Male veiled chameleon eating moss, should I worry?

[Chameleon Tree]

Hi, I have an approximately 1 year 5 month old male veiled chameleon, who has a bad habit of eating moss in his enclosure. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about his health at all. If it helps to know, I feed him crickets that eat various citrus such as oranges and grapefruit, as well as moist vegetables like cucumber, and always has some orange cube. I also feed him giant mealworms occasionally.

Thanks for reading.

 

[CLP]

I can't say specifically if the moss is bad for him, but I believe it can cause impaction. The general recommendation is no substrate in the enclosure. A lot of people just use paper towel to line the bottom of the enclosure. Makes for a quick and easy clean up, and no worries about them eating something they shouldn't. I would suggest removing it and any other substrate you might have in there.

 

[Kate]

I would agree with CPL it is better without substrate for reasons above. I use reptile matting and Hoover it out every few weeks.

 

[Chameleon Tree]

Thanks for the reccomendation. I can't really remove all of it, since it's what his main climbing post is filled with, but I'll try to remove the majority of it from his cage.

 

[Kate]

Whatever you have left could you cover with large stones or rocks?

 

[DavidBuchan]

hello, welcome to the forum If it's the sphagnum often sold as reptile accessories it won't kill him but it is very acidic and not really good for him so best to remove as much as you can. If he likes eating foliage maybe stick in a Pothos for him. Here is a great all-round careshhet I recommend to all new people with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

 

[Chameleon Tree]

Yeah, he has a pothos. He eats that too

 

[DavidBuchan]

Well, as long his gutloading is good it shouldn't hurt him to eat a few leaves. If he doesn't have a dripper he might be eating leaves to get more water, but he probably would eat them anyway from the sound of him
I think your gutloading could be better though, the citrus isn't the best for him. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
If its Flukers orange cubes they are ok for getting moisture to the crickets but aren't really a great product. Something like Repashy Bug Burger or Cricket Crack is much better for him.
The best thing you can do is give him variety in feeders and gutloads - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html