How Often Should I Clean My Leopard Gecko Tank?
Maintaining a clean habitat for your leopard gecko is vital to its health, so make sure to spot clean daily, wash weekly and fully sanitize monthly.
Once everything has been cleaned and dried completely before returning them to Leo’s tank.
Daily Spot Cleans
Leopard geckos are beloved pet reptiles due to their charming, placid personalities, making them one of the most popular reptiles as pet companions worldwide. Therefore, responsible owners should ensure their gecko lives in clean habitats at all times to reduce illness and disease risks; this involves performing daily spot cleanings of the habitat, weekly tank washings with all accessories included and deep cleaning once every month.
Spot cleaning involves regularly removing any feces and debris from the tank. Since lizards tend to be active at night, this should only take a few minutes. In addition, it is wise to remove uneaten food from their enclosure as well as wash the substrate moss or paper towel substrate to help maintain fresh environments for their inhabitants while potentially decreasing shedding rates.
As part of any spot clean, it’s essential to wear gloves as leopard geckos carry bacteria that could make people sick. Furthermore, it would be prudent to use an insecticidal disinfectant that’s safe for reptiles but still effective against bacteria in their environment – something vinegar excels at doing naturally!
Next, wash the cage and its contents using soapy water and reptile-safe disinfectant, before carefully drying everything before returning it to its habitat. If using a sand substrate, rinse and use water conditioner as well to eliminate heavy metals that might otherwise pose risks to your lizard’s health.
Finally, always ensure all decorations, furniture and hides in the tank are regularly cleaned with warm water and a reptile-safe disinfectant to ensure maximum cleanliness and hygiene for your reptiles. A steam cleaner may help ensure all surfaces remain germ-free.
If you’re conducting a weekly wash, be sure to place your lizard in an enclosure while cleaning its tank and accessories. This will give you an opportunity to achieve optimal hygiene without disrupting their home life.
Weekly Washings
As with daily spot cleanings, weekly washings involve more in-depth substrate cleans. Depending on your choice of substrate and how dirty your leopard gecko’s habitat is, this may involve taking everything out and giving the floor a scrub down with dish soap and warm water solution (never use harsh chemicals or bleach as these can harm reptiles). Prior to beginning this task it may also be worthwhile removing all hiding places, accessories, toys etc. from the tank to soak in an antibacterial solution before rinsing and drying thoroughly afterwards.
At all times when cleaning leopard geckos, be sure to use gloves (or rubber gloves) as they can carry bacteria that could make you ill. Depending on how soiled your tank is, replacing some or all of its substrate may also be beneficial; once this has been completed, wash any furnishings such as hides and lava rocks as well as clean and disinfect their food and water dishes before proceeding further with cleaning the rest of the terrarium.
Not surprisingly, during a weekly washing it’s advisable to also give the leopard gecko’s tank a good shake – this helps clear away dust and debris that is difficult for it to see. After this you should clean and rinse any items used (terrarium spray or bleach solution for example) used to wash their cage. Likewise, be sure to wash your hands as this could introduce bacteria into their eyes or mouth.
Owners of leopard geckos tend to choose paper towel as an easy and safe way of cleaning their tanks. Lining it makes picking up any feces from daily activity easier, and replacing once it becomes dirty or wet (to help prevent bacteria and fungal growth). Furthermore, leopard gecko typically choose one corner as their defecation area; once identified be sure to line this section every time you perform weekly maintenance cleaning.
Monthly Deep Cleans
Leopard geckos are naturally clean pets, yet they still shed bacteria onto themselves and their environment. Therefore, it’s essential to perform periodic spot cleaning sessions as well as full deep cleaning once per month; this means taking everything apart, washing it thoroughly and disinfecting every surface in their habitat.
As part of your cleaning routine, first remove all accessories and supplies from your reptile’s tank and store them safely and in an empty holding bin for safe disposal immediately afterward. Next, wash and disinfect all bowls and items in leopard gecko’s tank including hiding places, rocks and logs as well as scrub all surfaces and crevices thoroughly with soapy water before finally washing and sterilizing your entire terrarium either with bleach and water (16 parts water to 1 part bleach), vinegar or another reptile-safe spray solution.
If your leopard gecko has an alternative substrate such as paper, you will need to remove and replace it. After thoroughly washing and scrubbing it with soapy water and rinsing several times with clean water, allow it to air-dry completely before returning it to its proper home in its tank.
Be sure to set aside time when doing a full, monthly deep clean of your reptile’s habitat and all its accessories and supplies to locate his defecation spot – it usually lies somewhere corner or behind an object; but be sure to search everywhere! When found, use paper towels to remove any feces.
Once all accessories have been taken out, wash them in hot soapy water before leaving them to dry. Next, using either bleach solution, vinegar, or store-bought reptile-friendly disinfectant spray on all surfaces in the tank/terrarium; allow it to set for some time and rinse the entire system completely afterwards. This step is extremely important; any leftover bacteria on surfaces could potentially enter leopard gecko bodies via direct contact.
Substrate Replacement
Substrates are essential when providing your leopard gecko with a home. Your reptile will use it to walk and rest on, as well as collect its waste. A high quality substrate will prevent him from having digestive issues.
Therefore, you should change the substrate every 2-4 weeks in your leopard gecko’s tank to prevent mite infestation and increase tank hygiene. A dirty environment promotes mite growth.
There are various substrate options that you can provide your leopard gecko with, but paper towel may be one that won’t irritate their skin as much as other options might do. Be sure to change them out regularly or if they become wet or dirty as necessary!
Other substrate options that can be utilized for geckos include sand, reptile carpet and stone tiles. Reptile carpet is very popular among owners as it provides soft comfort while remaining easy to maintain; additionally it gives your reptile more naturalistic surroundings; however it must be cleaned according to manufacturer recommendations.
Stone tiles make an excellent option to adorn the bottom of your leopard gecko’s enclosure as they can be adhered to it with glue, looking very realistic, and can even be drilled for extra comfort for your pet. Unfortunately, though, these substrates might cause digestive problems for your animal.
Once the substrate has been cleaned and changed, remove all accessories for your leopard gecko from its tank, including food and water dishes, hiding places, plants and decorations such as banners. Place these into a safe place while cleaning and sanitizing their cage.
As part of your cleaning regimen, it is a good idea to place cardboard or a plastic bin under the temporary container, in order to prevent water leakage from your temporary container. Furthermore, unplugging any electrical appliances like heating mats and lamps may prevent short circuiting during washing processes, protecting both themselves from short-circuiting risks during the wash process and your personal belongings from any short-circuiting during this process. Also wear rubber gloves while handling harsh cleaning chemicals used during this step.
