Grass Substrate?

[leo]

I was wondering if I could use grass as a substrate in a T. Cristatus cage? I know I would have to clean the bottom everyday in order to prevent bacteria. I was thinking of buying a roll of grass in home depot and placing in it in a bucket with soil and drain the bucket to prevent water building up. What do you think?

 

[laurie]

I have never tried it but it sounds like way to much work to keep clean and free of bacteria. Any special reason you want a substrate? What kind of cage are we talking? If it is a terrarium it might work. jmo

 

[YOSHI]

Ive just used plastic plants as my flooring, looks pretty impressive in my own settup so maybe worth a try to see whether it'll look smart in your own, alot easier to clean to

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

i wouldnt worry about bacteria all that much personally if i had the right ventilation and drainage. remember that cristatus loves long mistdowns and high humidity. if you can provide this properly in a screen cage or terrarium, than go for it.

if there was any risk though i would deffinatly just stick to potted plants, but dont get me wrong, i do love live planted vivs.

 

[leo]

The enclosure is a screened cage. I read that one can use peat moss or coco fiber as a substrate for this species which need high humidity. I thought of grass as a "more" naturalistic substrate. I was thinking of setting up some grass with potting soil and fertilizer in a tray and set it in the cage.

 

[laurie]

The enclosure is a screened cage. I read that one can use peat moss or coco fiber as a substrate for this species which need high humidity. I thought of grass as a "more" naturalistic substrate. I was thinking of setting up some grass with potting soil and fertilizer in a tray and set it in the cage.

peat moss, coco fiber both can be ingested and cause impaction. You should NEVER use fertilizer near a cham.jmo

 

[leo]

Ok, thank you. That's why I thought that grass would be better, I thought of having the grass already grown before setting inside the cage, not that I'm trying to grow it in the cage.