Sanitizing enclosure plants for parasites

[USSTrioceros]

Note: posting this here because it's ultimately about treating for parasites.

I had the joyless privilege of pulling a roundworm out of one of my chameleon's bums this morning. She and I were both horrified. Obviously, her cage (and all my boys) will get a deep clean tomorrow and I'll collect fecal samples from everyone for the vet.

My question to y'all is how do you wrangle sanitising live plants? Hard surfaces will be easy. I feel like most of the products that will kill parasite eggs will also roast my plants. Do I do a bleach dip like I would for my aquarium plants? What do you do?

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Note: posting this here because it's ultimately about treating for parasites.

I had the joyless privilege of pulling a roundworm out of one of my chameleon's bums this morning. She and I were both horrified. Obviously, her cage (and all my boys) will get a deep clean tomorrow and I'll collect fecal samples from everyone for the vet.

My question to y'all is how do you wrangle sanitising live plants? Hard surfaces will be easy. I feel like most of the products that will kill parasite eggs will also roast my plants. Do I do a bleach dip like I would for my aquarium plants? What do you do?

I would start by repoting the plants and when they are bare root use some type of sterilizer. Then repot clean sanitized new pots and soil. I think a mild bleach water mix would work. However for the best advice I would contact a local vet or nursery about sanitizing plants. They should have more options about sanitizing plants.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

As much as it sucks id say start fresh with new plants: too much risk with reuse in my opinion

 

[USSTrioceros]

Thank you all for the tips. I'm working on cleaning things up today with a side of plant shopping.

 

[nightanole]

Time to put some stone on the soil. Cant get to the soil, cant get to the worm eggs.

But i dread plant shopping. The mealy bugs are always gunning for me, along with the spider mites.

 

[USSTrioceros]

Same here on the spider mites. I have had minimal issues with them until this last year. Good idea on the rocks, though. It'll help with water retention, too.

 

[elizaann2]

You could also try to steam cleaning your plants after you wash them and sanitize them. If they aren't super expensive plants, I would suggest replacing them just to help avoid re-infection.