Sanitation. 

Sanitation is the number one priority in the successful upkeep of any reptile. Enclosures should be free of biological matter, such as urine, droppings or uneaten food. Droppings should be removed upon first sight, a daily inspection is highly recommended. Internal parasites are one of the most common health maladies in captive reptiles and parasites are known to re-infect. Gloves should be warn when conducting a deep clean, but for general spot cleaning, pick-up tools can be utilized. It’s important to disinfect any tools that come into contact with animal waste to reduce the possibility of cross-contamination by spreading the disease from enclosure to enclosure. Sanitizing your reptile’s drinking receptacle is also important, not only to prevent the build up of limescale and the possibility of algae, but also because some reptiles will use the water bowl for both drinking and defecation. 

Surfaces within your reptile’s enclosure should be disinfected and wiped regularly, as well as glass surfaces, such as doors and windows. This helps to prevent limescale and calcium build up, especially in reptiles that require a high humidity environment. 

Substrates should be completely replaced at least once a month or more but can benefit from a refresh and be topped up in the meantime. For more established and involved enclosures, especially for aquatic and arboreal species, cage furnishings, water bowls and swimming areas should be thoroughly disinfected. 

Fresh water should always be available for drinking, soaking and swimming. The use of dechlorinated or spring water is highly recommended for all reptiles as household tap water is known to contain Chlorine and/or Chloramine. Although Chlorine and Chloramine are used to control dangerous bacteria and viruses in tap water, the long term effects in reptiles are not fully known. Eye irritation has been known to affect some aquatic reptiles exposed to Chlorine in water. Filtered water is a great alternative.