New enclosure layout/Deep Clean? Best way to do so?

[Lucas00-]

Here I sit at work thinking about how I would redo the layout/a deep deep clean of my guy's enclosure. I did read someone's thread on here saying how twice a year they strip everything to clean and put back together. Do some of you have an entire extra temporary enclosure for situations like this? I don't plan on doing it too soon, but I want to have a solid game plan before I do so. After a while of having him in his new enclosure, I see some areas for improvement in my setup and know it would be even better the next time I did it! One day I'd like to go bioactive but i think i should perfect the husbandry before i get that far. Hope everyone and their chams are having a good day!

 

[BleuSaphir]

I don’t have a spare cage. But I done this way. I got a plastic bin. Placed my veiled inside with small branches.
Kept the container in the dark. And proceed to take out all of the pots. And the bottom tray for some deep cleaning spray.

After it all done and dry. I put the tray back and the plants. Rearranged the fake vines back into place.
Boy does my chameleon poo a lot...I Have to do another deep clean.

 

[ehdee6]

I'm fortunate enough (now) to have a spare large reptibreeze with a new 14" 5.0 UVB/sticks/unused live plant if needed.

But for a quick few hrs fix, I just put them on a familiar plant in the shower with the plant covering the drain, or a bin where they can't easily get away. And make the arrangements.

 

[JacksJill]

Here are some of my ramblings on cleaning. Cage Cleaning • Sanitation ISTYT (Part 3) Deep Cleaning

If your yard and weather are nice you could make a temporary cage out of a mesh laundry hamper and a good sized plant. Make sure the hamper has a good zip closure. These are also nice to have if you ever need to evacuate with your pets.

 

[jamest0o0]

I don’t deep clean and barely clean at all if I’m being honest. I’m a strong believer in natural fauna/flora(bioactive) ecosystems and all of my chameleons have lived long lives so far. None of them have had any issues relating to enclosure cleanliness. I wonder if anyone ever has with the exception of reinfection from parasites . Of course that’s anecdotal…

IMO sterilizing is only useful when there is a known pathogen you’re trying to eliminate. Otherwise, my feeling is that you are just wiping out harmless bacteria, which often outcompete dangerous bacteria/fungi/etc. Once again IMO(I’m going to use a lot of *my opinion’s* in this post )best case scenario you’re just wasting time.

If I have mold I sometimes bury it in the soil or leave it if it’s just new enclosure cycling. Poop gets cleaned up by CuC or buried if no established CuC yet. The only thing I might do is break off a leaf with poop on it or wipe down the walls for viewing purposes.

I also have a giant Caribbean land crab which is more sensitive to environmental issues than a chameleon IME. I keep him the same way(bioactive, bury old food, etc) and he’s been thriving for over a year now.

I clean stuff up in my own house(as much as I can with kids heh), keep it tidy, etc, but I don’t sterilize things constantly and for no reason. Doesn’t do our immune systems any favors IMO. I treat my animals the same. We’re all going strong.

I want to add if there’s risk for parasite reinfection, wild caught quarantine, babies you’re keeping an eye on, etc then of course it makes sense to lock down the enclosure and sterilize a little more. I feel it should just be deliberate with purpose.

 

[JacksJill]

I would agree with @jamest0o0 if you had a bio-active enclosure. With a bio-active you are building a system that is interdependent. In a basic cage you don't have the same micro and macro organisms "cleaning" things up (if that in fact works). In a basic cage setup you definitely don't get the sun, the rain and the wind reducing the bacterial load as you would outdoors. Chameleons also have larger territories in the wild than we can give them. They don't have to sit on the same feces stained branch everyday. Deep cleaning also gives you the chance to root out some potential pests in your enclosure like spiders and slugs that can be hiding in and around your pots, etc.

 

[jamest0o0]

I would agree with @jamest0o0 if you had a bio-active enclosure. With a bio-active you are building a system that is interdependent. In a basic cage you don't have the same micro and macro organisms "cleaning" things up (if that in fact works). In a basic cage setup you definitely don't get the sun, the rain and the wind reducing the bacterial load as you would outdoors. Chameleons also have larger territories in the wild than we can give them. They don't have to sit on the same feces stained branch everyday. Deep cleaning also gives you the chance to root out some potential pests in your enclosure like spiders and slugs that can be hiding in and around your pots, etc.

Hence the removing poop from leaves and such. I still see no point in sterilizing an otherwise poop free branch. I don’t sterilize the floors in my house . Now I will if my kid poops on it though . Their cages are like us living in houses, at least that’s how I imagine it heh. Also, having potted live plants, branches, etc still does amount to a level of *bioactiveness*. Harmless/beneficial bacteria will cover surfaces, just not as much as in soil. This is where it’d be ideal to remove the poop and spot clean those areas.

 

[JacksJill]

You probably don’t drag your cloaca all over your floors or eating surfaces. If you do I’m not one to judge
I’m going for sanitizing not sterilizing to reduce the bacterial or parasitic ova load. Think of it as cleaning your bathroom not your living room.

I don’t consider potted plants a bio-active setup either. You need a full set of cuc to reduce contamination.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Hence the removing poop from leaves and such. I still see no point in sterilizing an otherwise poop free branch. I don’t sterilize the floors in my house . Now I will if my kid poops on it though . Their cages are like us living in houses, at least that’s how I imagine it heh. Also, having potted live plants, branches, etc still does amount to a level of *bioactiveness*. Harmless/beneficial bacteria will cover surfaces, just not as much as in soil. This is where it’d be ideal to remove the poop and spot clean those areas.

I would recommend sanitizing a poop free branch if you suspect bacteria of something else nasty on a branch that you do not want with your chameleons.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich