FAQ: Health for reptiles

Decor is usually scrubbed with hot water and a brush, disinfected with a suitable product according to the label if needed, and rinsed thoroughly. Porous items such as wood must be dried well, because they hold moisture and chemical residues for a long time.

Yes, but they can bring in parasites, pesticides or mould, so they are scrubbed and cleaned thoroughly before use, and branches are often heat-treated as well. Avoid resinous conifers and places sprayed with chemicals.

Enzyme cleaners break down organic soiling such as droppings and urates and help reduce odour. They clean but do not always disinfect, so check the label to see whether the product is also suitable for disinfection.

The glass can be cleaned with water and a clean cloth or an animal-safe glass cleaner; ordinary window cleaners with ammonia are not suitable. A weak vinegar solution helps remove limescale from misting, after which the glass is rinsed with water.

After an illness the enclosure should be emptied completely, the substrate and porous decor thrown away, and the remaining items and walls cleaned and disinfected with a product that works against the specific pathogen. Ask a vet which product and how long it needs.

If you keep several reptiles, separate tongs, scoops and cleaning tools for each enclosure help avoid spreading parasites and bacteria. At the very least, wash and disinfect tools between enclosures and wash your hands.

It depends on the type: paper or carpet-style substrates are replaced or washed often, while loose substrates are spot-cleaned and fully replaced periodically. Change the substrate straight away if it has gone mouldy, stays wet or smells bad.

Mould usually comes from too much humidity, poor ventilation and organic matter – food, droppings or rotting wood. Remove the affected substrate and items, improve the airflow and review how often you mist.

Turtles produce a lot of waste, so a powerful filter, regular partial water changes and cleaning the bottom are needed. Rinse filter sponges in tank water rather than tap water so you do not kill the beneficial bacteria, and treat new water with a conditioner according to the label.

Yes, many reptiles naturally carry salmonella even when they look healthy. So always wash your hands with soap and water after touching a reptile, its equipment or its water, and do not wash enclosure equipment in the kitchen sink.

Because of the salmonella risk, health authorities advise young children, pregnant women, older people and those with weakened immunity to be especially careful with reptiles. If a reptile is kept in a family with small children, adults should supervise contact and hand washing.

A reptile's bowls, decor and tools are best washed separately from kitchen dishes, for example in a dedicated basin or the bathtub, and that spot then cleaned and disinfected. This reduces the risk of spreading salmonella and other bacteria.

Washing with soap and warm water is best; hand sanitiser is fine when no water is at hand, but it does not replace washing if your hands are visibly dirty. Also wash your hands before touching the reptile so you do not transfer perfume or cream residues to it.

It is not recommended: the salmonella risk is reduced by not kissing the reptile, not holding it near your face and not letting it walk where food is prepared or eaten. These simple habits protect the whole family.

Disposable gloves are not mandatory but are handy when picking up droppings, changing substrate or using disinfectants. Even if you wear gloves, wash your hands after cleaning.

A new animal may bring parasites, mites or infections that are not visible at first, so it is kept apart from other reptiles. Discuss the length of quarantine and whether tests such as a faecal test are needed with a vet.

A quarantine enclosure should be simple and easy to clean: paper substrate, plastic hides, a water bowl and proper heating and lighting. This makes it easier to spot changes in droppings or mites and to disinfect everything.

On paper or kitchen towels it is easy to spot changes in the colour and consistency of droppings, blood, parasites or mites. It can also be thrown away and replaced daily, which makes it harder for infection to persist.

Tend to the quarantined reptile last, wash your hands afterwards, do not share tools and do not keep the enclosures close together. End quarantine only once you are sure the animal is eating, passing normal droppings and showing no signs of illness.

Small reptiles travel in a secure, well-ventilated box, and snakes in a cloth bag placed inside a sturdy box. In cold weather insulate the box and in summer protect it from overheating, because reptiles cannot regulate their own body temperature.