DO NOT use pinesol/lysol with herps

[Drax]

I just want to make sure everyone knows not to use Pinesol or Lysol when cleaning out your herp cages. The oily film left behind to prevent the spread of bacteria is fatal to cold blooded animals. I just learned this fact today in my zoo procedures course. I've never seen any mention of the use of these products on the site. I just wanted to let everyone know. If we could ad a sticky message to the top of the help me forum listing every product (pine shavings, no pest strips, lysol/pinesol, etc) not to be used in conjunction with herps that would help out the new herp keepers. And if there is a message well then I'm blind or just lazy because I did not look.

[Ed_r]

Your correct. No houshold cleaners should be used. A friend of mine learned that the hard way once. He used Simple Green to clean a cage. He thought since it was EPA approved that it would not be harmful. Will a couple days after he cleaned the cage One of his short tail pythons developed a nervous disorder and soon after died. Turns out the cleaner actually has a sort of neurotoxic (sp?) effect. The ONLY household cleaner than can be used is bleach.
There are other comercial cleaners than can be used I think ones name is novosulan or something like that. Ravnos and morti/ldydrgn know what it is and hopefully will correct me.

	neurotoxin Neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels.

[Drax]

Yes Nolvasan, Roccal, and Persue can be used with no harmful effects. I learned that bit as well today.

[PonderosaSnakeHouse]

I use Virosan to clean my cages.

[Ravnos]

Virosan and Novalsan are the same chemical, chlorhexidine. It is available at feed/ranch suppliers. I've used it for years with no complaints. It is even safe for amphibians (which came as a surprise to me). It may seem expensive, but you generally buy a concentrate - and its only like 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. So really, it lasts forever.

Since we're talking about cleaners, there was a study released not long ago that determined that chlorine bleach was NOT a good biological decontaminant unless it was almost exactly at a 10% solution (because of its pH level). And even then, the solution is only good for about 15 minutes. Not to say it won't clean just fine, but if being rid of bacteria, viral, and fungal issues is your goal, using bleach is not the best choice.

Windex (or other window cleaners) are ammonia, very nasty for animals. Mr. Clean, or any of those multipurpose cleaners are nasty as well. I don't even use them in my house anymore.

Rav

[natedoggSXE]

I used to use this stuff called Quatricide PV. I got my years ago when i had 3 of 4 leopard gecko breeding projects going. It probably is similar to virosan and novalsan chemically. It also comes in concentrated form, so you have to take like 2 table spoons or so to a gallon of water. I got it from big apple herp supply. I don't use it anymore, i mean it did the trick but i've been using some cleaner from zoo med since i have a smaller collection.

[Kent K25]

I have a boaphile cage with the clear plastic/fiberglass, whatever it may be window. When I get fingerprints on that etc... Whats the best thing to use to clean it off since windex is no good.