Leos are one of the most common types of reptiles kept as pets and are highly recommended as first-time pets for young children. However, in order to maintain them in good health and ensure that they continue to be active, they still need a certain degree of care and cleaning. This article will provide instructions on how to clean a tank for a leopard gecko and assist you in achieving a perfect environment for your pet.
Leopard Geckos’ cages need to be thoroughly cleaned once every two months. Empty the vivarium/cage of all its contents, dispose of the expired substrate, and cleanse and disinfect the vivarium and its contents. This will help prevent the growth of bacteria and keep your pet healthy.
Why do you need to clean the Leo tank?
To maintain its strength and good health, a leopard gecko must to housed in an environment that is both clean and healthy. Leopard geckos like climbing, exploring, and hiding in their cage so much that they spend around 80% of their time outside of their vivarium.
The consistent climbing and creeping on the smooth glass walls might ultimately track dirt and filth, which can be highly ugly depending on the severity of the marks. As a result, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for your glass vivarium is essential.
(In a related article, we wrote check out Here is how much water Leo’s need daily)
How to clean Leo’s vivarium/tank? (Equipment and Procedure)
Equipment
Ensure that you have all of the necessary supplies on hand before beginning the process of cleaning your Leopard Gecko tank. You are going to require a water bucket in addition to a water sealant. You might also use a vacuum cleaner that comes with a hose attachment; however, you need to be sure to adjust the power level to the lowest feasible level. Bedding of some type (newspaper, shavings, etc.) is required for the substrate.
Procedure
Before you get started cleaning the vivarium that your leopard gecko lives in, you need to make sure that it is empty first. After that, you are able to completely clean the interior of the vivarium by making use of a gentle cleaning solution. In addition to this, you will need to remove any loose branches, stems, and food that have become rotten inside the vivarium.
After you have finished cleaning the interior of the tank that your leopard gecko resides in, it is recommended that you spray the inside of the tank with a disinfectant once per week or so. As soon as you have completed the cleaning, You should ensure that you maintain your tank well-oxygenated by utilizing a misting system. This will help avoid any undesired algae development from occurring in your vivarium. In addition to this, you need to ensure that the water is kept clean and that it is not allowed to become stagnant. Take a bite-sized piece of food, such as a piece of lettuce, and regularly put it in your leopard gecko’s tank. It will ingest the water, which will, in turn, provide it with the nutrients it needs to maintain its health.
In order to encourage climbing, it is essential that you empty the tank of any loose rocks and substitute them with small gravel. Only then will the tank be ready for use. There are several things, such as pebbles and plants, that can be purchased at pet supply stores to assist you in maintaining the health and activity level of your leopard gecko.
If you have access to a wider area and would want to construct a larger enclosure for your leopard gecko, you will need to ensure that the structure is durable enough to support its weight. Following these guidelines, you may help ensure the continued well-being of your leopard gecko.
What would happen if you do not maintain a clean environment for your Leo?
Even while it may appear to be mundane and dull, it is really necessary to ensure that your leopard gecko is happy and will live a long life.
When Leos are free to roam the wild, nature will take care of any problems that may arise on its own. Rain, for instance, is going to fall, which will wash the ground, the animals, and other spots that need it. Additionally, there are natural cycles that occur in nature, such as vegetation and then being consumed by other creatures. This is a good illustration of how nature cleans up after itself in its own unique way.
However, a leopard gecko kept in captivity will be unable to accomplish this. They cannot wait for the rain to fall down to clean and wash their tank, which illustrates how dependent they are on you to achieve everything. They cannot rely on the natural processes of the surrounding environment to keep them clean. Therefore, you are the one who needs to be responsible for consistently bringing all of this to fruition.
If you do not maintain the tank in which your pet is housed, you may regrettably experience odors that are really unpleasant to smell. You may also see the development of bacterial illnesses in the tank, which, under the direst of conditions, may result in the untimely demise of your lizard, which is something that you should definitely steer clear of.
It’s possible that over time, an unattractive coating of filth can build up, making it difficult, if not impossible, to see what’s going on within the glass tank that you’re utilizing. This is not an ideal situation.
FAQs
Where should you keep yourself, Leo, while cleaning its vivarium?
During the cleaning procedure of the vivarium/tank, you will need to take your Leopard gecko out of its tank.
You may use Leo’s travel cage if you already have one available, or you could just use a plastic storage container instead.
If you are keeping your gecko in a container, either make sure the sidewalls are high enough that it cannot possibly climb out or cover the container with a lid that allows air to circulate so you don’t lose track of it.
The complete process of cleaning will only take 12-15 minutes every week, and the thorough cleaning session will take between 40-50 minutes, depending on the number of furniture in your tank as well as the degree of dirtiness.
Even though this procedure won’t take up much of your time, it is still a good idea to lay down some toilet paper on the bottom of the holding tank.
You could also consider keeping an additional hide so that you may use it on days when you need to clean your pet’s house. This will help decrease any stress that your pet may have as a result of being removed from its habitat.
Is it okay to use vinegar to clean Leo’s vivarium/tank?
Yes, cleaning Leo’s tank using white vinegar that has been diluted with water may be risk-free. Due to the antibacterial and antifungal qualities that it possesses, vinegar is an excellent household cleanser. It’s also a natural odor neutralizer. When you’re through cleaning the tank, just be sure to give it a thorough rinse to get rid of any vinegar residue.