Ok i need help.Urgent

[Aaran]

Hey guys, as some of you know my beloved corn snake,Medusa died a while back and I want to move my other snake into her cage.I don't know how Medusa died but my question is if i clean the mulch in her cage will it be ok to put the other snake in her cage. Im just worried about parasites.

[Gungirl]

Dump out everything in the tank, bleach the crap out of it and then place all new Items in the tank. I wouldn't reuse anything I couldn't fully bleach.

After I bleach something I rinse it 5-6 times then leave it out in the sun for a few hours to get rid of the smell.

[Aaran]

I dont have that much in it. The only thing i was gonna do was put all the mulch in a bucket and boil it.

[Gungirl]

I wouldn't reuse mulch...

[Aaran]

I wouldn't reuse mulch...

alright.so just buy new mulch?

[Gungirl]

Yup and clean the tank out really well along with any hides and water dish.

[Aaran]

Yup and clean the tank out really well along with any hides and water dish.
Yeah im just gonna put another water dish in there. What about the heater?

[mykee]

If she died of a virus, there is no cleaning solution that will kill its residue. Some viruses can live for up to a year on a sterile surface.

[Aaran]

If she died of a virus, there is no cleaning solution that will kill its residue. Some viruses can live for up to a year on a sterile surface.

I have no idea what she died from.....

[SnakeyJay]

I have no idea what she died from.....

So it's upto you if you take the risk of placing a healthy snake in there.. Personally I wouldn't, but that's just my opinion.

[RandyRhoads]

If she died of a virus, there is no cleaning solution that will kill its residue. Some viruses can live for up to a year on a sterile surface.
What virus can't be killed with any type of cleaning solution?

[Aaran]

What virus can't be killed with any type of cleaning solution?

If I boiled the mulch would it kill a virus?

[EmbraceCalamity]

If I boiled the mulch would it kill a virus?Dude, just buy more. It's not a big deal. And I'm pretty sure you can't boil mulch.

~Maggot

[Pareeeee]

Just buy new mulch. It's not worth the risk.

[RandyRhoads]

Seriously...I think it would cost more in electricity to boil several batches of mulch.... Go out and get more.

And why did you quote my question with a question....kill what virus...you don't even know what virus you're dealing with. I just wanted to know what type of virus couldn't be killed with cleaning agents.

[~CobaltEdge~]

If you are nearby a reptile veterinarian, you might want to take her tank, urine samples(if you have any past ones), or mulch to the vet so he/she can determine the pathogen or cause of your snake's passing. If you in fact are not knowing of the cause don't put your next snake in the enclosure until you know what went wrong.

[Lankyrob]

I can understand not wanting to bin the tank but the mulch?? Just dump it and replace with new, i would never reuse substrate for a different snake, boil and reuse for the same snake by all means.

[KORBIN5895]

Ibd can't be killed by a virucide.

[Philmul]

What is mulch???

[alessia55]

What is mulch???

http://www.smithbrosmulch.com/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x800/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/y/cypress_1.jpg

http://fitoslandscaping.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/gold_mulch.144171656_std.JPG

You can typically see mulch at children playgrounds

http://landcareassociates.com/images/materials/mulch/large/MULCH_PLAYGROUND.jpg

[Pareeeee]

http://landcareassociates.com/images/materials/mulch/large/MULCH_PLAYGROUND.jpg

That enclosure is awesome! Bet your snakes love it :wacky:

[Donnie]

Is new substrate expensive that side of the pond? I don't see the problem, just bin it and buy some more.

[jarich]

If she died of a virus, there is no cleaning solution that will kill its residue. Some viruses can live for up to a year on a sterile surface.

Ibd can't be killed by a virucide.

The cause of IBD isnt proven yet, so you cant say its a virus or that it cant be killed by a chemical agent. There is some evidence its a arenavirus, but only conjecturally at this point. What is known about it is that it requires exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected animal. It doesnt just hang out on sterile surfaces. As Randy said, viruses are normally pretty easy to kill outside of a host cell. Bleach will do nicely for your enclosure. As recommended by everyone else, mulch is cheap; ditch the old stuff and get new stuff. It costs less than $10 for a big bag of it.

[Jay]

Is new substrate expensive that side of the pond? I don't see the problem, just bin it and buy some more.
Guy owns a mazarati, not sure why he couldn't buy a 10$ bag of mulch.

[Philmul]

Oh thanks. Well over here we change substrate every 14 days so I wouldn't dean of using it again in another snake especially if the snake had died

[KORBIN5895]

Oh thanks. Well over here we change substrate every 14 days so I wouldn't dean of using it again in another snake especially if the snake had died

I change mine every six months......

[Lankyrob]

I change mine every six months......

I dont "change" mine, when i spot clean i take the poop plus a good amount of substrate surrounding it and then throw in a handful of new substrate to fill the void :)

[mykee]

From the extensive research I did regarding reptile viruses few years back, most viruses (arena, adeno, retro, OPMV etc.) can live outside the host for up to one full year.
I also spoke with Dr. Elliot Jacobsen, the pre-emminent reptile virus researcher in the US, quite possible the world and he confirmed my above starement.
I don't talk out of my a$$.

[jarich]

I dont think anyone is saying that they cant live on their own outside of a host cell, even for extended periods of time. Granted this is because they arent really alive anyway; its just a capsid with some RNA or DNA inside. However, what we were questioning was your statement that they cannot ever be gotten rid of with a cleaner. With chemical agents they are relatively easy to destroy.