How to Clean up After a Pet Snake

If you have recently purchased a snake, you may be unsure of how to clean up after the pet. In order to keep your snake healthy you will have to clean its habitat from time to time. Set aside some time on a daily and weekly basis to tidy up after your pet snake.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Put on gloves before you clean up after your snake. This is to protect you from bites or threat of infection. Eye protection is a good idea as well.

2. Relocate the snake to another secure area. You should have a spare cage to put him in while you clean.

3. Replace the newspaper in the snake’s enclosure. Putting down newspaper makes cleaning the floor of the terrarium simple. You simply throw the old newspaper away and put down several layers of new paper.

4. Clean and disinfect all feeding dishes. Any leftover food should be discarded. Wash any other sort of accessories that you have placed in the enclosure.

5. Scrub every part of the enclosure using terrarium cleaner. You may need to use a toothbrush to get to hard-to-clean areas.

6. Use paper towels to dry the snake’s home and replace all accessories. After all tasks are completed, you can return the pet snake to its home.

Tips & Warnings

• It is important to change the newspaper on a daily basis in order to get rid of feces, urine and shed skin.
• You should not use a bathtub or sink to clean up after the snake. It is best to clean the snake’s home outside.
• Don’t forget to wash your hands after you finish cleaning up after the snake.

[Shyjohn]

on 7/9/2008 Newspaper?? FEH!! I've used BATH TOWELS as "substrate" for 15 years. My boa has never known the "wild", it was born in captivity, as are all exotic snakes in the US. You merely dump the poop in the toilet, wash the towels (with some bleach), and wash the inside with Windex. My nine foot roommate only makes a mess as often as he eats, about every three or four weeks.