I am done (for a while)

I am done keeping chameleons. At least for the time being. I am devastated over the loss of both my boys. Their environment was a picture of the care sheets. They had live plants, top of the line lights and misting system, a better diet than mine (and that goes for the bugs too!). I am not deciding as yet whether to get out of the hobby or not. I am too sad to make a permanent decision but I do think I will eventually get another cham. I have the dubious task of breaking down their enclosures and my question is if there is some disinfection or cleaning process I should use or is 1:10 bleach sufficient? And what about the live plants? Soap and water on the leaves and new soil? I appreciate any insights. I know I have written several posts to new keepers, telling them not to be discouraged but it is sure easier to say than do. Even when husbandry is absolutely correct things still can go wrong. Nature is a *****.

Losses

I am sorry for your losses. What a bummer. I would wait awhile to make a final decision, but, in the meantime, clean everything. Did they have access to the dirt in the planters? Sometimes fertilizers can be a problem. I have
1-2" stones on the top of mine.

Sorry to hear you had such a devastating loss. Were you able to determine what caused the deaths? Was it parasites? If you don't know for sure I would get some good disinfecting cleaner such as Nolvasan (http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nolvasan.html) and replace all organic material before starting again. Plants can keep the parasites alive for a long time so you want to start from scratch to be safe.

I'm sorry to hear about that, but don't just give up.

I completely understand, I had 2 panthers die for no understandable reason, one right after the other, and they both came from very good breeders.

I have another panther now that I don't expect will have a very long life.
He was born a runt, and hasn't shed in a long time at only 5 months old.

I had a Nosy Be that was so mean and stressed out, that I had to give him to a retired lady because I could not even approach his cage for feeding w/o him throwing a fit.
I was afraid the stress would kill him.
The lady I gave him to spends all day with him, but has still not gotten him calmed down by much.

I seem to have a bad streak of luck with panthers in general, and have no idea why!!

Sometimes I think these animals are just not meant for captivity, and we should leave them alone, in their natural habitat.

But I love them too much. I know my life would seem empty without them.

ridgebax1 said:

I am done keeping chameleons. At least for the time being. I am devastated over the loss of both my boys. Their environment was a picture of the care sheets. They had live plants, top of the line lights and misting system, a better diet than mine (and that goes for the bugs too!). I am not deciding as yet whether to get out of the hobby or not. I am too sad to make a permanent decision but I do think I will eventually get another cham. I have the dubious task of breaking down their enclosures and my question is if there is some disinfection or cleaning process I should use or is 1:10 bleach sufficient? And what about the live plants? Soap and water on the leaves and new soil? I appreciate any insights. I know I have written several posts to new keepers, telling them not to be discouraged but it is sure easier to say than do. Even when husbandry is absolutely correct things still can go wrong. Nature is a *****.

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I do understand just how you feel. I almost quit a short while ago, but my two partners talked me out of it. I would be happy if I could talk you out of quiting. But I think you will feel the lost of having a cham and come back soon. Or at least I hope so.

About your cages, I take mine to the car wash. I take the completely apart and line all the pieces up against the walls. They will go all over so it is much easier with two people. Make sure you get in all the jointing pieces really well. I always figure the soap and water are a lot hotter, and most likely harsher than and I could use. Then when I get home I spray them again with novaasan. I use full strength - but only when I am storing them. Rinse them several times.

I would take the soil all out of the plants and wash the leaves on the plants with mild dish soap and rinse the well. then put more soil on. Of if you are not attached to the plants, just toss them. I also toss every stick or vine that was ever in the cage.