eating sand

[RSGriff]

I use to have my plant pots covered in stones that I thought were large enough until I found a poo with a small stone in it. Not wanting this to happen again, I removed all the stones and re covered the soil with sand I had left over from making a laying bin for my female. since I replaced it, his poo has been very sandy and I have witnessed him eating sand.

Is eating sand or soil a sign of anything. I realize that they sometimes eat dirt for minerals/nutrients but I am dusting with the normal 3 supplements (cal, cal+d3 and a vitamin sup.).

should I be concerned?

 

[panthercham]

You could try covering the sand and base of the pots with those bigger flat river stones that he cant ingest as they are too large. Try the smooth river bed rocks that you can get from places like Home Depot, Walmart etc. The fact he is passing sand shows he is eating it and though its passing through doesnt mean it may not lead to impaction if it doesnt all come out and he continues the habit.

What is your watering/misting schedule like? Could he be slightly dehydrated and looking for other sources of water?

 

[Bio123]

Leaving or topping the pots with organic soil is fine too.

 

[whitespyder]

you could cover the pot of the plant with fiber glass screening, that way you can still give your plant water but the cham wont eat any dirt.
lucky that your cham is a male and your dirt can be covered, mines female and she constantly eats sand from her laying bin and i havent been able to stop her!