Screen Enclosure Smell? Cleaning tips? Help!!

[Uberob]

Hi,

So I notice my enclosure is starting to smell slightly funny. I don't really know if it's the feces, possibly dead crickets, or soil from the live pants I have. I take cage out once a week and clean it completely out. Its a 48X24X24 Screen cage.



Is there any recommended odder eliminators that are pet friendly and don't smell cheap or don't smell at all?

Or in general any cleaning tips/advice or set ups that make it easier to clean for larger enclosures? thanks

 

[sandrachameleon]

have you tried steam? or white vinegar?

 

[Sticktongue]

I'm thinking its your pots. How is your drainage? You might want to try a mix of soil and sand to help them dry out

 

[dom1959]

i would do more frequent cleaning i have 4 cham
cages in a 700 sq ft condo
and it does not smell

i do clean up poops immediately upon discovery tho

 

[mollyhixson]

I am not sure as to from where the smell is coming But however i can give will give you some tips suggested by a residential cleaning company.....you can use any of these items to remove bad odor:-baking soda, vinegar,,coffee grounds, activated charcoal , unscented chlorophyll cat litteror can use oats as an odor-absorber...

 

[drcrossfire]

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean the cage.

Just make sure.. no matter what cleaner... Remove the chameleon and then give it a good rinse after cleaning.

 

[junglefries]

smell

If it is the smell i'm thinking of, it is wet dead crickets. it can get into your drip pan for plants and under the plants themselves. the smell is horrific and comes from the methane. move your plants from side to side wiping stains underneath. Rotate plant overflow (drip pans). The smell will dissipate.

 

[TruBlu]

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean the cage.

Just make sure.. no matter what cleaner... Remove the chameleon and then give it a good rinse after cleaning.

rinse the chameleon? haha

 

[drcrossfire]

rinse the chameleon? haha

Sure... Lol. That's what i meant. Give um a good ol rinse

 

[lpatroske]

Smell

If it is the smell i'm thinking of, it is wet dead crickets. it can get into your drip pan for plants and under the plants themselves. the smell is horrific and comes from the methane. move your plants from side to side wiping stains underneath. Rotate plant overflow (drip pans). The smell will dissipate.[/QUOTE

Are you using those little dishes under your plants? When I took all of the plants out to clean my chams cage I found a lot of dead crickets/worms under the plants in those clear plastic dishes. I got rid of them and now use a smaller porcelian dish that fits the plant size better. Just a thought?? I do try to clean up any fecal matter I happen to see immediately. My cage is in a bedroom and don't want the smell. Thanks for the questions - there were some good tips I will use in the future example: baking soda, peroxide.

 

[Psychobunny]

Dead cricks will stink up everything! need to get those out right away.

Luckily, they tend to fall to the floor, and the ones still alive congregate in
a top corner. So I use my Dirt Devil to vacuum them out.

I use 2 cleaning solutions:
DB-Ammonium chloride (0.13%), and 13% hydrogen peroxide.

First I spray everything down with ammonium chloride, wait about 10 minutes, spray with very hot water, followed by the peroxide, and hot water again.

Nothing can live after that!!

Oh yeah, don't forget to take the cham out first!!

 

[junglefries]

Yeah i used those clear plastic overflow pans. the crickets could get in, but not out. i used a piece of silkworm screen or adjusted each pan, so they no longer got stuck. as psychobunny says, they will make your vaccuum hummm & not in the good way. i bought a cheap small wet vac from lowes for $20 & keep it in the shed. you thought the cage smelled, wait for the vaccuum odor.