Cleaning Moldy Aquarium?

Question

I want to move my Hamster into this huge aquarium that used to house my Guinea Pig two years ago that I have in my basement. It is perfect for my hamster but I don't know how to clean it out. It has green mold on it and I was thinking of scrubbing it out in my bath tub with a Sponge and Dish soap, but will that not clean away the germs? If I put my hamster in the aquarium even after cleaning it out could she still get sick since it has been sitting in the basement with mold in it for over a year?

Answer 1

Your best bet is to wash it thoroughly with a water and bleach mixture. The bottle should give you a ratio for a correct and safe cleaning solution.

Once you have scrubbed the mold away, rinse it completely and then leave in the sun to dry. It doesn't have to be outside, necessarily, as long as it dries naturally.

Keeping a fan on it while the drying is taking place is a good idea, too, since mold needs moisture to form.

Leave it for a few days, then check for any new growth.

As long as it doesn't have any, or a lingering smell of mold, go ahead and wipe things down with a wet cloth, then a dry one, and add bedding, etc.

Watch for a few days after the hamster is inside for any breathing difficulty. If you hear sneezing or wheezing, take her back out.

It's worth a try, I think!