OK - so what are YOUR secrets for removing hardened urates from your tubs, or even worse, water dishes? That stuff if like concrete, and it's the bane of my existence. I've ruined so many nails from scraping, scraping, scraping with my nails.

What are YOUR secrets for removing the residue effectively? You'd think when they go in the water dish, that it wouldn't stick to the bottom - WRONG!

It's bugged me for some time, and it occurred to me this evening as I'm scraping multiple tubs that maybe some of you have some handy tips?

Oh please, some of you have some handy tips? LOL

Well, Jason and I accidentally discovered the other day that rats like to eat urates! Just let loose a herd of em! ;)


Sorry... That's about as much help as I can give on that topic...

I use a small paint scraper. Also, in theory, if you rub a light coating of mineral oil in the tub, then put down you substrate the urates won't stick, but I have not been brave enough to try that. I just use the smallest paint scrapper I can find. Works great.

I have a spoon that was eaten by the garbage disposal -- instead of throwing it out it went to live in the snake room as my urate remover -- it works pretty good in conjunction with some chlorhex - I used to use a flat head screw driver but hubby didn't like that much. :machinegun:

Good old Finger nails!

I use a spoon as well if they harden up if not I just scoop em out bare handed..:D

Good old Finger nails!

That's my method...

Butter knife, pocket knife.... lots of scrubbing

You must be using some big bowls... I almost never have any in the bowls. I use a butter knife to scrape those rocks off the tubs.

Popsickle/craft sticks

Cheap....disposable....tub friendly

Like Jas said. A good ol fashion caveman technique. (YOUR FINGERNAIL)

I use a spoon as well if they harden up if not I just scoop em out bare handed..:D

LOL no joke... ive done it myself. POOP TOO!

Cause im disgusting and stuff....

Usually paper towels though, or Tissue.... But im anal and check daily.

I use an old spoon or knife..but mostly check daily to avoid it in the first place.

I scrape as much out with either a flathead screwdriver or 1" plastic paint scraper then let it soak a few minutes in cleaner and hit it with a good stiff bristle brush or green scrubby pad.

I like the popsicle stick idea over sterilizing the scraper between each tub.

I just squirt some water on them when I'm changing paper and use a paper towel to wipe it up.

Thanks everyone! I also pick up urates with my hands, it's the residue that's left behind that drives me nuts, and I do use my fingernails, try soaking them, etc, and there's still usually some left over - I'll have to try the paint scraper idea.

I use paper in my tubs as substrate, so there's always some that gets laid in a corner and you pick up the major mass and the bottom stays stuck.

As for water bowl size, the large adults get larger crocks to prevent tipping of water dishes - and one female insists on depositing her urates in her dish. Go figure!

Good old Finger nails!

Me too. Just don't bite your finger nails after! :lol:

Spoon or a pocket knife for the majority. The rest gets soaked with a bleach rag and simply wiped up.

Run some hot water over it!!!! Oh and Chris, remind me to never shake your hand again...lol

i keep my old girlfriend's toothbrushes strictly for that purpose.
use the back of the brush to break those boulders off the tub, then with some water or stronger stuff, brush off the residue. works great, and it doesn't scratch the crap outta the tubs. some of my tubs are still kickin' since 1995 ! they ain't prefect, but they do last alot longer cause they aren't scratched to death.
and if things don't work out with the old lady, i can always see if one of the old girls are still available, won't tell 'em why i still have their toothbrush though...
good luck with your uric concretions,
ck

I use REALLY hot water and a sponge that is used for that purpose only. I don't generally get ones that I can't get off with a spray or two of virusan and a paper towel, but once or twice one of the ATB's have left some urates in their water bowls that were hard to get off, and the hot water sponge did the trick. Now, if someone could just tell me how to get dried up crested gecko food off the dishes, I'd be great.

Big Gunns is sure that one of your gang of big C's over there at BP.net has to know something about cleaning....they are women right?.....ask them.:ass::D

I use a paint scraper.

I use a utility knife.

I use an old spoon to get most off, then spray the bowl with white vinegar and let set 5-10 minutes. Usually, anything left that is dried on will come off easily when I rinse the vinegar out. Then its just a soap and water wash, dry and back in the cage.

i use a very wet paper towel. usually works perfects, the water seems to loosen it up pretty good. you still have to apply pressure when scrubbing it but no wheres near as much. i have one that craps only on his tub lol he wont go on his paper he crawls under it and does it.

Brillo pads.

Run some hot water over it!!!! Oh and Chris, remind me to never shake your hand again...lol

Too Funny... :lol:

I use an old tea spoon to scrape the urate of the corners.