Cleaning vivariums

Hi,

Firstly I would like to say how brilliant all the natural looking vivariums are on here that you have. I was wondering how much more of a problem they present with regards to cleaning and general housekeeping than a more simple, minimalist design vivarium does?

Thanks!
Harry

Hi Harry!

All of my vivariums are naturalistic (venomous and non venomous alike). I understand your concern that naturalistic setups may be difficult to clean, but truly nothing could be further from the truth! They involve more initial setup time and money, but once they are set up they require much less time to clean in my experience than a 'sterile' setup, and there is no denying they are much easier on the eye and less stressful for the animal.

There is also another way of looking at it - animals kept in a 'sterile' environment never come into contact with 'normal' pathogens, as such when they do encounter anything nasty, they are likely to have a relatively weak immune system and not be able to cope with the pathogen (when compared with an animal kept in a 'naturalistic' environment with introductions to minor pathogens.) Does that make sense?

Anyway, in most of my tanks i use things like bioactive substrate - essentially meaning that when the snake poops, i take away the 'big bits' and bin it, and the rest is 'stirred' into the substrate for the organisms to clean up - in time the substrate becomes fully bioactive and it truly NEVER needs to be replaced. Just occasionally improved with additional organic matter in the forms of leaves etc.

If the snake poops on any sticks or rocks etc, its important to clean these, but aside from that and cleaning waterbowls carefully then there is nothing else that needs doing really!

Here are some of my examples (they are quite pitiful compared with many on here!)

Cleaning vivariums IMGP0529

Thanks for your help - your set-ups are brilliant by the way.
The information is really useful - things like this have to be taken in to concideration for planning ahead. I'm guessing that the animals are also less stressed by this which will also help? And I completely get you with regards to pathogens and illnesses.

Thanks again,
Harry

great ideas, and great vivariums as well

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» Cleaning Venomland and one new rule!!!!
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