Bleach

[CamHanna]

What is the minimum concentration with which sodium hypochlorite is an effective disinfectant?

Thanks

Edit: I just thought I'd add that I've read several different concentrations, from 0.1% to 2.5%. I'm sure that the concentration is different for different applications; I want to disinfect water bowls, rubbermaids and the like.

[Linds]

I'm not sure what the minimum dosage is for bleach, however if you are looking for a safer alternative, I would recommend using vinegar and peroxide. Used in combination (one sprayed over the other, they aren't as powerful when they are mixed in the bottle for some reason), they have been proven in university trials to be more effective at killing bacteria than bleach.

[BWSmith]

Nolvasan all the way.

[Slannesh]

While alternative methods weren't asked for I figured i'd add another one :)

Steam.

I bought one of those steamcleaner things a couple of weeks ago and was promptly disgusted by the icky yellowish crud that it scoured off the bottom of many of my water dishes that I THOUGHT were cleanish with daily water changes and the old bleach/toothbrush scrubbing every couple of weeks or so. Not only is it WAY faster, i'm quite confident it's much cleaner as well.

[mykee]

Nolvasan: 1 gallon ~$55 (Cdn.)
Bleach: 1 gallon ~$1 (Cdn.)

I think 'nuff said.

[wiseman001]

"Hot water, and Vinegar" it works... I use it alot on my birds dished, have done for 4 yrs and Just hot water and a good scrub brush for my boa's and pythons...water tubs

A good ol' hard scrub brush NEVER fails !!

[justinO]

I use Quatsyl-D+ for disinfecting new enclosures, water dishes, etc etc.. just rinse it off afterwards.

cheers
justin

[CamHanna]

I've always used peroxide but lately I've had some stubborn RIs in my corns (my cages are clean and only corns seem effected). Since then I have been disinfecting everything weekly but peroxide doesn't seem to be working. Thought I'd try bleach.

I like the idea of steam. Does it damage rubbermaids?

Thanks all.
Cam

[HetForHuman]

Originally posted by Slannesh
While alternative methods weren't asked for I figured i'd add another one :)

Steam.

I bought one of those steamcleaner things a couple of weeks ago and was promptly disgusted by the icky yellowish crud that it scoured off the bottom of many of my water dishes that I THOUGHT were cleanish with daily water changes and the old bleach/toothbrush scrubbing every couple of weeks or so. Not only is it WAY faster, i'm quite confident it's much cleaner as well.

Can you post what the brand name of this steamcleaner is, and where you got it? Also what is the price tag on it?

[nita]

I use vinigar, works great!

[Slannesh]

The one I bought was a Scunci steam cleaner that I picked up at the "As seen on TV" store. Was about $99 canadian.

I know Canadian Tire was selling the small shark bottle steamcleaner for about $50 but they were sold out all over when I went looking for them.

I haven't noticed any damage on any of my rubbermaids yet, for the record I use both rubbermaid shoeboxes and sterelite sweater boxes and have used the steamcleaner on both.

[BWSmith]

Originally posted by mykee
Nolvasan: 1 gallon ~$55 (Cdn.)
Bleach: 1 gallon ~$1 (Cdn.)

I think 'nuff said.

Bleach leave toxic residues. Bleach has killed herps. Nolvasan is safe and effective. I guess the well being of my animals comes first with me, ahead of money. Keeping a large collection is expensive. i chalk it up to maintenance costs. The use of Bleach went out with heat rocks as far as I am concerned.

[DragnDrop]

Check out Selection and Use of Disinfectants (http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/animaldisease/g1410.htm)
Simple table with info near the end of the page. It's geared towards cattle but the basic disinfectant info is universal.

A somewhat better table with explanations is available as a PDF file from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) at Selection & Use of Disinfectants (http://www.bccdc.org/content.php?item=76) under "Infection Control Guidelines/Outbreak Interventions" http://www.bccdc.org/download.php?item=978



I've got a really good table saved from the Nebraska University - Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center. The trouble is the link is still on the website, but the .doc file isn't available anymore. Quite a shame, since I found this one to be the best of the ones I've seen. If you want to try and dig it up someplace, the URL is http://gpvec.unl.edu/BiosecurityGPVEC.htm the link is called BS-Man-A-4-DisinfectantSel.doc

[Linds]

If only your corns are being affected, I wouldn't assume it would be an issue of cleaning. I would be more suspicious of temperatures, etc. What kind of treatment has been tried for the RI's? Was a culture done to determine sensitivity so the proper antibiotic treatment could be followed?

Originally posted by mykee
Nolvasan: 1 gallon ~$55 (Cdn.)
Bleach: 1 gallon ~$1 (Cdn.)

I think 'nuff said.

In addition to what BWSmith said, Nolvasan (chlorhexidine) is safe and effective to be used as a treatment for mouthrot and minor cuts in addition to routine environment cleaning. I actually use a chlorhexidine mouthwash myself :p Not gonna catch me filling my mouth with bleach though!

[Jeff Hathaway]

That's a very interesting website, DragnDrop. Bleach actually doesn't look too bad by comparison to the others, especially if you have hard water which apparently would inactivate Nolvalsan (if diluted with it)- something I didn't know.

BW, do you have any info on the toxic residues left behind by bleach? Is this even after rinsing? I'd like to get some more info on this.

Cam, have you found an answer to your original question yet? The only answer I could give without further research is that the effective concentration would vary depending upon what you're trying to kill.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[BWSmith]

The information I have is anictdotal evidence from speaking to other keepers. The primary problem seems to be with animals that need to be misted. The residue is still on everything and the animal laps up the water off the sides of the tank. Granted, the majority fo horror stories I have heard were in regards to various geckos and also arboreal vipers.

[DragnDrop]

I've heard some wild stories about toxic residues from bleach. However, the stories were all about bleach with 'added' ingredients such as scented bleach. Just plain old bleach, not scented, no extra super duper new and improved ingredients will work safely. Chlorine disintegrates easily, even if mixed with water as it is in laundry bleach, and leaves no residue. It's all the extras added to make it more appealing on the store shelf that you have to worry about leaving toxic residue.