Eating Soil?

[jman10350]

Hey i cant really talk now cause i gtg to school but i just noticed my panther chameleon eating the soil in his plants. I freaked out and pushed him away from it. What is happening?!?!? Is this a health problem????

 

[Pilotman800]

This is normal. Every now and then everyones chameleon will try to eat the soil. As long as there aren't any fertilizers it should be okay. Its kind of like when a dog eats grass. However, if you don't want him to do it, you can always put river rocks on the soil. Just make sure its not big enough for him to swallow.

 

[jman10350]

ok thanks i had no clue they do this haha

 

[camimom]

Do not allow your cham to do this. If he eats enough of it, he can become impacted which will require a vet visit to correct.
as Pilotman said, put large river rocks on the dirt to prevent this.
Side note- i also hope you have no substrate in the cage as well.

 

[jman10350]

Ok i will do that right now... The only substrate is the potting soil that the plants are in i dont have anything else. Thanks

 

[camimom]

Ok i will do that right now... The only substrate is the potting soil that the plants are in i dont have anything else. Thanks

Great! then you are all set. no worries then.

 

[NORChameleons]

I would like to reply that this is not a normal behaviour.
I am not the type to give you a final conclusion on this matter, but the answer closest to the truth is a lack of minerals. Try increasing the amount of mineral/vitamins given to your chameleon, or change the brand. Personally I use the Miner-All Indoor from Sticky Toungue Farms with great success.
I had a few insidents way back with a chameleon eating dirt when I used a different blend from T-Rex.
The same often goes for panthers eating foliage, wich is not a behaviour that often occors in wild panthers.