Lining the bottom of the cage

[chambeg]

In my cage the light doesnt really reach the bottom because of all the branches live plant etc....anyways there is a lot of water collecting on the bottom. Would it be okay to line the bottom of the cage with paper towels, or will he eat them? Thank you!

 

[KirbyTheCham]

I have my cage lined with paper towels. It helps to keep the cage look clean and it's easier to see if the "feces" that reach down there look ok. Just make sure that you change it frequently before it gets moldy. Your Chameleon shouldn't eat it, however, if you notice they are then remove it.

 

[Swayne8998]

I use paper towels. They absorb a fair amount of moisture but it's best to change them every day to every other day. Make sure they never get soaked because it can leak through the bottom of the cage once it wears it down enough.

 

[AngieL]

If water is pooling at the bottom of your enclosure then you may have to improve your drainage. Stagnant water breeds bacteria and can be the cause of a respitory infection.

If you search the forum you can find some good drainage solutions

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

Is there a way you could catch most the water and have it screened off incase your cham decided to swim? Then empty it everyday or have it drain out. I use paper towels too makes for easy poo clean up and soaks up a lot of water.

 

[burnedrose]

I actually went to the art supply store and bought a huge pack of thin dense foam, like the type children use to cut out fun shapes. I line Kukui's cage with that with paper towels underneath. That way, the excess moisture is absorbed by the paper towels and the foam catches any poo or skin when he sheds. I change the paper towels rather regularly, depending on how moist they get. The foam is generally good for half a month to a month, depending on how gross they get.

Also, a real awesome tip, from me to you: Put olive oil in the corners of your cage to prevent bacteria build up. Olive oil is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and is safe for chameleon habitats. And since it's an oil, it will stick there until you clean it off. Really amazing. I used to have issues cleaning the corners of cages, but the olive oil made a huge difference.

 

[chambeg]

thank you all!