The Best Cleaner for Reptile Cages

There are a lot of cleaning tools and cleaners for reptile cages, but in this article, we would be discussing the best cleaner for reptile cages that promise nothing but the best results.

Several things could go wrong with your pet if its cage isn’t properly taken care of. they are susceptible to skin and bacterial infections which can get very uncomfortable, and the easiest way to avoid all of that is to keep the cage clean at all times.

They are also carriers of bacteria like salmonella, which makes humans sick.

So keeping your exotic pet’s cage tidy doesn’t only save them from being sick, but protects you and your household too.

Complete Guide for The Best Cleaners for Reptile Cages

Right from the initial set up of your reptile’s cage, you need to make use of clean and sterile components, equipment, and accessories.

This way you wouldn’t be endangering the life of your pet by introducing a microbe to the enclosure.

Sterilize any items such as branches or rocks that you introduce into the enclosure.

Clean rocks and boil them for 30 minutes to be sure they are free from germs. Rinse sand and then heat in an oven for 30 minutes.

Branches also need to be cleaned and heated in an oven for 30 minutes, all to ensure that your tank right from the start is sterile.

Cleaning Schedule

The frequency of cage cleaning depends on your pet’s habit and the size of the cage you have.

So to provide the best for your pet, you need to be familiar with its behavior and needs.

You will also know when the cage needs cleaning from your observation, but generally, the cage would need to be cleaned:

• Daily to remove bits of leftovers and uneaten food, spills, shed skin, feces, urine, and also to disinfect dishes and food.
• Weekly to disinfect the cage, decorations, and substrate.

To protect yourself and your family, always use rubber gloves before you begin cleaning your reptile’s enclosure.

Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning, and also after handling your reptile friend.

Daily Cleaning

As you clean your reptile’s cage daily, observe your pet and check for any signs of ill health.

Also, check for potential hazards in the cage and correct them. Observations you should make include:

• Has the right amount of food been eaten?
• Are the feces and urine normal in appearance and quantity?
• Is the temperature f the enclosure normal?
• Has any shedding taken place? Is it normal?
• Are there parasites in the cage? You should lookout for any of these common parasites by their appearances; mites appear as either small brown, red, or black spots around your pet’s eyes, moving on its skin, or between the scales. Ticks are slightly larger than mites and are brown, black, or grey. If the parasitic infestation is internal, the pointers would be emaciation or changes in the feces.

When carrying out daily cleaning, you should remove feces, uneaten food, urine, and water spills.

If you are using a sand substrate, sifter the sand to separate dirt and debris from the substrate.

If it becomes necessary at any point to clean the inside of your pet’s cage, transfer your reptile to another cage before commencing and wait until the cage is dry before bringing your buddy back.

Food and water dishes should be thoroughly washed with soap and hot water.

Use a disinfectant as well to ensure that it is sterile at all times.

Its good practice to have multiple dishes so that while one is being cleaned and still wet, you can feed your pet with another.

Disinfectants

The choice of disinfectants for your pet’s cage is a delicate one.

This is because the disinfectant you choose must be strong enough to make the place sterile, yet not so strong as to harm your pet.

Since reptiles are very sensitive to toxic chemicals, you must move them to another cage before you begin cleaning and disinfecting.

There are a lot of disinfectants in the market, but the most commonly used one is the household bleach.

Since the presence of any organic material will prevent the disinfectant from working as it should, clean the cage thoroughly before disinfecting.

While disinfecting, apply the disinfectant generously to the cage and accessories, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

If the material you are disinfecting is porous, then it may have to sit for long after which you will rinse thoroughly.

Its safe practice to use the bleach in a well-ventilated environment for your safety.

Also, wear rubber gloves and goggles, and once done with the cage, allow to dry before reassembling.

Weekly Cleaning

At least once every week, move your reptile to a backup cage and perform the following operations:

• Remove every decoration from the cage
• Clean and disinfect food and water bowls
• Dispose of any substrate that is due
• Clean all surfaces with soap and water
• For substrates that can still be used, wash, and disinfect as directed.
• Wash decorations
• After washing the cage and rinsing it, disinfect
• Rinse off until residues are completely removed
• Allow everything to dry properly before reassembling
• Wash and disinfect everything you used, and then was your hands thoroughly too

The 5 Top-Rated Reptile Cage Cleaners

Editor’s Picks	Brand	Rating
Top Pick	Zilla Basic Tropical Reptile Starter Kit	4.1
Runner Up	Repti Zoo Reptile Glass Terrarium	4.4
Best Budget Buy	Repti Zoo 10 Gallon Reptile Tank	4.4
Best Tank Sand for Leopard Gecko	Zilla Reptile Starter Kit 10 with Light and Heat Desert Set	4.2
Best Leopard Gecko Starter Kit Tank	Exo Terra Leopard Gecko Starter Kit	4.0

*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

The Best Cleaner for Reptile Cages

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1.   API Turtle Products Sludge Remover

First on our list of best cleaners for reptile cages is the API Turtle Products Sludge Remover.

It helps to reduce the buildup of turtle waste and also breaks down vivarium sludge which reduces the quality of water in the vivarium and clogs pumps and filters.

So by using this sludge remover, your water maintenance systems can work perfectly and maintain a perfect environment for your aquatic reptiles.

It has natural beneficial bacteria as its active ingredient to properly break down waste, and eliminate odor.

With API, you don’t have to do much scrubbing as the growth of algae and accumulation of dirt would be taken care of.

Pros

• Removes sludge
• Eliminates odor
• Discourages the growth of algae
• Safe for use in both salt and freshwater

Cons

• Doesn’t break down waste completely making it difficult to siphon waste

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2.   Fluker’s Super Scrub Organic Reptile Habitat Cleaner

Fluker’s super scrub reptile habitat cleaner comes with a brush and cleaning solution to make it easy to maintain a hygienic tank for your pet.

The brush allows you to scrub the tank and all accessories you may have inside, and the solution which is organic dissolves dirt.

Being organic, it is free from harmful chemicals that may be toxic to your pet, so your pet remains safe while you keep its home tidy.

It goes beyond just cleaning the tank as it also eliminates odor from your reptile’s waste.

So if you are looking for a safe and efficient product to ensure that your pet’s home stays clean and smells nice, this is the product for you.

Pros

• Organic cleaner
• Comes with its brush
• Deodorizes the enclosure
• Can be used on all surfaces and accessories

Cons

• Brush tends to get defective easily

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3.   Carolina Custom Cages Chlorhexidine Solution

Carolina Custom Cages Chlorhexidine Solution is highly recommended for keeping reptile cages and other accessories clean.

It’s easy to use and doesn’t pose a threat to your pet due to its lack of toxic and harmful chemicals.

Apart from using it to clean, it also disinfects, making it very convenient for your use. for daily and monthly cleaning, this is the right product for you.

If you have a bearded dragon and it has some stubborn shed, this solution can be used to prevent the buildup of fungus in the double shed area.

All you have to do is add it to their bathwater and let them soak in it.

So for a cleaner and disinfectant all in one, this is a choice that will make you smile.

Pros

• Nontoxic to your pet
• Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
• Easy to use
• Prevents buildup of fungus in your bearded dragon’s double shed area

Cons

• Bottle isn’t durable

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4.   Natural Chemistry Healthy Habitat Cleaner

Natural chemistry habitat cleaner makes use of natural enzymes to take care of odors and clean up stains in your pet’s home.

There are no chemicals in its formulation, so it’s safe for use on all pets and takes care of all the strong odors that your pet’s waste would create.

Since its devoid of harmful chemicals, it can also be used even when your pet is in its habitat eliminating the need to have a backup tank and move your pet around.

This reptile cage cleaner is fit for use with different types of pet homes and different surfaces like glass, heat rocks, gravel, and other accessories and décor within the cage.

Pros

• Natural product and free from chemicals
• Hypoallergenic
• Can be used with a variety of reptiles
• Easy to use

Cons

• Color of liquid leaves a stain behind, depending on what you want

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5.   Zilla Reptile Terrarium Cleaner

Zilla Reptile Terrarium Cleaner is meant to give your reptile’s terrarium a clear and brilliant shine with its improved formula.

It contains no toxins, fumes, or residues and gives your glass, acrylic, and other surfaces a perfect and clean finish.

Not only does it do a great job of cleaning, but it also deodorizes, so your pet’s home smells clean and fresh when you are done.

It’s easy to use and safe with your reptile buddies.

You can use this product in your terrariums, water and food bowls, decors, hiding places, and other accessories.

To ensure that your pet’s home has that great look, its anti-static ingredient repels dust collection and buildup.

Pros

• 100% safe for use with your pet
• Deodorizes
• Gives a brilliant shine to your pet’s terrarium
• Repels dust due to its anti-static ingredient

Cons

• Poor odor control

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What to Look Out for in The Best Cleaners for Reptile Cages

Odor Control

Reptiles usually make a lot of mess and leave waste randomly.

This all comes together to create a foul-smelling enclosure that could extend to your home, so when buying a cleaner for your reptile cage, it should be one that can help with odor control.

This way you will be comfortable with your pet’s enclosure indoors.

Not Harmful to Your Pet

Reptile enclosure cleaners are laden with chemicals that clean and in most cases disinfect to an extent.

Some chemicals can, however, harm your pet thereby doing more harm than good.

So when choosing a cleaner for your reptile cage, go for a product that doesn’t make your pet sick.

Efficient in Thorough Washing

Not all cleaners do a good job of cleaning the tank. So always go for quality over quantity to get the best results each time.

Price

The price of a good cage cleaner doesn’t have to be overly expensive.

So no matter what your budget is, you can get a decent product that would do the job properly.

Don’t over compromise on quality for cost though because you may end up getting bad results from the product.

Commonly Asked Questions About Cleaner for Reptile Cages

Can I Use Windex To Clean My Bearded Dragon’s Cage?

Yes, you can but you would need final cleaning with a wet towel to ensure the Windex isn’t in the tank anymore.

Is Dawn Dish Soap Safe for Reptiles?

Yes, it is but make sure you rinse the tank thoroughly to avoid soap and chemical residues getting in contact with your pets.

Can You Use Vinegar to Clean a Reptile Cage?

Yes, you can, either use full-strength vinegar or diluted vinegar.

How Often Should You Clean a Reptile Tank?

Reptile tanks should be cleaned daily to remove feces and uneaten food and more thoroughly weekly.

Conclusion

Proper cleaning of a reptile cage is an important part of keeping a healthy and happy pet.

These best cleaners for reptile cages not only remove dirt but also deodorize and disinfects.

Using API Turtle Products Sludge Remover helps to discourage the growth of algae, breaks down sludge, and eliminates the bad smell.

Fluker’s Super Scrub Organic Reptile Habitat Cleaner is an organic cleaner that poses no threat to the health of your pet as it has no toxic chemicals. It also deodorizes and eliminates the bad smell.

Carolina Custom Cages Chlorhexidine Solution is another nontoxic cleaner that discourages the growth of bacteria and fungi in your pet’s enclosure, thereby preventing infection and sickness.