How do I safely clean a new crested gecko tank or cage for my pet?

You can clean the terrarium with a diluted vinegar mixture but you have to make sure the smell is completely gone before putting the geckos back in it. I suggest this protocol: 1. Spray glass tank with a 50-50 vinegar water solution. Wait 5 minutes. 2. Dry the tank with paper towels and then spray tank with just water. Wait 2 minutes. 3. Dry the tank and wait 30 minutes. The same goes for the items inside the terrarium. The smell of the vinegar is the problem.

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.

An adult crested gecko should be housed in a 20-gallon tank with screen top. Larger tanks will allow for better displays. In areas with moderate to high relative humidity, crested geckos will fare well in screen cages.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, Clorox is a potent cleaning chemical and, like most cleaners, can be irritating to eyes, skin, and lungs - for both you and your iguana. For this reason, all disinfected surfaces cleaned with bleach (or any other cleaner) should be thoroughly rinsed and allowed to completely dry before coming in contact with Marcela. Hope this helps!

Yes, crested geckos are an excellent choice if you have never kept reptiles. An enclosure is easy to set up and the proper diet is easy to purchase. Follow the link for a caresheet. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Crested-Gecko/