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Disinfecting old cages

Posted By:

iatro

My dad has two cages he custom-built years ago for reptiles, and I'd like to reuse them - at least the smaller ones - as he hasn't kept herps for years, but now I do.

The big cage is about 4'x6'x3' -- and the smaller is about 2'x3'x2'. Both cages have light sockets for heat & UV lamps, a section to place a large water dish on the bottom, and have plexiglas & mesh sides. the big cage has plexiglas sections over mesh that fold down to give more ventilation, or can be folded up to keep in heat & humidity. they also both have a lot of fake plants and a few good, sturdy climbing trees/vines built into them.

..... the small cage is pretty much vertically oriented, so I thought perhaps I could put my JCP in there when he grows a bit? I have no idea what to put in the big cage. it's, well, it's HUGE!
but, well, they're both kind of old... and gross. they weren't cleaned too thoroughly after the last occupants passed away. D:

if it matters- neither cage has been used for about 10 years.
the last thing to live in the larger cage was an iguana, I can't remember how or why it died; I don't think it was sick, but I can't promise.
the last thing to live in the smaller cage was anoles, which all died of old age, far as I remember they were all at least 5-6 years old.

soooooooo....

wondering what would be good to disinfect or clean out these cages? I usually use a bleach-warm water solution, but I am seeing bleach soaking into the branches built into these cages...

anything that'd be "safe" if it soaked into the wood? or any safe time to air out/dry the wood branches in these things?
is just good ol' water & elbow grease the best bet here?
.... or just replacing the branches?
............. or scrapping these cages completely?


Points:	50
Topics:	Caging , Disinfectants
Tags:	Caging, Cleaning
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

11/17/2009 9:24:54 AM

aaron

What about sealing the wood with a polyurethane and letting it dry? If you're going to use it for a higher humidity animal, you'd want something sealed anyway.

Maxima256 is what I use to disinfect everything non-porous, I'm not sure about porous surfaces. It kills everything but crypto.

Accepted Answer

11/17/2009 9:49:12 AM

shellboa

I use Nolvasan on everything. It even dissolves crusty bird poop. You can get it from the bean farm and it is spendy but my little quart bottle has lasted over a year, you dillute it. Spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes then wipe what you can and just use the hose or some thing and rinse the whole thing. Unless its some kind of particle board it should dry out and even if it does soak into the branches it is safe. It also has a pleasant smell that helps cut old musty pee smell. lol

Member Comment

11/17/2009 2:52:49 PM

Katie M

I use Roccal - D - but I would scrap all of the cage furniture

Member Comment

11/17/2009 3:47:09 PM

iashia

That Nolvasan sonds wonderful! like a dream product! Btw whats a bean market? never heard of one.

Personally, im paranoid about re-using any kind of furniture from animal to animal, expecial defferent species, because you never know what can happen. if your gonna re use everything in there, use some of that novalan stuff (idk from experience, but shellboa would make a great sales rep!) i would let it air out for a while (again im paranoid about some things) i would let it air out for about a week or more, just to be safe =)

Member Comment

11/17/2009 3:49:43 PM

Katie M

Beanfarm.com - not Bean Market

Author Comment

11/17/2009 5:04:57 PM

iatro

Far as I remember, the insides of the cages are sealed with polyurethane already (at least the inside surfaces) -- the climbing branches probably aren't though. I'm not sure if sealing them would be worth it, at least in the bigger cage; I might use that for a lizard, and they'd probably scratch the sealant right off...

sounds like Nolvasan is exactly what I want! awesome, I will pick some up. :D

I am a little paranoid about re-using furniture that can't be disinfected (like resin or plastic things I'm okay with), but I figure these cages have been vacant for a decade, and it's a shame to see them go unused.... I'll see how awful they are though (I'll get them in a few weeks), I might wind up tearing out the branches and replacing them anyway. and definitely going to let them air out for at least a week after cleaning :]

Member Comment

11/17/2009 5:58:59 PM

Aimee

Nolvasan's nice because it's not stinky and it's a decent all-around disinfectant. however, I'd like to add a word of caution. Nolvasan will NOT kill something heavy-duty like crypto; it won't even come close. if you suspect anything "scary" has lived in the cage, polyurethane or scrap wood are really your only choices. Roccal's an EXCELLENT disinfectant and doesn't stink like many of the others. it's been recommended by most of the vets in our area to use at outreaches, in our halfway house program, etc. as something that's probably pretty effective against most of the "scary" stuff. and hey, a little paranoia's healthy! A A

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