Plastic Hurt?

[DDW]

I was wondering, do I need to be weary of putting plastics into a snake enclosure. Is there anything to avoid? Do I need to treat any plastics not intended for enclosure (mostly specific to snakes)? or should I just get the hides or bowls from the pet store (they can be rather expensive and am concerned with getting proper sized hides as the snake grows)?

[pinefamily]

For our hatchlings, we have always used toilet/paper towel rolls, or cardboard packets from biscuits etc.. Our larger pythons have plastic tubs turned upside down with a hole cut in the side. Never had a problem yet.

[DDW]

Okay^.=.^ thank you. I was just concerned that there would be unwanted toxins.

[pinefamily]

Of course give everything a good F10 before you put it in the tank.

[DDW]

What does f10 mean? I assume it means thorough cleaning buthe I want to be sure. Also, would original dawn dish soap (thoroughly rinsed off of course) be sufficient for cleaning or do I need to get a specialised cleaning product? (I used to have red eared slider turtles in a tank and use original dawn to clean the tank, never had a problem then)

[Jim Smith]

I find that I get many of my hides and water bowls from the local Goodwill store(s). While the stone look-a-like water bowls at the pet shops look good, they are usually not large enough or the right shape for my snakes to take the occasional full-body soak. I think my favorite bowl so far for my Hondurans is an 8 1/2 in Tortilla warmer like this one.

IMUSA Tortilla Warmer : Target

Perfect shape, easy to clean and virtually unbreakable.

[DDW]

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

I find that I get many of my hides and water bowls from the local Goodwill store(s). While the stone look-a-like water bowls at the pet shops look good, they are usually not large enough or the right shape for my snakes to take the occasional full-body soak. I think my favorite bowl so far for my Hondurans is an 8 1/2 in Tortilla warmer like this one.

IMUSA Tortilla Warmer : Target

Perfect shape, easy to clean and virtually unbreakable.

Lol. Thankyou^.=.^ (I would have never thought of the tortilla warmer) XD

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by DDW

What does f10 mean? I assume it means thorough cleaning buthe I want to be sure. Also, would original dawn dish soap (thoroughly rinsed off of course) be sufficient for cleaning or do I need to get a specialised cleaning product? (I used to have red eared slider turtles in a tank and use original dawn to clean the tank, never had a problem then)

F10 is a vet grade cleaner.

[prairiepanda]

I'm a fan of those dog bowls with little openings on the side for picking them up. The snakes can use the inside as a hide and the outside as a soaking dish! It makes a low-temperature hide which is appreciated on hot days, and they come in a wide variety of sizes. There are also ones with removable stainless steel inserts in the dish, so you could change the water without disturbing the snake.

F10 is a good cleaner if you can get it easily. A vinegar solution disinfects well also if F10 is hard for you to get. Plain dawn dish soap is fine, but it's more useful for cleaning poop and stuff than for disinfecting. Diluted vinegar is a much more effective disinfectant.

Other than that, I haven't heard of any concerns over BPA or anything like that in regards to snakes, so if you see something plastic that is a suitable shape go for it! Maybe just avoid ones that have contained volatile chemicals.

[pet_snake_78]

If plastics could cause health issues, neither my snakes nor I would still be kicking. You'll be fine. There are some plastics I don't think you should breathe large quantities of. When the weather is nice, I try to do the hole making outside.

[DDW]

Originally Posted by pet_snake_78

If plastics could cause health issues, neither my snakes nor I would still be kicking. You'll be fine. There are some plastics I don't think you should breathe large quantities of. When the weather is nice, I try to do the hole making outside.

Thanks a lot I am great full of your advise^.=.^