Naturalistic enclosure cleaning methods?

[Tokoloshe]

Hey all,
I was wondering what methods you use for cleaning terrariums when you have a naturalistic setup?

The obvious concerns being fecal build-up, and a never ending parasitic cycle.
(but this can go into glass cleaning later as well)

I have some ideas, but have been wondering about this for a while and have not seen this addressed anywhere in any depth.

I welcome your ideas.

 

[Riggs]

Are you keeping a chameleon in an all glass terrarium? I'm just a newbie at this but from what I've read from the experts on this forum that's a big "no-no". All screen cage, a couple of schefflera plants, lots of vines and natural branches, proper lighting and heating and they seem to thrive. As for cleaning I just spot check the plants each morning and evening for poo-poo and then on the weekends take the plants in the backyard, tilt them sideways and hose them down real well. So far no parasites and a 'happy' cham

 

[Riggs]

Wait a minute, I just realized this was concerning a pygmy enclosure. Yeah...I have no idea about keeping that species so disregard the last post if it doesn't apply to pygmy's. hehe

 

[Fidel]

You can seed the substate with springtails and isopods, which will help to break down waste.False bottom set-ups can help too. These are frog vivaria techniques which might also work in a pygmie enclosure.

 

[Tokoloshe]

Isopods -

I have the springtails going and they do an ok job, however if the feces are large, they do not degrade it for 2-3 days.

The isopods w/. springtails are not a bad idea for CB(even just for an additional food source), but back to my original problem with WC feces getting eating by the isopods and then the isopods getting eaten by the chams again...resulting in a deathly cycle.

Ideas?

 

[dodolah]

as far as parasite goes, i don't think you have a choice but to thoroughly clean the enclosure real well. Do you perhaps have a spare cage (like screen cage) that are easy to clean meanwhile your chameleon in question is still sick.

Parasites are just tough to get rid off and reinfestation certainly is not a good thing to have.
Some parasites (like coccidia) forms an oocyst when they are outside of the host's body. and that cyst is incredibly tough to break. Even bleach won't penetrate this wall (although it loosen the "glue" layer that attach to the surface makes it possible for you to wash them away).

Only boiling water able to penetrate those walls and kill the evil protozoan inside. Sorry, as you can probably guess i am battling with infestation of coccidia.

I do recommend parasites infested chameleon to be kept in a simple enclosure to avoid reinfestation.