Can I use a moss substrate?

[Google the Chameleon]

I am well aware of the huge impaction risk, but I was wondering if I could use live moss as a substrate. I cup feed my cham, and I do have a bottle of mineral oil for any time my cham could get impaction. Also the moss type I'm thinking about is not the loose moss (sphagnum moss.)
I would attach a pic of the moss, but I still have not found out how to attach a picture. If you want to see what it looks like look on this link,

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ivarium-products/-/live-sheet-terrarium-moss/

 

[twatts704]

First of all what type of chameleon are you talking about and what kind of cage? Age and is it a male or female? Are you using Moss to hold higher humidity or because you want the cage to look good? I would recommend against any substrate for obvious impaction reasons but also for sanitary reasons as well. I think the only time it would be viable would be in a nice small terrarium setup for maybe pygmy chameleons.

If it is just for looks you can easily follow some good guides and make a cage look really sharp looking while giving your cham the best environment it needs.

 

[Google the Chameleon]

Hi
Thanks for the response, it is a male veiled chameleon, and the moss was more for looks. I figure it would just be more sanitary, and easier to make the cage look really nice with plants and decorations.

 

[Video Master]

Just remember the rule of "The best kind of substrate is NO substrate at all."

 

[Kate]

I doubt very much if mineral oil would be a cure for all cases of impaction. I personally wouldn't take the risk.

 

[StreetMoggy]

I don't think the dirt from the moss would be an issue causing compaction, a sheet of that stuff should hold together pretty tightly. I would however, worry about the cham eating the actual green plant part of the moss, and as far as I've seen, there is no data weather moss is harmful or not. I don't think I would risk having a plant I wasn't 100% sure was edible.

 

[Carlton]

I don't think the dirt from the moss would be an issue causing compaction, a sheet of that stuff should hold together pretty tightly. I would however, worry about the cham eating the actual green plant part of the moss, and as far as I've seen, there is no data weather moss is harmful or not. I don't think I would risk having a plant I wasn't 100% sure was edible.

The live plants most of us use are fine for chams who might nibble on the leaves. Some chams do and some don't. I doubt a veiled is going to go down to the bottom of the cage to chew on moss. Live moss will need a LOT of bright light and pretty stable temps and humidity to establish itself so it may not work anyway. Regardless whether the cham itself gets down onto the moss or not, if you have loose feeders roaming the cage they can pick up fecal and bacterial matter from the moss and then your cham could get it from them.

Personally, I think a well designed cham cage with large healthy live plants in pots on a bare floor can look quite nice. If you have a glass cage bottom you could always tape a photo background of moss on the outside of the glass.

 

[Carlton]

I am well aware of the huge impaction risk, but I was wondering if I could use live moss as a substrate. I cup feed my cham, and I do have a bottle of mineral oil for any time my cham could get impaction. Also the moss type I'm thinking about is not the loose moss (sphagnum moss.)
I would attach a pic of the moss, but I still have not found out how to attach a picture. If you want to see what it looks like look on this link,

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ivarium-products/-/live-sheet-terrarium-moss/

Bad idea to count on mineral oil for impactions. It might work in a pinch, but it is not really that great for the cham. And, if you don't happen to detect it in time your cham could suffer bowel perforations and other traumatic injuries from moss spicules, prolapses, infections, and death. Prevent them...don't treat them.