Can I clean my crested gecko's terrarium with vinegar or do I need special cleaners?

For a new tank, hot, soapy water followed by a thorough rinsing is sufficient. Steam cleaning and a dilute bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach:1 gallon water) can be used for disinfection. There are also commercial cleaners, such as Zoo Med Wipe Out, that can be purchased online or in most pet stores.

Hot, soapy water can be used followed by a thorough rinse. If that doesn't work, a 50/50 solution of distilled water and vinegar can be sprayed used. Allow a 10-15 minute wet contact time before rinsing thoroughly. ExoTerra, Zoo Med, Natural Chemistry and API all make "herp safe" cleaners that may be effective in removing odors.

I am so sorry about your leopard geckos. You are definitely on the right track toward prepping your vivarium safely. It sounds like you have already cleaned everything so it just needs a final sterilization. For your tank, and anything else nonporous, use a bleach solution (1 cup bleach per gallon of water) and let sit for at least 10 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry. Heat and UV will also kill it, so letting it dry in the sun is ideal. Any wood can be baked in the oven at 285deg for 1 hour. You can then consider it safe.

Thanks for reaching out about Aspen. It is sometimes difficult to soak them since they climb walls well. A shallow pan with a lid might keep Aspen in the water for several minutes, by not allowing to climb out. Just don't make it stressful. Abort if concerned and leave to spraying/misting. Good luck.

The "stickiness" can be affected by water spots or film on the glass, humidity, diet, illness or a stuck shed. You can't "make" a gecko shed, you can only support him through it by maintaining humidity, providing a moist hide and having appropriate tank furniture that he can rub against to remove shedding skin. Clean the glass using a 50/50 mix of water and plain vinegar. Sometimes, hard water spots remain on the glass after misting and this will affect adherence. Humidity that is too high will leave water on the glass, even if you can't see it, that will cause him to slip. It will also foster bacterial and fungal overgrowth. Cresties normally become less sticky during a shed. Exam his feet for stuck shed and soak him daily to remove any bits if necessary. Review the diet and confirm it is biologically appropriate. If he is lethargic, won't eat or has swelling or bruising on his feet or toes, have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet.

As long as the bark pieces are large enough, the chosen substrate should be fine. Small bark pieces could be accidentally ingested though, so care must be taken when feeding. Other options include reptile carpet or a moss/soil mix.

You must treat both the environment and the pet. You can try some over the counter products but many can be ineffective if the environment is not treated concurrently. Ivermectin can be dispensed by your veterinarian to use systemically or topically. Do not treat with ivermectin without the advice of your veterinarian as it is quite easy to overdose. A 30 minute soak in a diluted Betadine bath can remove most mites and may soothe irritated skin. Remove the substrate, bag it and take it outdoors. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls and tank furniture. You can use hot, soapy water followed by a 1:30 dilution of bleach and water followed by a thorough rinsing on the tank, bowls and non porous surfaces. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. You may need to clean and sanitize the enclosure weekly for several weeks. The pet may need multiple treatments as well.