So I have read that using dirt, sand, etc. is bad for the chameleon because it may ingest it when it eats a cricket off the floor. I was thinking about making a terrarium with a 4 inch thick dirt floor and then growing grass over the dirt. Then planting collard greens, mustard greens, and pathos in the cage. (of course I am going to load it up with pleanty of limbs) Does this sound like a good idea? If not that would peat moss work as the flooring?
Substrate question
- Thread starter sequoia
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Sang
New Member
this to me is not such a horrible idea as the grass would create padding, BUT it would be rediculously time consuming to get and nuture grass to the proper size.
make sure its a non toxic grass, i think there are a few that exist out there. and also consider the maintaince of keeping grass, making sure its cut, doesn't over grow. also tall grass attracts mites.
make sure its a non toxic grass, i think there are a few that exist out there. and also consider the maintaince of keeping grass, making sure its cut, doesn't over grow. also tall grass attracts mites.
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wheresstimpy
New Member
and i kind of wonder how hard it would be to clean poop off of, astro turf stuff would be a good alternative
I wouldn't mind maintaining the grass to proper height. In fact; I was thinking to develop a good ecosystem. If there is the grass and earth the Cham's excretion should re-enter the soil thus creating a sort of fertilization process for the surrounding flora. I think it is a practical idea; I just wanted other's opinions before I did it. What I was thinking for the ecosystem basically start off with a gravel base then about an inch of sand then four inches of dirt with grown grass which replicates a natural media for plant life. Then in the corners plant the mustard and collard greens with some hibiscus, pathos, and maybe a bonzi ficus. I believe this should work quite well, I mean if I were to live in one environment for the rest of my life. I would want fresh air, earth, and vegetation I figured he/she would want the same. What do you think?
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BocaJan
New Member
I think that the best you can do for your cham is to keep the floor bare except perhaps for some paper towels, a plant or two in pots (don't forget to clean them well and replant in soil without fertilizer or those little white styrofoam thingies) and some sticks/branches to crawl on. Mine also have some fake stuff thrown in so they have plenty of places to crawl.
Any kind of substrate is a harbinger for bacteria/mold and bad things for your cham because it will stay a wet environment. There is shed, cricket legs, poop, urate and who knows what else that falls to the bottom. I end up cleaning mine about 3 times a week and having a bare bottom makes it easier to clean.
Any kind of substrate is a harbinger for bacteria/mold and bad things for your cham because it will stay a wet environment. There is shed, cricket legs, poop, urate and who knows what else that falls to the bottom. I end up cleaning mine about 3 times a week and having a bare bottom makes it easier to clean.
Sang
New Member
*mold specialist here, i am actually certified mold technician*..
mold won't grow as long as there is good amount of air turbulence, it prefers dark, warm spots with no agitation, usually wall cavities and under the sinks in cabinets.
bacteria however and mildew is a different story. soil will hold in some mildew smell and then there is the issue of wet soil all the time.. drainage would be a real pain.
as i said, i would be more worried about parasites using the grass as a new home to hurt your cham.
mold won't grow as long as there is good amount of air turbulence, it prefers dark, warm spots with no agitation, usually wall cavities and under the sinks in cabinets.
bacteria however and mildew is a different story. soil will hold in some mildew smell and then there is the issue of wet soil all the time.. drainage would be a real pain.
as i said, i would be more worried about parasites using the grass as a new home to hurt your cham.
Wouldn't there be a possibility of bacteria growing anyways? With live plants growing in pots, it's still almost the same media as my idea. I had an emperor scorpion living in this same environment and she enjoyed it quite well, I did not see any issues with her. I misted her cage regularly and did not see any mold growing. Although she was an invertebrate and a Cham is a vertebrate. Obviously bacteria is always a factor I think it's impossible to avoid.
Maybe I can use somthing like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-ARTIFICIAL-AQUARIUM-GRASS-MATS-25CM-X-25-CM-PLANTS_W0QQitemZ310087310615QQihZ021QQcategoryZ20757QQcmdZViewItem I just found that on e bay
kenya
Avid Member
I disagree- I grew rye grass (you can get it at your local hardware store) in my savannah monitors tank and it grew FAST. It is hard to kill, needs pretty much no light (grass grows white under logs and water bowls), no fertilizer (mine was in just EcoEarth) and gets HUGE. I ended up ripping it all out because it got too tall and would grow over two inches a day so I was constantly trying to trim it with scissors (that was painful, considering his tank is a 40 gallon solid built acrylic with very small holes for getting in)
It looked awesome but is too much maintenance. I would not do it- it is a horrible risk for your chameleon and in the wild, they are usually at least 20 feet off the ground so the forest floor is not something they think about and rarely come in contact with. Also, if you want to get technical, where chams are in the wild does not have any grass- grass is for GRASSLANDS, not jungle. The bottom of the rainforest is rich mulch, rotting leaves, branches, tree trunks, ferns etc.
Your idea is good and I see why you want to do it, but it is not for a chameleon at all. Try it with a different lizard.
kenya
Avid Member
Those fake grass mats look horrible, are impossible to clean, are very sharp and will do little other than hide prey from your cham, trap poop and grow bacteria. God forbid your cham fall on it or even try to walk on it. The "grass" is tall, pointy and unyielding.
