ReptileGirl111
New Member
Hello, I was wondering how is the proper way to take care of a living ficus? and why are the leaves turning black??
Ficus
- Thread starter ReptileGirl111
- Start date
pohchunyee
Avid Member
you might just burn the leaves due to the heating bulb.
ReptileGirl111
New Member
No, I dont have the basking light on at all his cage is already 100degrees.
ReptileGirl111
New Member
I water it every 4 days.
Kent67
Retired Moderator
From what I've been told, ficus needs to reaaaaally dry out fully before you water again or they lose their leaves. I can't keep them alive indoors for very long regardless. The ficus I have in my outdoor cages have soil that stays wet constantly and they do fine. Go figure 
And, um...100 degrees with no heat lamp? Details?
And, um...100 degrees with no heat lamp? Details?
ReptileGirl111
New Member
Because I live in the desert.
I too live in the desert of california. I have not taken my baby veiled cham outside because our daily average temperature is over 100. I just ordered a small mesh hanging enclsure for him to go out for an hour or so on the weekends when I can keep an eye on the temp. I figure he can go out in the morning, before the temp hits 90. After that, it would fry him !!!
ChromaChameleons
New Member
How long has your ficus been in its present location??
Most ficus will drop all their leaves and generate new ones when their lightening environment is changed. The new leaves will be optimised to recieve the new level of light provided.
Most ficus will drop all their leaves and generate new ones when their lightening environment is changed. The new leaves will be optimised to recieve the new level of light provided.
ReptileGirl111
New Member
Yeah I live in so cal and average temp where I am is 105*F. But it cost too much money to run air cooler and stuff so my house is like 100*F
I would be more worried about the temp than the ficus. Is the ficus getting enough light? Is there proper air circulation? Is it drying out before it gets watered again? Maybe buy one of those 10W Grow Bulbs and clamp it right next to the ficus. Those bulbs give off very very low heat at 10W. Could even be that its too hot for the ficus to be indoors.
Chameleon Company
Avid Member
Ficus are notoriously finicky if kept inside or in low humidity conditions. Here in Florida they are difficult to kill, farther north frequent to shock and die. If this one doesn't make it, try something like a shefflera. They are less fargile in your environment. Good luck.
DkRhodes
New Member
HomeGirl, At-least put a fan blowing on your cham, and I'd be misting a lil
more often then others because at that heat level i would assume your cham
would be thirsty more often.I would be
ReptileGirl111
New Member
I actually already have a fan going on him during the day which luckily, the cage got down to 92*F today. Woot.
Dankmeleon
New Member
HomeGirl, At-least put a fan blowing on your cham, and I'd be misting a lil
more often then others because at that heat level i would assume your cham
would be thirsty more often.I would be
putting a fan on your chameleon doesn't seem like such a great idea to me, seems like that would dry him out, your better off creating a lush landscape in and around his cage given him a cool zone to hide in, don't be scare to hit him briefly with the hose* about once an hour in that heat to keep the temps down and his zone wet
Last edited:
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
Isn't hitting him with the house a little extreme?
I'm just kidding....that's actually a very good suggestion but I doubt if the
owner in question will listen.
-Brad
I'm just kidding....that's actually a very good suggestion but I doubt if the
owner in question will listen.
-Brad
Dankmeleon
New Member
hahahahahaha no it sucks there are beez and hornets everywhere
