[Health-General] Cleaning after RI?

[Slitherz]

Hey everyone! I had one of my red tails get a RI a few months back. He was moved to isolation and treated. Im happy to say he is doing well now, however my concern is putting him back into his cage. Its been cleaned and sitting for a while, but I wanted to know everyones opinion on how you clean the enclosure after this and how long to wait before reintroducing him. Is there a specific cleaner that should be used right away or do you just give the enclosure time after a good cleaning? I don't want to risk a relapse RI so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Greenwood]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

I use Chlorhexidine to clean everything, cages, utensils, water bowls, tables, and my hands inbetween snake handling. I also have that Zoo Med Wipeout stuff as well. If have a hand sized steam cleaner, you could use that too. If you are using a PVC cage that breaks down, I would probably break it down and spray each piece with Chlorhexidine and let it soak and then hose them off and put it back together.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

I second what Greenwood wrote, although these days I'm using F-10. No single cleaner is perfect, so several different methods might be a good idea is cases like this. I also use rubbing alcohol sprayed on. Rarely do
I ever use bleach solution to clean with even though it's very effective...getting rid of (ALL!) those nasty fumes (both for me or my snakes) is too much of a pain. I don't have a steam cleaner but I like that idea.

[Jrock23]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

I would say it also depends on the cages that you are using, it has to be disinfected very good, but if he is doing well as you say and that its been awhile. Why not put he back into his cage. I`m glad to hear you took care of the problem. [MENTION=13772]Noelle7206[/MENTION] i didn`t` know the F-10 was out, i saw an a guy on snakebytes tv testing in out but i never knew it hit the states already.. Where did you get it cause i would love to have that. Theirs alot of good feedback about that product

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

Jrock23, I bought the F10 (SC) about a year ago online from Reptile Basics Inc- great place to buy supplies, IMO. Unless you are a big commercial operation, the little bottle will last a LONG time, btw.

[Slitherz]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

Some of my larger cages are repurposed, food grade, IBC totes that I cut in half and installed drains into. They are PVC however I can not take them apart but rinsing with copious amounts of water is not a problem. Where would I find F-10 or Chlorhexidine? What are you recommendations on dilution amounts or are they listed on the containers? Thanks for you help!!!

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

Some of my larger cages are repurposed, food grade, IBC totes that I cut in half and installed drains into. They are PVC however I can not take them apart but rinsing with copious amounts of water is not a problem. Where would I find F-10 or Chlorhexidine? What are you recommendations on dilution amounts or are they listed on the containers? Thanks for you help!!!

Chlorhexidine (or brand name Nolvasan) is usually available thru farm-feed-or veterinary suppliers. It's been a while since I used that, can't recall the exact dilution rate for reptile cages att...I think an ounce per gallon?
The resulting solution was a very pale bluish color. The F10 (SC) has dilution instructions with the bottle...it's very concentrated- you use 1 part to 250 parts water. Be sure to label your solution as it just looks like water &
would be toxic to creatures.

[bcr_229]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

The F10SC mixed 1:250 doesn't have to be rinsed, you can let it dry and it will persist for a while, helping to kill off germs without harming your snake.

If I purchase used enclosures before I bring them into the house I clean them, disinfect them with Chlorox, leave them in the garage for a few days to dry/air out, treat them with the F10SC, and bring them in once they're dry.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

Yes, used enclosures are EXACTLY where I'd use several disinfectants, one after the other, including bleach. Properly diluted chlorhexidine/Nolvasan also does NOT need to be rinsed from cages...just wipe & make sure they
are dry before any animal contact.

[Greenwood]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

A lot of places have F-10 now. Bean Farm sells it, Reptile Basics sell it, Amazon sells it too. And like Noelle said, you can get Chlorhexidine from any feed store. I get mine from the local feed store. And I also do not rinse my chlorhexidine since if diluted and you follow the directions, its used as an oral rinse too. Heck I read somewhere where someone said, they fumes from it helped clear up the start of RI in their snakes. I'm not sure whether I believe that but that's what I read.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

....Heck I read somewhere where someone said, they fumes from it helped clear up the start of RI in their snakes. I'm not sure whether I believe that but that's what I read.

I know what you're talking about...I saw a forum post a while back (not here) where the OP described using it in a fogger device to clear up her boa's RI; as I recall, she got the idea from Brian Barczyk of SnakeBytes TV.
Having read the chlorhexidine label warnings about toxicity, I don't expect to be trying that, but perhaps that's the difference between a business owner & a pet-keeper? Anyway, last I saw she claimed initial success
with that, but I never heard 'the rest of the story' as to long term health or side effects.

On a similar note, I also remember seeing (some 25+ years ago) some petstores in California that thought it was fine to put a piece of a dog/cat flea collar in the cages WITH the snakes (where they could even crawl on it!)
to kill their mites. Yes, it did a great job of killing mites, but down the road (after the snakes were sold to unsuspecting new owners) the snakes died too of a mysterious untreatable "illness". Snakes are very fragile when
it comes to chemical exposure, whether used internally as medicine, accidentally ingested or inhaled, or even absorbed thru their skin.

[bebowebb]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

I have always used diluted Listerine (the generic brand), as it works great and you can pic your scent

[Noelle7206]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

I have always used diluted Listerine (the generic brand), as it works great and you can pic your scent

What's the active ingredient in Listerine? Sounds very practical...(especially for someone with only a few snakes that doesn't need a gallon of chlorhexidine, lol...)
I wonder how the snakes feel about the 'scent' though...their sense of smell being SO much better than ours? (< rhetorical question, not a survey)

[Greenwood]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

[MENTION=5796]noelle[/MENTION] Lol I remember back in the day as well about people using cut pieces of flea collars for mites. I was always worried about the chemicals but I guess my life has been lucky as I have never had to deal with snake mites. But I'm also OCD but my pets so maybe that's why lol.

[gamptff]

Re: Cleaning after RI?

What's the active ingredient in Listerine?

Pretty sure it's Hydrogen Peroxide and Isopropyl Alcohol.