By Justin Smith
I’m always on the perpetual search of THE best disinfectant for my herp room and cages. I’ve used F10 in the past and loved it but the inconsistent availability coupled with a higher price tag left me wanting to try other options. I switched to chlorhexidine for a while but then in talking with Matt Most (of Sarpamitra fame) he mentioned a product called Zep that my local Tractor Supply Company carries. The next time I found myself in my local TSC, I grabbed a bottle.
So far this product seems to work well. Obviously, I’m not taking samples and testing for bacterial or viral loads from surfaces. Zep claims that their antibacterial kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria on hard non-porous surfaces in 60 seconds, a much quicker contact time than we see with pretty much any other disinfectant that’s commonly used. This particular formula has a citrus scent that is fairly strong.
Price wise, Zep is actually around the same price, if not slightly cheaper, than chlorhexidine for a gallon sized bottle. Unlike chlorhexidine, you don’t have to mix zep with water. You simply pour it into your spray bottle and you’re ready to go! The only downside to this is you will go through a gallon bottle faster than you would with chlorhexidine since it isn’t a concentrate that you mix with water.
I’ve been using it to clean out tubs and water bowls with no issues with my animals. I spray my water bowls, let them sit for a few minutes while I get the animal or tub separated or cleaned then I just wipe the bowl dry, refill, and move on! Overall, it’s nice having a product that I can find locally and not be beholden to stock shortages online. There are a lot of options for disinfectants out there and I still recommend rotating between a few of them periodically but Zep is going to be a staple in my herp room!
