Myth 63: “RI: Respiratory Infection Is Caused By Specific Bacteria, The Keeper Is Not Responsible For It”
The reality is that a vast majority of RIs are:
caused by wring captive conditions
and developed in interaction with ever present, air born, only optionally pathogenic bacteria
RI has never been observed in wild chameleons
the most frequent bacterial causes of respiratory infections (RI) in reptiles include Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Mycoplasma, and Salmonella species. These pathogens often take advantage of poor husbandry conditions and weakened immune systems.
they can breed and disseminate their spores within the facility and cages on artificial plants, moist walls and backdrops and coconut walls and ropes
The most frequent root causes in chameleon husbandry are
absence of pollen in diet (I made
countless experiments, especially montanes are extremely sensitive to it) combination of too high temperatures with too high humidity induced as a rule through misting at strong basking lights and
fogging at temperatures above 65F (18C)
it is heavily potented by low ventilation
poor health, weaknes, exhaustion of the chameleons contribute to is
parasitoses and other diseases have also negative impact.
What to do:
study in every detail the requirements of the kept chameleon species from reliable sources
practise a no-compromise naturalistic chameleonoculture (captive husbandry)
supplement and gut-load the feeders with bee pollen
never mist or fog at daytime ag high temperatures (mist before lights go ON and after they go OFF, if you need to mist djring the daytime, switch the heat emiting sources many minutes before yoj start misting and care fir intense ventilation)
never fog at daytime and at temps above 65F/18C, always use fogger carefully at low temperatures and at nighttime or early morning hours only
keep chameleons in well ventilated cages, best mesh cages or hybrid cages,
if necessary, add forceful ventilation in the cage and in the facility
keep good hygiene in the cage (remove excrements and dust regularly)
do not use plastic plants and any kinds of ropes and keep the cages without permanently moist objects like ropes, coconut walls etc.
keep good hygiene in the facility, sanitize your rooms and clean air with HEPA filters and UVA devices
in case RI appears,
the symptoms are as follows:
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the prognosis of curing is good if caught in time
if handled by a competent veterinarian
unfortunately, RI is often diagnosed late and then it is as a rule lethal
the therapy will include in ideal case identification of the bacteria
antibiotic sensitivity testing
an administration of antibiotics
which will be administered at the base of prescription or directly by a VET
their side effects include damage of liver and disruption of homeostasis
any healing process will not work
if the root cause is not eliminated and if the captive conditions are not improved and set to ideal
any further reinfection of RI is usually lethal as
the animal is already weakened
the bacteria can develop resistance to the used antibiotics