cleaning the tank???

[coffee_prince]

Hi all

Been looking at a lot of pages etc, it seems the pygmy chameleon seems like a good starter lizard, they are hardy and requiresa small terrarium so thats good.

one thing I can't get aorund is cleaning? How often must it be done, and how do you actually clean the tank properly if there is soil on the bottom, do you have to change that every 2 weeks?

I've only kept mammals before and that usually involved completely changing the substrate and just cleaning all the crockery and stuff inside. With a Lizard habitat how do you clean the plants, soil and all that stuff, seems kinda difficult?

If you keep liv plants doesnt it make it harder to maintain or does a plant survive easily?

Thanks

[mikemike118]

Hi...im not too sure on how often to clean the viv...but i dont think it will be every 2 weeks...but on the other hand, u asked how to clean the soil out when cleaning it out, i would u a hoover..but make sure u take all the things like decor, most importantly the pet, and wotever needs to bee cleaned, just let it dry out and hoover it out.....OR JUST GET WET+DRY HOOVER....

i find this method much more quicker!

[pymn nice but dim]

when i strip my viv down i use hot soapy water scrub it dry it rinse it a good few times again with warm water and occasionaly use a disinfectant same with the food and water bowls i do mine monthly, but i dont use soil as i keep a beardy just replace the substrate, and as far as wood and other bits for the viv pour boiling water over them a few times

[coffee_prince]

Okay cool, but I found with cleaning tanks, drying it takes a long time, so how long does the hwole process take?

Thanks

[spatte88]

i clean my beardie every day!! i take out the substrate (which is paper towel at the mo) wipe out the bottom with water to get rid of all of the bits that are left and replace the substrate, i clean the water and food bowls every day as well replenishing them daily with fresh food/water. i also spot clean every day removing poo and disinfecting the area afterwards to help avoid illness! once a week i strip everything out of the viv and disinfect everything as well as scrubbing down the inside of the viv. however i am about to step up this regime as the beardie will be moving into a new viv (which we are building at the mo -check out the link in my signiture) where i plan to disinfect and scrub everything every day! prevention is better than cure at the end of the day! i would definately suggest more rather than less cleaning!!!