Can you reuse enclosures?

[MogiCorp]

I am planning on going to an expo in January and purchasing my second T! I have a 5.5gal enclosure that I had my A.Avic in until I rehoused him to an enclosure better suited for an arboreal. The enclosure has webbing on it and the substrate. I was wondering if I could re use the enclosure and if so how should I go about cleaning it? I don’t want to use any harsh chemicals, is soaking it in hot water for a while good enough?

 

[nicodimus22]

Vinegar is a safe disinfectant to use. However, I don't know that you need to be that thorough about it. The main thing would be to get poop off of the glass so it looks nice again.

 

[TownesVanZandt]

I was wondering if I could re use the enclosure and if so how should I go about cleaning it? I don’t want to use any harsh chemicals, is soaking it in hot water for a while good enough?

Yes, everyone is reusing their enclosures. If it isn´t that dirty you might just use water, but I usually give it a scrub with dishwashing soap. As long as you rinse it off well there shouldn´t be any issues with that.

 

[chanda]

Of course you can reuse enclosures! Also hides, water dishes, fake plants, cork bark, or other decor. You just have to wash them first. I use plain water for most things, but will opt for a mild dishwashing liquid (followed by thorough rinsing) for water dishes and sometimes the cages themselves. I will also soak then bake or microwave wood or cork - just to kill off any hitchhiking mites, spiders, or other critters. (I have a lot of freeloading, free-range Steatoda in my bug room, and sometimes they'll get into the nooks and crannies of the cork bark - particularly if it's been sitting around for a while. They have eaten a few of my pets before (like mantis nymphs or phasmid nymphs) plus I'm sure all the webbing they make is a nuisance to the intended occupants of the cages.)

 

[Vanisher]

I just use warm water, or dont wash them.at all

 

[Ungoliant]

I was wondering if I could re use the enclosure and if so how should I go about cleaning it? I don’t want to use any harsh chemicals, is soaking it in hot water for a while good enough?

Yes, you can re-use enclosures; I clean my enclosures with warm water and a bit of dish soap.

 

[viper69]

I am planning on going to an expo in January and purchasing my second T! I have a 5.5gal enclosure that I had my A.Avic in until I rehoused him to an enclosure better suited for an arboreal. The enclosure has webbing on it and the substrate. I was wondering if I could re use the enclosure and if so how should I go about cleaning it? I don’t want to use any harsh chemicals, is soaking it in hot water for a while good enough?

I just rinse with hot water.