Ficus problems

I have had a baby ambilobe since the beginning of December. I put a ficus in her cage (washed and repotted) along with various biovines and plastic stuff. Well, within a couple of days one of her eyes was closed. I have been washing it out daily and applying Teramycin. Then, much to my dismay the other one started closing. Soon, she spent at least 1/2 of her day with her eyes closed.

Well, I have been reading about how ficus branches can be irritating, so as a last ditch effort before going to the vet I removed the ficus and replaced it with a schiffalera (sp). It is now 6 days and her eyes are open all day and she is doing well.

Just an FYI for you guys that find yourself in the same kind of position that I was. I guess my girl couldn't handle the ficus.

I had already purchased mine and had it in the cage before i found out it could irritate there eyes. I decided to leave it in there and give it a try. Shes hardly ever on it unless shes sleeping. Its kind of funny to watch her because as soon as the light turns off she climbs right down to her ficus and goes to sleep. I guess if i see any problems with her eyes the first thing im going to do is remove it

ficus benjamina?

That's what i have

Thanks for sharing. I use ficus mostly (weeping & curly versions) as the largest plant in all my cages and so far (knock on wood) never an issue. Mine are all 7 months or older though, wonder if the younger chams are more sensitive to it??

Removing the ficus possibly could have led to improved health, but it also could have been due to the medication. You changed two variables(plant and medication), so it may have been the plant or the medication or a combination of both that has led to her improved health.

Could be, but she had the eye issue before I used the medication. My veileds all have ficus and have never been bothered, but my ambilobe is, at least that's what seems to be the issue.

Maybe it had an unseen break and she got sap in her eye imo ficus is one of the best plants to have in a cage

She has had this eye issue almost since I got her. She would rub her eyes on the branches of the plant.

I have use Ficus with both my chams ever since I've had them and never had a problem.

BocaJan,

Can't argue with success, but I also cannot link the ficus to the eyes in general. I also do not think you were ready to connect the dots that way, but at the same time wanted to relate your experience, your "before and after", and there is no changing those facts. Believe that I applaud the sharing of anecdotal info over the presentation of twisted assumptions, and your experience is notable.

Most all ficus produce an irritating sap, and there are approx 40 subspecies of ficus in Madagascar. While eye problems are many with captive chameleons, the majority of chameleons do not develop eye problems, and there is not increased frequency of chameleon eye problems between those with ficus, and those without. My test sampling is in the thousands. Thousands raised with ficus, and thousands without. On a side note, we are slowly transitioning back to all artificial, but more for maintenance reasons.

This does not contradict your specific results however. Ficus benjamini may not be the best plants for animals prone to more eye rubbing. They may be tolerable under better conditions, and less tolerable under others. One possible scenario, and this is only educated speculation at best, involves my own core belief that many chameleons suffer compromised eye function due to vitamin deficiencies, most notably a shortage of real vitamin A in the captive diet. I post enough about it While not all animals will show the symptoms, many more exist in a compromised state, IMMHO. A percentage of those animals may have greater difficulty with certain plants, such as some ficus. Just speculation, as I said, but it would explain why many animals are fine with this plant, while some may not be. Again, your observation is notable. Like a good lubricant to the gears of chameleon thought !

Thanks Jim. I bought some vitamin A and am going to start her on a bit of it daily probably injected into a feeder.

I had a ficus in my Veiled's cage, he had some crusty eye problems, took it out and washed it and put it in the panther's cage, the eye problems left the veiled but transferred to the panther?

UPDATE - without doing anything else except for taking out the ficus and no terramycin, Rosie's eyes are great! She is moving around and eating energetically which she did not do before. I know many of you out there use ficus and have no problems, but this might be one of those things that if you have a baby with a ficus and are having the same problems I did, you can try what I did.