Cage
Put on those rubber gloves and start cleaning away. Get a bucket full of hot soapy water and start wiping the inside of the cage with a sponge. It is also recommended to use an old toothbrush to get rid of any dirt piled up in the corners and edges of the cage.
Once clean, spray a disinfectant to kill any remaining bacteria to give the cage a sparklingly clean look.
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7. Clean all the Decoration
All the accessories that you removed from the cage and soaked in a bucket of water now need a thorough cleaning, one by one, which can be done with paper towels or a small brush.
8. Dry Everything That Has Been Washed
By now, your little pet is probably missing its home. That’s why you need to start drying the cage and all the accessories as quickly as possible.
9. Redecorate the Cage
First, make sure the cage doesn’t have any soap or water left over. Then place the clean substrate inside it, and put back all the accessories as before. Most importantly, do not forget to reinstall the heating devices and turn on the bulbs to make your little friend feel at home again.
10. Home Sweet Home
Give a final check to ensure the temperature is suitable for your reptile. Once everything is okay, place them inside with a fresh bowl of water and let them get adjusted to their sparkly clean home.
Final Note
We hope our guide to 10 tips for cleaning your reptile’s cage was easy for you to understand. Although we did not recommend any cleansing products, it’s always better to use soaps and disinfectants, which have less concentration of chemicals in them.
