Even though geckos are inherently clean pets and require less care than many others, they still require support, especially in maintaining a bacteria-free environment in their cages. The proper way to clean leopard gecko containers is an essential aspect of caring for leopard geckos.
Daily you need to remove any faeces that have accumulated, and wash their water dishes and floors once per week with dish soap or pet sanitizer. Lastly a deep clean of your Leo’s tank/vivarium once per month by thoroughly rubbing all the surfaces and cleaning out the whole cage.
If you’re confused about spot cleaning, weekly cleaning, and deep cleaning, you’re not alone. Let’s start by understanding how to clean your leopard gecko tank frequently.
Why Do Leopard Geckos Make Such Popular Pets?
Because they are calm, adorable, and relatively easy to care for, leopard geckos are a top choice among pet reptiles across the world (but they often bite when frightened).
In addition, they are brightly coloured lizards with black markings on their bodies resembling leopard spots. These lizards are excellent pets for novice pet owners.
Why Should a Leopard Gecko Tank Be Cleaned?
Maintaining proper hygiene is critical to keeping your tiny Leo healthy and super-active. Cleaning the enclosure in which leopard geckos live is just as necessary to their well-being as providing them with food.
It is recommended that you adopt a cleaning routine and stick to it. If you often handle and interact with your pet, this will keep your companion healthy and free from pests. If not, the gecko won’t be comfortable in a dirty and unclean place.
Why Does My Geckos Cage Smell?
Sometimes, your Leopard Gecko’s tank might smell bad because of faeces and urine. The presence of an unclean or dirty habitat inside the container is an additional significant factor contributing to a foul odour.
Leftover meals and insects, the illness carried by leopard geckos, the substrate that has not been replenished, a high-protein diet, mold growth, crickets, and a temperature that is too low all play a role.
How To Clean Leo’s Tank/Vivarium?
It is essential to keep the leopard geckos’ tanks clean to keep them healthy. For this, you must spot-clean the vivarium every day, deep-clean it once a week, and thoroughly sanitize the vivarium once a month.
Let’s discuss all that in detail
Spot Cleaning (Daily Cleaning)
Cleaning certain areas of the tank is the easiest approach to maintaining its cleanliness. The easiest method is to remove any dirt, excrement, or waste you observe in the tank anytime you can. It is possible to perform spot cleaning many times each day.
This process will keep a lot of mess from getting together. Ensure to wear disposable gloves while you are carrying out these steps. Spot cleaning may be done in minutes using a paper towel to wipe up excrement, grime, etc.
Deep Cleaning (Weekly Cleaning)
For weekly cleaning, you ought to clean a little more thoroughly than every day. Remove all the plates and accessories, put them in a sink filled with water, and thoroughly wash them with mild detergent. Deep cleaning can take ten to fifteen minutes of your time.
Sanitizing (Monthly Cleaning)
Even cleaning once per day and once per week is not sufficient. At a minimum of once every month, you are required to clean and disinfect the tank. Otherwise, your pet can become stressed out because of the harmful surroundings. Depending on how much trash and debris are in the tank, it could take up to an hour.
Things You Need To Clean Leo’s Tank
Several factors must be considered when determining how often you should clean your gecko tank. Consequently, there are no universally accepted criteria for the frequency with which a gecko tank should be cleaned. You may clean your leopard gecko’s tank by following these tips.
If you want to clean your Leopard Gecko’s tank, you’ll need the following things:
- Gloves
- Wet/paper towel
- Cleansing products
- Clean water
- Scrubber
- New rag
- Leo carrier
- Pooper Scooper
You need to do a few things before cleaning the vivarium/tank.
Move your Gecko
It is the initial and most important step in thoroughly cleaning any tank that houses a leopard gecko. You need to remove your Leo and place it in a box designed for transporting reptiles. So their presence won’t get in the way of the cleaning.
You may keep them in a plastic container with perforations. You must cover the transporter’s top with a cloth/towel. When cleaning with chemicals, leave your Leo outside. In that case, the chemical vapours might be hazardous to their body.
Unplug Tank Devices
Electrical gadgets such as heat lamps, illumination lights, heat beds, and others need to be turned off, and you should do so. Without it, there is a chance that they will become wet, which will result in an electric shock.
After turning off the devices, you should move them to a different location so they can cool down.
Choose Cleaning Products
To disinfect and clean the tank, cleaning solutions are needed. A few examples of cleaning solutions include pet disinfection, a solution made of vinegar and water, soapy water, and many others.
Empty Tank
Before beginning the cleaning process, removing all of the objects contained within the enclosure is necessary. After removing them from the container, put them on a paper towel or some other surface, so they do not touch your skin. Then, clean each item with soap and water before putting it back in the tank.
Clear Out the Tank
Clean the glass by wiping it down with a damp cloth and a cleaning product suitable for reptiles. If you do not own these products, you may make a cleanser by mixing equal parts vinegar and water.
Replace Furniture
After you have finished cleaning the entire vivarium, both inside and exterior, check to see that vivarium is completely dry.
Put Gecko Back
The Leo should then be placed back in its tank and allowed to enjoy its environment risk-free. Your gecko may take some time to adjust to the new environment. After you have finished cleaning, you should always sanitize your body.
What to Use to Clean a Leopard Gecko Tank?
There are various ways to clean and sterilize a leopard gecko’s environment. No matter the solution, wipe all surfaces with clean water afterwards.
Antibacterial Mixture
An antibacterial mixture is the first item you must need to get your hands on. You must clean your tank using this mixture. Also, try to use a mix that does not contain any phosphates and is completely safe.
A Potent Disinfectant
The next thing you should have on hand is a pet-specific disinfectant. These reptile-friendly items are safe and effective.
Vinegar & Water Mixture
A mixture of vinegar along with water is yet another method frequently used to clean reptile enclosures. The glass sides and floors of the vivarium may be cleaned quite well with a solution composed of equal parts vinegar and water.
H2O2 (3%)
Another solution that is frequently utilized is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The substance available for purchase consists of 97 percent distilled water and three percent hydrogen peroxide. It is not necessary to further dilute this solution because it is already at a reduced concentration.
Bleach and Water
A common cleaner that pet owners use is a solution of bleach that has been watered down. Bleach is considered an effective disinfectant, but it must be diluted before usage to avoid harmful side effects.