best "soil" for planted panther chameleon viv?

[tmsjns]

Iv decided to make a planted viv for my panther cham for when hes bigger, Iv got the drainage layer and membrane but i dont know whats the best thong to use for the "soil" part? Iv heard orchid bark mixed with organic, peat free fertilizer?

 

[jannb]

It's best to leave the floor of you viv bare. It's easier to clean and nothing there for you cham to eat and cause problems.

 

[SliK JiM]

Take a look at my build:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-latest-build-progress-40191/
Will pretty much tell you everything you need to know!

I use normal compost (waiting for the gasp...) but cover it with turf/moss so my cham doesn't get access to it. I also put slow release granules into the fertiliser to aid with growth. As long as your chameleon doesnt have direct access to the soil, anything he/she or the feeders could eat will have already been processed by the plant and so will be in a natural compound.

Anyway, check out my build for some ideas!

Drop me a pm/reply if you have any other questions!

 

[Bengbeng]

I am waiting on delivery of a new viv and want to get it ready before introducing a panther cam.

My partner has green fingers and I will definitely be using cham safe plants. What type of moss do you use to cover the compost in the pots? Bare compost worries and there seems to be lots of different mosses available.

Thanks in advance

 

[tmsjns]

I am waiting on delivery of a new viv and want to get it ready before introducing a panther cam.

My partner has green fingers and I will definitely be using cham safe plants. What type of moss do you use to cover the compost in the pots? Bare compost worries and there seems to be lots of different mosses available.

Thanks in advance

Hi this was a while back so since then I have sorted it out. I used a mixture of organic top soil, orchid bark, and leaf litter collected from the woods, I have added tropical springtails, tropical woodlice, earthworms and have a colony of domino cockroaches in there too! Al the little critters break down the waste and dead leaves so I never have to clean it out! and then the critters waste is absorbed by the plants! Its like a little eco system, Its called a bioactive substrate and well worth doing!

I havent covered it with moss only leaf litter so its perfectly safe!

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hi this was a while back so since then I have sorted it out. I used a mixture of organic top soil, orchid bark, and leaf litter collected from the woods, I have added tropical springtails, tropical woodlice, earthworms and have a colony of domino cockroaches in there too! Al the little critters break down the waste and dead leaves so I never have to clean it out! and then the critters waste is absorbed by the plants! Its like a little eco system, Its called a bioactive substrate and well worth doing!

I havent covered it with moss only leaf litter so its perfectly safe!

MIne is like a combo of yours and jims. I even used a bit of soil from my garden (if they were gasping before listen for them hitting the floor...). I have earthworms, grass, plants, millipedes which the chams ignore and so do I. Springtails appear if there is a bit too much detritis and disappear when they've cleaned up. Crickets breed in there, so I have to leave good cricket food about the viv floor. I also have to dust nearly everything I can in vits! Harder work but so worth it when you can look in and see not a cage but a small section of rainforest!