anything lighter than dirt ?

[little leaf]

I am wondering if there is anything safe to use in the posts besides dirt? I take a few of my cages outside in the day, and bring them back in at night- all but one are kept upstairs ,but they weigh so much I am fearful the bottoms will fall out- is there anything else that can be used besides dirt for the plants ? I take out 2 cuban anole cages, my baby boys, and a crabby panther ( in a big cage !! ) who would rather not be touched

 

[MelissaB]

Peat is lighter than soil, but not once it has soaked up water. What about making a tray to carry them that would support the bottom?

 

[Psychobunny]

You mean you take their permanent home cages outside??!!

If so, why don't you just transfer them to small ones, used for outside only?

My guys are in cages too big to move, so I have a bunch of those small reptibreez cages with vines and branches so they can bask outside.

 

[little leaf]

You mean you take their permanent home cages outside??!!

If so, why don't you just transfer them to small ones, used for outside only?

My guys are in cages too big to move, so I have a bunch of those small reptibreez cages with vines and branches so they can bask outside.

yes, I carry the "home" cages outside- the Anoles are pretty crazy, and big - they were w/c rescue, but now that they are healthy, you can not touch them ( and they are laying eggs now ) , the other is a very VERY crabby panther- if I try to move him from his home cage, he freaks, bites, and wont eat , the other is my baby cage - but I dont use any fake plants - only a few fake vines - so the cages are really heavy, and wet - but I really feel the sun is that good for them the Jax live outside ( except for the last week we have had almost record lows for 9 days - I hate Ohio weather ! high of 68, low of 42 IN JULY WTH ??? lol ) if it would stay warm, I leave them out over night -except the babies - but ugh - this weather just will not warm up ! I just want them to be happy

 

[Psychobunny]

Oh, that makes sense, it's best not to stress your cham if he is always going to be that way.
We had anoles in FL when I lived there. We called them 'chameleons' , but we could find them in our yard, hiding in the elephant ear plants, between the big leaves.

My brother used to feed them to his snakes

 

[little leaf]

My brother used to feed them to his snakes

these are Cuban Knight Anoles- they may eat the snake- they are pretty big girls ( and they can bite HARD !! )

 

[little leaf]

this ones shed reminded me of a Veiled - lol they are not mean, just do not like to be picked up they were nothing but bones, skin and scars when they got here

 

[Mike Fisher]

we have had almost record lows for 9 days - I hate Ohio weather ! high of 68, low of 42 IN JULY WTH ??? lol )

Sounds like Oregon, although this year we are having a nicer summer than usual. That's why I keep montane.

Unfortunately, it is not the potting media that you are using making it heavy, it is the water it holds. If you went with something that doesn't hold so much water, like perlite, it would be lighter but you have to water it and fertilize it constantly. Plus try to keep it away from your chameleon so it is not ingested.

I see no easy solution without resorting to fake plants for the ones you need to move constantly.

 

[Psychobunny]

these are Cuban Knight Anoles- they may eat the snake- they are pretty big girls ( and they can bite HARD !! )

Oh, I don't think I have ever seen one of those kind of anoles.

 

[absolutbill]

Oh, I don't think I have ever seen one of those kind of anoles.

We have them down here, running wild and they are pretty awesome. I'm sure they are an invasive species, but at least they are a neat one that doesn't do too much damage as far as I know.

To answer the potted plant question, how about filling the bottom 1/2 of the pot with styrofoam peanuts, or something similar, and then the top 1/2 of the pot with your potting soil. This will only work if the plant has lots of growing to do to fill up the pot, but it will make the entire thing lighter.

Before anyone decides to jump on this, I want to be clear that what I'm describing is not a pot with a bottom that can "leak" out the packing peanuts, but instead one that has smaller holes so the plant can still drain, but the peanuts stay where they are intended to be. Also, the potting soil must TOTALLY cover the packing peanuts with a good thickness so that they can't be dug up in any way. Good luck!

 

[little leaf]

We have them down here, running wild and they are pretty awesome.

I wish I lived in Fl - someday -
the one w/ the shed sticking up, all that white on her face, was bone - she had NO skin there - it was sad - we are the reptile part of a 501(c)(3) rescue, so I never know what is going to show up here- lol - but these are pretty neat, and not really that hard to care for - about the same as a cham - but I will admit, the do make me a bit nervous- they are big, fast, and I was warned by my vet of the bite they can give - but they started to hand feed only a few weeks after they got here, so they did calm down pretty fast
I have an idea for the pots - I have tired the peanuts before , the only thing is they let the plant tip and fall over in the pot- IF my idea works, I will post it if not- I will kill a plant

 

[absolutbill]

I have an idea for the pots - I have tired the peanuts before , the only thing is they let the plant tip and fall over in the pot- IF my idea works, I will post it if not- I will kill a plant

I have 2 handfuls of black thumbs so bear that in mind with any gardening advice I dispense!

 

[sandrachameleon]

hydrotone / clay pellets mixed with perlite.
you'd have to provide all the nutrients via liquid.

Better to put something solid under the plant pots, and put the cages on wheels?

 

[little leaf]

hydrotone / clay pellets mixed with perlite.
you'd have to provide all the nutrients via liquid.

Better to put something solid under the plant pots, and put the cages on wheels?

I have a wagon I put them on once I get them outside, but I have to carry 2 of them from up stairs - but I have started to "cheat" and just set them inside the door , not all the way back up stairs at night - IF it would ever stay warm, I would not have to do this , they are saying possible close to record lows AGAIN the end of this week - this weather is just crazy - after the horrid weather we had this winter ( 20 below 0 for DAYS ) - I can not believe mother nature can still be so mean to us - LOL
not sure what hydrotone is, but will go look it up ~ thanks