Murge Muzzled
New Member
Would wipe out work or should i use bleach?
How can I disinfect a cage to get rid of fungus???
- Thread starter Murge Muzzled
- Start date
Leo Chance
Member
If the chameleon does not have to be put back into the cage immediately after it is washed with bleach, I would take that option.
Bleach is pretty harmless if you wipe down with fresh water after using it. But I would be sure that it is dry. Bleach is required to clean toys in many daycare centers, where small children put toys in their mouths. No one has ever reported a problem from the practice.
Bleach is pretty harmless if you wipe down with fresh water after using it. But I would be sure that it is dry. Bleach is required to clean toys in many daycare centers, where small children put toys in their mouths. No one has ever reported a problem from the practice.
trickedoutbiker
Avid Member
I use Zoo Med WIPE OUT stuff, because it disinfects bacteria, gets rid of odors, and airs out quicker than bleach. Not to mention that, it's safe on colors, unlike bleach. 
I spot clean my chameleon's cage daily, getting rid of any feces I may see. If he sheds, I will take his skin out of the cage as I see it. Any cricket that may have went unnoticed and died, I take out. So on and so forth..... But once a month, I take him out, and his real plants out too, leaving everything else in his cage such as his fake vines and fake plants. I spray the WIPE OUT on everything and then using a rag, I scrub/wipe down the sides of the cage, the bottom, the top.... I wipe off the fake plants the best that I can, the vines.... All of it. Then I (lightly) spray it all again and I let it all sit for like 5 minutes to kind of give it time to kill bacteria that may or may not be there.
Then, I take the whole cage with the fake plants/vines and all, and I sit it in my shower. Turn the water up super hot, and I let it shower my cage for like 15-20 minutes to make sure that the WIPE OUT is rinsed out for sure. I adjust the showerhead a few times throughout, as well as turning my cage a couple times to make sure everything gets rinsed off nice and good. You don't want your chameleon to be ingesting that stuff.
When my cage is done getting a clean-out shower, I blow it all dry with a hairdryer on low/cool setting. I blow off the screen on the sides, top, bottom, all screen.... I blow off the fake plants... The vines.... All of it. Then I let it all sit and air dry for about another 20-40 minutes to kind of air out a little more and dry up a tad. When I'm done, my cage looks brand spankin new. And all fresh and clean.
My cham goes back in, happy as can be. And I do that once a month. I keep everything pretty tidy as it is so I'm not too worried about bacteria, but the way I do my cage showering, I'm almost positive that I will never have a bacteria problem
I spot clean my chameleon's cage daily, getting rid of any feces I may see. If he sheds, I will take his skin out of the cage as I see it. Any cricket that may have went unnoticed and died, I take out. So on and so forth..... But once a month, I take him out, and his real plants out too, leaving everything else in his cage such as his fake vines and fake plants. I spray the WIPE OUT on everything and then using a rag, I scrub/wipe down the sides of the cage, the bottom, the top.... I wipe off the fake plants the best that I can, the vines.... All of it. Then I (lightly) spray it all again and I let it all sit for like 5 minutes to kind of give it time to kill bacteria that may or may not be there.
Then, I take the whole cage with the fake plants/vines and all, and I sit it in my shower. Turn the water up super hot, and I let it shower my cage for like 15-20 minutes to make sure that the WIPE OUT is rinsed out for sure. I adjust the showerhead a few times throughout, as well as turning my cage a couple times to make sure everything gets rinsed off nice and good. You don't want your chameleon to be ingesting that stuff.
When my cage is done getting a clean-out shower, I blow it all dry with a hairdryer on low/cool setting. I blow off the screen on the sides, top, bottom, all screen.... I blow off the fake plants... The vines.... All of it. Then I let it all sit and air dry for about another 20-40 minutes to kind of air out a little more and dry up a tad. When I'm done, my cage looks brand spankin new. And all fresh and clean.
My cham goes back in, happy as can be. And I do that once a month. I keep everything pretty tidy as it is so I'm not too worried about bacteria, but the way I do my cage showering, I'm almost positive that I will never have a bacteria problem
Murge Muzzled
New Member
I want to use bleach but what measurements and how much bleach for a gallon to spray it on the cage or what ratios
JGuinan007
Avid Member
Zoo Med makes wipe out https://www.google.com/shopping/product/12940286450179189125?q=zoo+med+wipe+out&biw=1280&bih=620&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.112766941,d.cWw&ion=1&espv=2&tch=1&ech=1&psi=qDGoVvuJG4bm-AHlkYX4CQ.1453863370166.9&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio3cKchttp://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Organic-Reptile-Habitat-Cleaner/dp/B001B4VO5E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453863503&sr=8-3&keywords=reptile+cleaner_8jKAhUDg4MKHa0yBzUQ8wIIlwEwAA http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Habit...id=1453863503&sr=8-4&keywords=reptile+cleaner http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-11507-Terrarium-Cleaner-8-Ounce Bottle/dp/B000OR0CHA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1453863503&sr=8-5&keywords=reptile+cleaner http://www.amazon.com/Angelus-Repti...id=1453863503&sr=8-6&keywords=reptile+cleaner and these are others on amazon
Connorology
Avid Member
I think a borax solution works better than bleach for fungus. It doesn't emit fumes and destroys the cell wall of the fungus (since animals don't have a cell wall it's less toxic to us). In my experience it works better than bleach on porus materials.
That said, if you don't have much to clean up and the surface is smooth any of these options will work.
That said, if you don't have much to clean up and the surface is smooth any of these options will work.
Murge Muzzled
New Member
What solution do u use and what ratios to water or do u mix it and if so what do u mix it with it. For the borax solution that is
Connorology
Avid Member
Borax is super cheap and comes as flaky crystals. You can either mix it into a paste (roughly 1:1 borax and water) and smear that around the affected area with a sponge, or mix about a cup of borax into a gallon of hot water and use a spray bottle to apply it. In either case, let it sit for a few minutes (10-15) and then wash it away with water.
Murge Muzzled
New Member
Where can I get borax Walmart?
SocialNumb
Established Member
They sell that stuff at the Walmart where (FL) I live but I can also get it at the supermarket. Never used it myself.
kakachameleon
New Member
how do you know if you have fungus on your cage?
