biting at tree bark

[reptoman]

I have 2 amblobe panthers, one male and one female. I noticed today the the female is chewing on one of the branches in her cage and wondered if this is something that I should expect.
The male will often chew at the screen covering the potting soil in the pot that I have his plant in. I have the dirt covered with screen so he wont ingest any of that by mistake. Please let me know if this is normal behaviour. thanks

 

[blackbetty]

Here is what I found

https://www.chameleonforums.com/normal-4050/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/big-plant-eater-non-2999/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/eating-plant-1097/

I have also read that there may be some bugs in the soil that are catching their eyes that they are trying to get at.

I can't go back and read once I hit reply but are you housing them TOGETHER?

 

[reptoman]

No. They have separate cages. What do most people do for covering the potting soil in the planters? I was thinking rocks may be a better choice.

 

[blackbetty]

Most use LARGE river rocks, larger than the cham can fit in the mouth.

Are they getting enough water? I just read that some will ingest the plant to supplement their water. I know Leo licks his vines when they have water on them and even when they dont.

 

[reptoman]

Yes. I use a drip cup and mist the plants several time a day and see them drinking often. She will lick the branches for water but this was different. She was really chewing hard at a twig trying to rip off a piece.

 

[dodolah]

Yes. I use a drip cup and mist the plants several time a day and see them drinking often. She will lick the branches for water but this was different. She was really chewing hard at a twig trying to rip off a piece.

chewing twigs are normal.
She could be practicing her kill bite.
Just make sure that the branches are not from poisonous plants.

How old is she?

 

[reptoman]

They are both 7 months. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Titan]

Im gonna throw one in for you. Many time amimals around the world eat dirt, or lick rocks and such to gain shortages in minerals in their diets! Some how they know where these minerals naturaly hide, Im sure also in the tree fibers. This could be the reason your Chams are attempting these acts. for them its like when we crave sweets or salts, we just get the urge to get some! If the dirt was of the organic type, Id say let them eat some, or if they need to or chomp on your plants.(as long as stated, they are not poisinus type). The other thing to do is Change up your food item dusting products. Maybe another brand will supply the proper minerals. Also use the hardest water you can let them drink (natural countryside well water is the best). Softened and filtered water removes most all the natural minerals in water and that is what they need. Natural Rainwater is high in mineral content. There ya go,try these and they may stop needing to find the minerals in other ways.

 

[Chameleon Company]

I noticed today the the female is chewing on one of the branches in her cage and wondered if this is something that I should expect.
The male will often chew at the screen covering the potting soil in the pot that I have his plant in. I have the dirt covered with screen so he wont ingest any of that by mistake.

As noted by others, eating dirt, bark, and other debris is not a "mistake". It is a natural behavior. The only question would be if your dirt and debris is appropriate as compared to what this animal eats in the wild. If it is kept clean, and is a mix of dirts, or from a safe area outside that has not been polluted by insecticides, fertilizers, etc., my opinion is that you should allow it.

I think that to label it as the chameleon addressing a deficiency would be to assume too much. Unless hunger is seen as a deficiency addressed by eating.

Also use the hardest water you can let them drink (natural countryside well water is the best). Softened and filtered water removes most all the natural minerals in water and that is what they need. Natural Rainwater is high in mineral content.

Sorry, but this is quite incorrect. Clean rainwater is about as pure as it gets, containing only pollutants found in the atmosphere. Its easy to google-up, but rainwater is absolutely not high in mineral content. It is seen as the opposite. If you are talking rainwater that has seeped through the ground, cascaded down a stream, etc., then its not rainwater anymore. Chameleons aren't much for heading for the local watering hole anyway ! Chameleons are not creatures of drinking hard water either. All of that was bad info.

 

[Titan]

Jim, I have to respond to that. My real Job is a land developer. And we, through our projects test water on almost a weekly basis. So I have good connections to water testing labs. I'm going to do a survey of rainwater? I'll collect rainwater from several applications and have them tested. Im pretty sure you will be amazed at what is possibly in this so called pure rainwater!

I'll give you this, = as the water is evaporated and rising may be at its purest form, once it spends any amount of time from a couple feet of its evaporation point. Water collects anything it bumps into. Such as atmospheric dust. With in mind, is most allways floating dust particals that are mineral based. So before It makes it back to the earth it has picked up many substances. Especially to a Chameleon that has just drank it off the leaves of whatever plants the water is falling through. Therefore collecting more particals falling through the plants. You may be right Rain is pure. at some point. BUT my point was that pure rain is not what wild
Chams are drinking?
Also in my career, I deal with wildlife Biologists on a daily basis and I got to say animals do not eat dirt cause it tastes good to them! Also Ranchers put salt and mineral blocks out for there captive (restricted area) amimals to supply them with the needed minerals they cannot get through the feed or off a natural place on the lot.

I have to edit this in, In the wild Chams eat Bugs, right? most bugs feed on items containing minerals and then when ate into the Chams. Deficiencies are real and should not be ignored. Why is it Docters recomend and additional balance or minerals and vitamins daily? Cause most people, through bad eating habits, are not taking in the natural quantities of these!

Honestly googleing up info is not always the hard real facts of situations "in real life situations!!"

I can't test rain water from Africa, but I will do with what I get here High up in the COLORADO Rocky Mountains, where the air Up here is most likely not as contaminating as the rain found at lower elevations and other parts of the World!
I would put down, THAT an animal lacking in minerals will find it. And if you feel I need a statement from my Wildlife Biologists and Scientists I will supply that Info also, BUT that is common knowlage.

Its winter here, But when it starts raining I'll test and post my results, on a new thread at that time.

O' yea back to Reptomom, do me a favor vary the minerals given to your cham and get back with me if the Animals still wants to unnaturally eat bark and dirt, K
Mike

 

[Chameleon Company]

Well ......

I think that plenty of info already exists. This is from the February edition of an organization that describes itself as:

HarvestH2O.com “the online rainwater harvesting community”

Here’s a link: http://www.harvesth2o.com/rainwater_safe.shtml

..... Not so surprisingly there is a huge difference in hardness, calcium, and alkalinity between the well water and the rainwater. Well water typically drains from underground water tables and is normally stored in natural underground tanks; so it will slowly leach minerals and metals from the surrounding ground. Consequently, well water will generally have higher mineral and metal content depending on local soil conditions. In comparison, rain water will not have these issues, but may be adversely affected by local air pollution and debris in the rainwater catchment and conveyance areas (i.e. roof, gutters, downspouts, and pipes)......

There is more available.

As to the incidence of bark and dirt eating by chameleons, it has been documented for decades. I would be very cautious in labeling such behavior as “unnatural”, and then recommending husbandry changes. It’s the “if it ain't broke” thing.

Titan writes:
..... Also in my career, I deal with wildlife Biologists on a daily basis and I got to say animals do not eat dirt cause it tastes good to them! Also Ranchers put salt and mineral blocks out for their captive (restricted area) animals to supply them with the needed minerals they cannot get through the feed or off a natural place on the lot.

Not sure about the “taste” issue . I do not see anyone here debating the concept of supplementation in captive chameleon diets. Plenty of info available about that too !

My degree is also in Biology, and I've been working with chameleons since the 70's, extensively so for the last decade. Not that it matters though, but say “Hey” to them Wildlife Biologists for me !

 

[Chameleon Company]

Almost forgot ...

Arapahoe, Class of '73 !

For those not from Colorado, its a HS south of Denver.

 

[Titan]

I know well of Arapahoe High School, Honestly I stay out of the highly populated areas within this State as much as possible. That place over there is not the same as it was in the 70's.

As for unnatural eating of bark and dirt for decades, Be it unnatural or ordinary function. A million years of eating dirt by animals does not make it normal daily reasons for doing such. Deficiencies are understood and, addapted by animals, as ways to aquire whats missing within the "lets say normal daily diet of what is available at the time." If somthing is missing or deficient, is natural body function to find it and consume in ways that may not even be the most tastful at times. Veilds are known for eating plants also, why? Obviously there is somthing in this that causes them to do it spontaniously, as there body feels the desire for it. I have had Veilds for years and they do not always eat plants all the time. I also observed them eating plants right after a full stomach of insects. The reason? not cause they are still hungry, but needing the value of what it gains from the plant. Plants are full of vitamins and minerals & water(liquid). Veilds may possibly metabolize slightly differently from other Cham species, and require the liquid and value such a plant offers at that moment?

Besides all my Chameleons drink my good quality Colorado Mountain well water, and not one time in 14 years have I seen my Chams, Chewing bark or eating dirt. Aside from the leaf eating Veilds. & I have quite an impressive (HEALTHY) collection of many varied species. All thriving here and living happy healthy long lifespans.

And yes I will say hi to all our Biology comrads for ya!

 

[Chameleon Company]

Yes, it has changed. Good luck with all your critters