Ficus: Harming Chameleon's Eyes?

[holmesese]

My wife told me the other day that she read several articles about chameleons that listed that ficus was bad for them because it could cause eye infections (http://www.a1reptiles.net/VeiledChameleonCare.html). I have a ficus plant for my chameleon and have had no troubles. Has anyone here had any problems with ficus?

 

[nateboston78]

The ficus can irritate eye if the sap gets on it, but the chance of this is small. Most cham's aren't abrasive enough to damage the plant to the point where sap seeps out and can cause harm. You are more likely to break branches and leaves yourself.

That being said, yes a ficus is safe ..... and yes the sap can in theory irritate the eyes. BUT the chances are slim and pretty much everyone uses a ficus in the Chameleon circle without fear.

Nate

 

[RachelRiot]

Mine loves to eat the Ficus. Should I be extra cautious about having the ficus? She really seems to enjoy it.

 

[nateboston78]

The leaves are edible according to anapsid. But the sap can cause eye irritation. Take that information as you will.

 

[RachelRiot]

The leaves are edible according to anapsid. But the sap can cause eye irritation. Take that information as you will.

Ya, that was what I had gathered too. I guess if I do see that it is a potential problem I will just have to rotate my plants more.

We bought two pretty big plants (ficus and schefflera) to rotate in her enclosure.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

My wife told me the other day that she read several articles about chameleons that listed that ficus was bad for them because it could cause eye infections (http://www.a1reptiles.net/VeiledChameleonCare.html). I have a ficus plant for my chameleon and have had no troubles. Has anyone here had any problems with ficus?

I have only heard of this being a problem with Panthers.

-Brad

 

[Chameleon Company]

Madagascar ficus

I am not a botanist, and cannot relate the differences from one ficus to the next, but there are over 40 species of ficus native to Madagascar (I think, maybe its only 30, maybe 50) although I do not believe the exact ones most common in the U.S. (such as benjamini , forgive me but I am doing this from memory) are in that 40 (or 30 or 50).

My impression of the ficus-eye thing is that it is an old wive's tale, as where eye problems (or symptoms) are common, and so are ficus, and someone with a keyboard decided it was cause-and-effect years ago. We have used ficus for many years, as well as non-ficus. Never seen a variation in eye problems where ficus could even be remotely indicated as the causitive agent.

Good luck.

 

[RachelRiot]

Thank you.

 

[nateboston78]

The point here is YES FICUS IS SAFE. Just watch out for milky sap, if you see it, clean it. Just be cautious of the milky sap that seeps if a branch is broken. The toxicity of the sap from Ficus Benjamina is documented in the "Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants" (http://www.springer.com/life+sci/plant+sciences/book/978-0-387-31268-2).

"Also known as weeping fig, benjamin tree, or small-leaved rubber plants, all ficus have milky sap in their leaves and stems that is toxic. There are about 800 species of ficus trees, shrubs and vines (Ficus benjamina is shown), many of which are cultivated indoors in pots and tubs and outdoors in warm areas where some varieties can grow to up to 75 feet tall. The worst that will happen is your skin will itch and puff up and your doctor will give you something for the allergy or the inflammation."

Additionally, ficus benjamina is also documented here as causing a reaction in the bird circle:

http://www.birdboard.com/forum/budgerigars/20854-fica-tree-bad-budgie.html

Nate

 

[holmesese]

I think I will continue to use it.... seems to not have been a problem for anyone else

 

[BocaJan]

I have ficus in my habitats. In fact, I put one in the last cage and the first thing my veiled did was to race over and take a big bite to test it out I guess. She approves!

 

[Chameleon Company]

Many of the toxic plant lists are based on research with mammals and birds, as noted. Too often they end up in lizard websites as 'toxic plant lists". While caution should always be exercised with whatever information is available, most of us who are familiar with those lists have also observed many herbivorous species of lizards, to include such as veileds, readily chow on the toxic stuff. At the same time, most of us who have ever pruned ficus know of the skin irritating qualities of the milky sap.