Beardie's Terrarium Stinks :-(

[awkwardviolinist]

I have had Peridot for almost nine months now, but there's always been this odor that fills my bedroom. I do not use sand, but i use a desert-style repticarpet with rocks and pebbles popping out of it. i clean out Peridot's poop as soon as it...happens, but for some reason there is ALWAYS this smell! Help!!!

 

[Permutation]

My only thought is you might want to get his fecal checked for parasites. They make their fecal matter smell way worse then it should. Our poor little fritz had that problem, it's a fairly easy fix with the right medication which is cheap, the checkup costs more.

Just an idea but perhaps someone else has a thought

 

[Reptilelady]

Hi,
Do you use a disinfectant on your desert-style repti carpet?

 

[awkwardviolinist]

To answer both Replies:

-I am not allowed to ask my father to help pay the expenses of a trip to the veterinarian unless I have "valid" evidence my pet is truly ill (he still believes it to be the type of pet you can just flush down the toilet).


-I have never used any kind of disinfectant on the substrate. Is there anywhere I can purchase it from?

 

[Permutation]

Well if a product can be mentioned for disinfecting that would be useful, I know vinegar and water can be used.

When he poops does it smell really bad or is it just the tank in general?

 

[awkwardviolinist]

Just the tank- The poop itself doesn't smell *horrible*, or abnormally so. It's poop was a little more watery today, but the scent wasn't any worse than it usually is. The tank i'm sure, just needs a good cleaning (i hope)

 

[Permutation]

Well a parasite problem will cause the poop to stink extremely bad. So hopefully it is just that. I would give the whole tank and everything in it a really good clean!

 

[kingofnobbys]

What is your viv's substrate ?

Sands and other particulates such as bark, wood chips, sawdust, gravel, coco fibres , peat, are all bad and are next to impossible to keep sanitized and soon become very sticky even if you remove poos diligently. So another reason along with the risk of an fatal impaction when beardie ingests some for NOT USING THESE as substrates.

Is the viv made from MDF or Particle board ?

Many use these as they are cheaper than solid timber or plywood , but the stuff literally soaks up moisture and becomes a perfect place for bacteria, viruses and moulds to thrive and they soon become very stinky and essentially impossible to sanitize (if they don't become crumble beforehand).

F10SC made up 1:250 in water and sprayed on to the surfaces will sterilize them , but nothing will help sanitize a damp wood chip viv where the germs have gotten into the structure of the wood.

 

[nathb1]

I have had Peridot for almost nine months now, but there's always been this odor that fills my bedroom. I do not use sand, but i use a desert-style repticarpet with rocks and pebbles popping out of it. i clean out Peridot's poop as soon as it...happens, but for some reason there is ALWAYS this smell! Help!!!

The tank shouldnt smell... only if they have poop somewhere in the tank, carpet,decorations.... I think maybe the carpet might be the problem. Use newspaper, tiles... something that can be cleaned effectively. Try to steam or disinfect the tank, decoration and put tiles/shelf line/newspaper and see.

 

[Gormagon]

I have had Peridot for almost nine months now, but there's always been this odor that fills my bedroom. I do not use sand, but i use a desert-style repticarpet with rocks and pebbles popping out of it. i clean out Peridot's poop as soon as it...happens, but for some reason there is ALWAYS this smell! Help!!!

The tank shouldnt smell... only if they have poop somewhere in the tank, carpet,decorations.... I think maybe the carpet might be the problem. Use newspaper, tiles... something that can be cleaned effectively. Try to steam or disinfect the tank, decoration and put tiles/shelf line/newspaper and see.

Repticarpet is bad about this. Try tile (rough textured) you get it at Lowe's and they will cut it to fit, it's cheap and doesn't harbour smells.

 

[Terry15]

I switched from the Repti carpet to non adhesive shelf liner, it's so easy to clean, bugs don't get under it, just wipe and dry. It does say it's washable, but I have not tried washing it yet.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I second tile.
It's a lot easier to spot clean and is not porous, so wiping it down with water+vinegar or F10 to disinfect is a lot easier.

I never used a sand carpet, but when I did repticarpet I'd have to remove everything, remove the carpet, spot clean and soak it to disinfect, allow air dry, and then replace, add all the decor again, only to have the dragon poop on it again.

I've never had issues with the enclosure smelling unless there was hidden poop. I'd recommend taking out and cleaning everything in the enclosure