The basics for cage cleaning are pretty simple. The following schedule assumes one moderately messy gecko per cage. If you have a very messy gecko you might need to step up your monthly deep clean to bi-weekly or even weekly.
1. Put your gecko in a deli cup with air holes and mist cup lightly with room-temp water so they can enjoy a sauna while you clean. Or put them in a temporary cage.
2. Cleaning your substrate:
If you are using a paper-towel substrate either for ease of use or for quarantine purposes, simply throw away the towels during your weekly cleaning and replace.
If you are using a natural substrate like coconut husk or ABS Mix WITHOUT isopods, springtails or other insect cleaners then spot clean weekly. Once a month remove substrate, dampen, place in microwave safe container and steam for one minute in the microwave. Let cool and replace. If fungus has developed or the soil has a sour odor then discard and replace. If you are using a soil mix WITH insect cleaning crew then let your crew do their jobs and make sure the top soil is friable, not wet, while the lower hydration layer holds some liquid. Replace leaf litter as needed.
If you are using a reptile carpet or similar material then spot clean weekly and wash monthly (or more frequently for spills and mess) with warm water, wring dry and spray with diluted F10 disinfectant.
3. Window washing: wipe down the sides of your enclosure with a diluted vinegar solution 1:10 or F10 disinfectant. Rinse if using vinegar. If your cage is not bioactive then during your once a month cleaning you can use dish detergent and hot water and scrub the cage down. Rinse thoroughly-dish detergent is an irritant.
4. Cage furnishings: during your monthly deep clean soak cage furnishings in vinegar and hot water or plain hot water to loosen soil-then scrub and rinse. Spray with F10 solution if available. Always try to put cage furnishings back in the same place.
5. Food dishes: clean out food and water dishes thoroughly at each feeding to keep down bacteria and bugs. If using shallow dishes for bath areas clean those at the same time. Clean immediately if gecko waste is in the water.
1. Put your gecko in a deli cup with air holes and mist cup lightly with room-temp water so they can enjoy a sauna while you clean. Or put them in a temporary cage.
2. Cleaning your substrate:
If you are using a paper-towel substrate either for ease of use or for quarantine purposes, simply throw away the towels during your weekly cleaning and replace.
If you are using a natural substrate like coconut husk or ABS Mix WITHOUT isopods, springtails or other insect cleaners then spot clean weekly. Once a month remove substrate, dampen, place in microwave safe container and steam for one minute in the microwave. Let cool and replace. If fungus has developed or the soil has a sour odor then discard and replace. If you are using a soil mix WITH insect cleaning crew then let your crew do their jobs and make sure the top soil is friable, not wet, while the lower hydration layer holds some liquid. Replace leaf litter as needed.
If you are using a reptile carpet or similar material then spot clean weekly and wash monthly (or more frequently for spills and mess) with warm water, wring dry and spray with diluted F10 disinfectant.
3. Window washing: wipe down the sides of your enclosure with a diluted vinegar solution 1:10 or F10 disinfectant. Rinse if using vinegar. If your cage is not bioactive then during your once a month cleaning you can use dish detergent and hot water and scrub the cage down. Rinse thoroughly-dish detergent is an irritant.
4. Cage furnishings: during your monthly deep clean soak cage furnishings in vinegar and hot water or plain hot water to loosen soil-then scrub and rinse. Spray with F10 solution if available. Always try to put cage furnishings back in the same place.
5. Food dishes: clean out food and water dishes thoroughly at each feeding to keep down bacteria and bugs. If using shallow dishes for bath areas clean those at the same time. Clean immediately if gecko waste is in the water.
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