Pros and Cons Naturalistic Backgrounds

[@LEMIEisa_BALLPYTHON713]

Maybe a quarantine of the enclosure with a steam clean adding benzoyl peroxide and chlorhexidine as well.

[@calicocriterisopod]

I appreciate your transparency. This is a terrible way to learn about something useful for us. Im so sorry Tricia.

[@annarichards3560]

So sorry for your loss. Naturalistic backgrounds are so cool, and I’ve always wanted one, but I have a chameleon who has had a reputation of eating and chewing things and I’m always fearful of him ingesting something

[@rachelorick3157]

I’m really sorry for your loss my heart and my prayers go out to you.

[@hannahworley3336]

So very sorry for your loss. I think it’s very mature to allow people to learn from your situation. It’s not easy to be vulnerable and on the internet. He was loved by so many of us that watch.

[@reptiliangarden]

Thank you! I appreciate your support 💕

[@Emzotic]

Sending you so much love, Tricia. 💛

[@snakemannn1744]

,,,,,, Huggzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sorry for your loss ,,,,, '

[@seanbennett7916]

You are a doll! I dont think anyone that has decent amount of reptiles hasnt had something happen like this.thats how we learn, thank you for sharing. 😊

[@corvins_cash]

I like making bioactive and planted enclosures, but I've never made a background. I love the bamboo look of the Zen Habitats, and I'm just not very crafty, so I haven't tried it yet. I like how they look, but I also worry about how heavy it might make the enclosure, and so many of mine are stacked.

[@brittanywitt1951]

Look into f10 and a steam cleaner. Sorry to hear about your chameleon.

[@tracycloud7328]

So sad to hear about Flounder. Thank you for sharing information on naturalistic backgrounds. I really love them and never thought about what could happen later if I rehouse an animal. Sending hugs😢

[@kaylaflynn5433]

Sorry for your loss, I hope you are doing well

[@reptiliangarden]

Thank you so much. Just planning to enjoy the summer and see some green again

[@kaylaflynn5433]

You are welcome and me too girly

[@hillarylove2305]

I honestly feel like it's highly unlikely that whatever his sickness was lasted that long on the background. I think whatever it was would have died off pretty quickly?

[@reptiliangarden]

I am not sure. Either way, I think using the same background was a risk.

[@hillarylove2305]

@@reptiliangarden That's understandable, ugh I'm so sorry for your loss 🥺😞❤️

[@caitlynm8]

I’m really sorry to hear about Flounder, he will be missed 🧡💜🧡💜 Hang in there Tricia.

[@corvins_cash]

So sorry that happened.

[@couturebabe13]

I follow you on IG too and already sent my condolences, but want to just reiterate how sorry I am for your loss! ❤️ It’s a hard pill to swallow but your transparency is super appreciated for those in the reptile hobby. We all learn lessons the hard way sometimes, and this is a huge learning experience for everyone. As someone who also does naturalistic backgrounds in my enclosures, you really got my mind spinning. 😵‍💫 I’m wondering if maybe using a steam cleaner may be an option for disinfecting between animals? (For backgrounds that don’t have substrate). That may still not be sufficient enough but it got me wondering. I’m not sure if it would ruin the drylok, but it’s a thought. My thoughts are with you!

[@ablthomas37]

I'm really sorry this happened. You were doing the best you could with the information you had and that's all we ever can do. Thank you for sharing your experience. I know this isn't an option for everyone but I live in Arizona and have sterilized many large and odd shaped things (and leaf litter/ dirt) by putting whatever it is in black trash bags, sealing it up and putting them in the direct sun during the summer and just let it cook for days. I think this could work well for whole enclosures. Based on your experience I would definitely completely pull apart an enclosure where I knew an animal had been sick or had any lingering questions but this might be good for other circumstances as just one additional safty measure.

[@reptiliangarden]

Thank you for the advice! I appreciate it

[@siobhonc]

Sorry for your loss 😢😢

[@desireewatford4438]

Sorry for your loss but do you have a mister system for the chameleons, since you mentioned dehydration might be the cause for both deaths. I know they’re supper fragile it’s why I would never buy them

[@reptiliangarden]

I spray my enclosures myself and use drip systems. Dehydration wasn’t the issue. It was a symptom of and internal illness going on and looks like dehydration on the outside due to sunken eyes, but it was something else going on sadly.

[@juelz713]

I had to watch this again, I thought it was about bioactive backgrounds

[@reptiliangarden]

Just naturalistic backgrounds. The bioactive portion has to do with the substrate on the ground. The microfauna don’t go on the backgrounds.

[@juelz713]

@@reptiliangarden Ok

[@reginaphalange513]

just wanted to add my experience. i have sprayfoam and siliconed substrate backgrounds for all mine, and im currently dealing with pinworms for one of my crested geckos. i talked to my vet about how i should clean the background, i didnt want to use bleach because i didnt want any possibility of that staying in the enclosure, so we both agreed to use hydrogen peroxide, spray the shit out of the enclosure with it, and let it air dry. peroxide kills literally everything, viruses, bacteria, parasites, and is completely safe for them. i havent tested another fecal yet since i literally just found the worms a couple weeks ago, but i guess we will see if that works.

[@aprilrose2781]

do you have to dilute it? or just straight hydrogen peroxide? im currently dealing with what Tricia is going through and would want my enclosure safe for if/when im ready for another

[@reginaphalange513]

@@aprilrose2781 my vet said if the peroxide is 3% that is diluted enough

[@reginaphalange513]

​@@aprilrose2781 @reptiliangarden update just for fun. my gecko with worms had another fecal test and it came back negative! so he wasnt reinfecting himself throughout the enclosure, so peroxide is safe to work with on backgrounds

[@avaogara]

ohhh I'm so sorry !I know must feel awful ❤ seems chameleons are so delicate .your best reptile mom , not much you could had done ..oh my he be missed🦎❤️

[@Numocron]

Wow Tricia this is such an awesome video I love it.😃👍❤️

[@reptiliangarden]

Thank you!

[@Numocron]

@@reptiliangarden You’re very welcome Tricia. Much love.❤️

[@catsplat1272]

I'm so sorry for your loss. He had an amazing life with you and he will never be forgotten. I don't have the skill to make naturalistic backgrounds, so I just buy sheets of flat cork bark (Zoo Med cork tile or Josh's Frogs cork sheet background) and attach them to the back and sides of the tank. They're a pretty good size but you can cut them easily (even with kitchen scissors) if they don't fit. They look great, are decently priced, provide nice texture/climbing opportunities, and you can remove them to clean/dispose of. Although you would probably need to buy a LOT for a large tank.

[@reptiliangarden]

Thank you! And that is a great alternative to making a full on background!!

[@justyouraveragejay]

Sorry for your loss. You mention using both substrate and drylock on the foam background, is the difficulty in cleaning them the same, or mainly just for backgrounds that use substrate?

[@reptiliangarden]

It’s difficult for both. Even if you paint the background there are many nooks and crannies and it’s not the easiest if you want to try and wipe it down to clean it. If you have substrate, it won’t be possible to even try wiping it down.

[@jonathanyoungblood8676]

I had my veld chameleon passed away. He was looking dehydrated even though I sprayed his enclosure down multiple times a day. My vet said that his kidneys were calcifying and once that happens it’s irreversible so I had to put him down.

[@reptiliangarden]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing them is so hard. Sadly they show signs or illness when it’s too late a lot of the time.

[@pencildragon1961]

😥sorry for your loss.

[@darktourettes]

Have you tried steam cleaning? That should kill everything that you miss with a deep clean ❤

[@reptiliangarden]

I haven’t! I will look into that!