Living plants and advice for substrates

[Bearyeah]

Hello!

So im making my viv ready for my juvenile panther. Went to the plant store where i live (Sweden) and he told me that basicly all natural substrates have to be steamed or cleaned very thuroughly before i put them in my viv because parasites and such might be still in there. Since i have no experience what so ever on doing this i thought it might be smart to order some green mosshttp://exo-terra.com/en/products/forest_moss.php or something similar.

Do you guys recommend any specific substrate or any other material i can use?

The light setup im using atm is 2x24W T5 http://imazo.se/Servlet?page=11&anr=220.0610&parent=sL4&parent_lev=svmk10&itemcount=0
And 160W uva/b baskinglight http://imazo.se/Servlet?page=11&anr=220.1812&parent=sL6&parent_lev=svmk10&itemcount=0
Feel free to comment and please tell me if there's any concerns with my current setup

 

[camimom]

We dont recommned any substrate at all in a chameleon cage.

Unless you mean the dirt you will plant your plants in.

If you are talkiing about somethiong to put on the bottom of the cage.. nothing.

if a cham ingests it, they can become impacted.

green tab at the top. resources.. safe plants list.

 

[Bearyeah]

We dont recommned any substrate at all in a chameleon cage.

Unless you mean the dirt you will plant your plants in.

If you are talkiing about somethiong to put on the bottom of the cage.. nothing.

if a cham ingests it, they can become impacted.

green tab at the top. resources.. safe plants list.

Thanks for the info!
I was thinking it might help keep the humidity up a bit.. But as you say, it might be unecessary.

 

[frankiie]

i would always use kitchen towel its so easy to clean i have never had any problems with it

 

[laurie]

I just drill a few holes in the heavy plastic bottom that comes with the cage, and put a pan under it to drain. It is a lot easier to wipe up a cage every day if there is nothing on the floor. The live plants will help with humidity, more plants equals more humidity and if it gets a bit low wrap one or two sides of the cage with plastic to hold humidity.

 

[Bearyeah]

i would always use kitchen towel its so easy to clean i have never had any problems with it

I just drill a few holes in the heavy plastic bottom that comes with the cage, and put a pan under it to drain. It is a lot easier to wipe up a cage every day if there is nothing on the floor. The live plants will help with humidity, more plants equals more humidity and if it gets a bit low wrap one or two sides of the cage with plastic to hold humidity.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Solid Snake]

Instead of covering with rocks, I use moss, small ferns, grass, glover, and whatever micro foliage I can find growing around my place. Rocks works, Ive used rocks, but I like the foliage better

 

[Action Jackson]

Can you tell us what kind of "viv" you are using? Is it glass or screen?

Most people in the US use screen cages although there are some who keep the more uncommon and often smaller species in glass terrariums with great success. In Europe it seems glass enclosures are the preferred method for keeping Chameleons.

 

[Bearyeah]

Instead of covering with rocks, I use moss, small ferns, grass, glover, and whatever micro foliage I can find growing around my place. Rocks works, Ive used rocks, but I like the foliage better

I was hoping to do the same. Pick my own moss and plant it in my viv. But after som research i've done i found out that it can contain parasites and unhealthy insects... Wich sucks because it contains moisture really good and it looks great. What's your experience with insects and parasites? Is it uncommon for chameleons to get infested?

Can you tell us what kind of "viv" you are using? Is it glass or screen?

Most people in the US use screen cages although there are some who keep the more uncommon and often smaller species in glass terrariums with great success. In Europe it seems glass enclosures are the preferred method for keeping Chameleons.

I live in Sweden and the air is really dry here. I don't think anyone here uses screen cages.

I recently purchased an Exo Terra 24” x 18” x 36”. I hope this will be sufficient for my 3months old juvenile. I plan on making a bigger and better viv as he grows out of the old one.

 

[EvilLost]

@Bearyeah: are you familiar with the dart frog forums ? since you are using a glass setup, many of their techniques will apply to you (google "dendroboard")

I would not use outside materials into your viv unless it is disinfected first. Most froggers will not even reuse the same tank without first disinfecting it. You can disinfect most plants by dipping them in a 10-15% bleach solution for 1-5 minutes. NOTE: This seems to KILL mosses, but works with all other plants as far as I know.

If your plants are "burning" your bleach solution is likely too strong or you are dipping too long.


Alternatively, you can buy from a local user (dendroboard is mostly USA, but some EU users...I'm sure there are EU froggers as the community is big). Most "good" users will grow clean plants and sell cheaper than stores


EDIT: If you plan to plant the entire bottom of the tank, the best "instant" substrate is "ABG MIX" from Atlanta Botanical Gardens. But this is in USA....you can make your own by getting mix of fine coco coir, coco husks, ground WOOD charcoal (all natural), and a various mix of aerating goods...the best, but most annoying to get, is clay pieces. I know some users simply break clay pots into tiny pieces, others bake their own tiny clay pellets....but must be very determined Lots of info on long-term substrates at dendroboards.

I personally use a drainage layer (2" of hydroton/LECA/gravel, but gravel is heavy) and then topped with a 2:2:1 mix of coco coir (fine): coco husks : finely ground wood charcoal <----for my planted tanks

As others have mentioned, since chams can have problems eating their soil its a good idea to cover it with various items. Mood moss works fine, but I'm not a huge fan of it as there are TONS of amazing plant choices

 

[JackP308]

i walk through the woods and collect moss, bugs, bamboo, lichen covered sticks and branches all day.


I use leca balls hydroton clay balls what ever you like to call them as a layer of drainage couple inches. Then use something like coco fiber coir few inches packed down.

 

[Bearyeah]

@Bearyeah: are you familiar with the dart frog forums ? since you are using a glass setup, many of their techniques will apply to you (google "dendroboard")

I would not use outside materials into your viv unless it is disinfected first. Most froggers will not even reuse the same tank without first disinfecting it. You can disinfect most plants by dipping them in a 10-15% bleach solution for 1-5 minutes. NOTE: This seems to KILL mosses, but works with all other plants as far as I know.

If your plants are "burning" your bleach solution is likely too strong or you are dipping too long.


Alternatively, you can buy from a local user (dendroboard is mostly USA, but some EU users...I'm sure there are EU froggers as the community is big). Most "good" users will grow clean plants and sell cheaper than stores

EDIT: If you plan to plant the entire bottom of the tank, the best "instant" substrate is "ABG MIX" from Atlanta Botanical Gardens. But this is in USA....you can make your own by getting mix of fine coco coir, coco husks, ground WOOD charcoal (all natural), and a various mix of aerating goods...the best, but most annoying to get, is clay pieces. I know some users simply break clay pots into tiny pieces, others bake their own tiny clay pellets....but must be very determined Lots of info on long-term substrates at dendroboards.

I personally use a drainage layer (2" of hydroton/LECA/gravel, but gravel is heavy) and then topped with a 2:2:1 mix of coco coir (fine): coco husks : finely ground wood charcoal <----for my planted tanks

As others have mentioned, since chams can have problems eating their soil its a good idea to cover it with various items. Mood moss works fine, but I'm not a huge fan of it as there are TONS of amazing plant choices

Lots of great advice! thanks! Will definitely check it out and see what typ of solutions i could imply into my viv.

I could somewhat understand which things you use in your tank, but some are unheard of to me I am determined to get my viv up and running before i make my cham purchase ofc!

i walk through the woods and collect moss, bugs, bamboo, lichen covered sticks and branches all day.


I use leca balls hydroton clay balls what ever you like to call them as a layer of drainage couple inches. Then use something like coco fiber coir few inches packed down.

Good advice, thanks!

Have you had any parasites/insects issues from your outdoor collecting?

 

[ben7ani]

I use orgasnic compost with great success for my live plants... if your chameleon is a baby or juvenile though dont use substrate.

Adults can handle swallowing small ammounts, but still, swallowing none is better than swalling a little bit.

I guess its down the personally pref, if you want your live plants to thrive then use organic compost.

I have had my cham in the viv for 3 years and havent needed to clean anything apart from the glass and occasional spot clean if needed. The viv takes care of itself with the springtails and tropical woodlice invovled.