FAQ: Enclosures for reptiles

Diluted vinegar works for limescale on glass and water bowls, but it is not a strong disinfectant. After cleaning with vinegar, rinse surfaces with water and let them dry so no smell remains.

Limescale spots come from misting with hard water, so they can be removed with diluted vinegar or a dedicated cleaner and a soft cloth. To reduce them, use filtered, distilled or soft water for misting.

During cleaning the reptile can stay in a secure plastic box with air holes and a hide, in a warm room. If cleaning takes a long time, make sure the box is kept at a suitable temperature.

Scrub decorations with a brush in hot water, and if needed disinfect them with a reptile-safe product and rinse well. Wooden branches and bark can also be treated with hot water and dried before going back into the terrarium.

A bad smell usually means built-up droppings, wet substrate or spoiled food. Remove the dirt, replace the substrate, improve ventilation and do not use scented products, which can irritate the reptile’s airways.

Change part of the water regularly, siphon out debris from the bottom and rinse the filter sponges in tank water when needed so the beneficial bacteria survive. Clean the glass with a magnetic or hand scraper without chemicals.

Yes, reptiles can carry salmonella and other bacteria, so wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the terrarium or handling the animal. Do not wash terrarium items in the kitchen sink along with food dishes.

Empty a used terrarium completely, throw away the old substrate, scrub and disinfect it with a reptile-safe product, then rinse and dry it well. This reduces the risk of passing on parasites and pathogens.

Clean the glass with water or a reptile-safe cleaner and a microfibre cloth, then dry it with a dry cloth. Spray glass cleaners are best avoided inside a terrarium, as their fumes can harm the reptile.

Put the terrarium in a quiet spot away from direct sun, radiators, draughts and noisy appliances. It works well at eye level on a sturdy base, where the reptile sees people from the front rather than from above.

A large terrarium with substrate, rocks and water can be very heavy, so it needs a sturdy, level stand that can take the weight. Cabinets are also handy for storing food, substrate and equipment.

One litre of water weighs about a kilogram, so a large tank with water, glass and decorations can weigh several hundred kilograms. Place it on a stand made for aquariums and make sure the floor can take the load.

It can, but lamps, clicking timers, filters and nocturnal reptiles may disturb your sleep. If the terrarium is in a bedroom, make sure evening light and noise do not disrupt the animal’s own rhythm.

Cats and dogs can frighten a reptile just by being near or may try to open the terrarium. It is best placed where other pets cannot reach it or jump onto it, and fitted with a lock.

Many terrariums are designed to stack, but the lower one must carry the upper one’s weight, and the upper floor must not block the lower one’s ventilation and lamps. Check that the lower terrarium’s lamps do not heat the upper floor.

Reptiles are sensitive to vibration, so a terrarium next to speakers, a washing machine or a frequently slammed door can stress them. Choose a quieter spot and a stable stand that does not shake.

First install the heating and lighting, add the substrate, then place the hides, branches and water bowl. Then watch the temperature and humidity for a few days, adjust the thermostats and only then move the animal in.

A quarantine enclosure is a simple, easy-to-clean temporary home where a new reptile is kept apart from others for a few weeks. This lets you monitor its health and avoid passing diseases or parasites to other reptiles; ask a vet how long quarantine should last.

Paper or kitchen towels are usually used for quarantine, as they are easy to replace and make droppings easy to see. Keep decorations few and choose ones that are easy to disinfect.

For the first days let the reptile settle quietly, avoid handling it and do not keep rearranging the terrarium. Make sure there are enough hides and the right temperature; feeding can start after a few days.