Ficus

[Courtney]

My chams have been introduced to a variety of veggies other than ficus leaves. how ever they seem to only enjoy the ficus. Am i not doing something right. tomorrow im off to find a lefy enough ficus to put in their cage. do i need to totally repot it. or can i continue bringing in freshly washed leaves from my ficus out back???

 

[pssh]

They dont need to eat veggies or greens at all. However live plants do benefit them and if you were to buy them any plant, it should be repotted in organic soil and wached with a mild soapy water and rinsed competely. Also large clean rocks should be placed on the soil so that the chameleons wont eat the soil.

 

[Courtney]

they are eateing the leaves alot to the point i dont think a plant would survive very long. i brought in a few perm branches with leaves on them i washed with a mild saop and rinsed well. the branches were loaded with leaves and well now there is only a quarter left. the leaves are bigger than their heads and i worry about choking....

 

[pssh]

Usually veileds eat plant matter to get moisture and vitamins. While some eat plants regularly, this sounds like too much.

 

[Courtney]

thats what i thought. they eat drink fine. granted i havent seen them drink in a few days how ever i have observed both drink from dripper before. their poop is normal no yellow or orange..i dunno i think ill pm chris

 

[jojackson]

Courtney, I see no harm in you providing fresh washed ficus leaves (on occasion) for your chams. Just beware you rinse/soak long enough to prevent that milky white sap running from the stem. Ficus sap is noted for its potential to cause dermal and eye irritation.

Due to limited in depth toxidity studies re: ficus sp and chameleons, it's probably best to limit your lizards ingestion, particularly if it seems especially keen on it. Certainly plant matter is not considered a vital diet component for veild chameleons.

 

[Courtney]

great answer. thats the onlyreason why i havent bought a real plant yet. im afraid they will gorge on ficus leaves and pothos as well. but a branch from a pothos plant in also and i saw them trying to pick at the baby leaves starting to come out. Good thing plastic isnt editable.

 

[jojackson]

Then make sure its tough durable plastic that cannot detach from the plant, I cant garantee your cham knows its not edible!

 

[Courtney]

i have always checked to make sure that anything that could be pulled off with a general amount of force such as a the animal in question may provide be pulled of before installed.

 

[jojackson]

Thats cool, just not everyone thinks of the most obvious things, hence my inclusion in the 'common responses' thread.
By the way, nice typing, you must be happy/calm.

 

[Pure]

Simple fix, Put Schefflera in there, they can eat till their hearts content.

 

[Courtney]

good to know...thanks alot!!!! happy halloween!!!!