i didnt notice anything in my responce that was rude.i was just stating that many tropical reptiles are far better off in a live planted vivarium and chondros are one of them.im sorry if you think it was rude but i dont feel i have an ego.im not saying you,but many people just speak for the sake of speaking and assume things that are just not true.nowhere in any of the chondro literature does it state that a chondro would be better off without live plants and many of the top keepers and breeders insist on using live vegitation for many of the same reasons its important to use vivariums when keeping darts.like i said before,plant diseases cannot be tranfered to reptiles and you also mentioned viruses.well,reptiles are cold blooded so viruses are not a problem for them,and even if they did commonly get viruses,it would be impossible to catch one from dirt,bugs,plants and water(with the exception of snake mites and ticks ,that cannot be transmitted anyway other than contact with another infected reptile).you did state "do yourself and your snake a favor and dont put him in a vivarium".i was just correcting you by stating that by providing him with a natural,live panted vivarium,i would infact be doing him a favor and he'd more likly thrive,breed and be happy.much more so than in a pvc cage.pvc and plastic harbors bacteria,does not hold humidity well,heats and holds heat unevenly and just plain does nothing to stimulate natural behaviors.now you mentioned that by providing a chondro with a natural planted vivarium id be opening the doors for all sorts of pathogens,viruses,a disease.if you could explain exactly what diseases can be transmitted to my reptile any faster in a planted cage,well maybe id understand more.like i said,as far as im conserned none.in the case of bacteria and infections,well its common knowledge that plastic does a poor job of keeping bacteria to a minimum.thats why reptile owners so often have to clean their cages with bleach ect.by doing this they not only hurt their animals by exposing them to toxic fumes,they kill off any "GOOD" micro organisims that may keep bacteria levels down.vivariums,once stablized,are great at destroying harmfull bacteria and mold.i didnt mean to insult you but i felt it important to correct you,not for my ego,but for the sake of a new owner reading what you said and taking it for the truth.its not my intention to start an argument with you and again im sorry if i came off rude,it was not my intention.

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