Substrates

[dondi13]

I know theres alof of subjects about them but is there any that helps with drainage... I use newspaper and i hate how it looks. Great too clean but also my viv has water in bottom alot that kills crickets... Am i over misting? (4 times a day for 20seconds) 20seconds dosent sound like alot but alot of water comes out in that time... Just like it to look better and be less water logged.. Also he seems to like to dig abit in the mug of plant... Any help?

 

[GrimCamel]

You can use substrate if you want but it's not that easy to maintain because a layer of soil will not do. Most people on the forum recommend to not use any substrate at all since its easier to clean etc. If you have a glass viv you could probably mist less as long as you keep the right humidity for your type of cham.
And don't let him dig. You should cover up the soil with rocks big enough so he cant eat them by mistake. Bare soil or substrate must be covered for the simple reason that your cham could eat some by mistake which can make them sick.
If you're still interested in having substrate in your enclosure i could give you some advise I wrote in another thread yesterday Not many users here on the forum have experience with substrate such as in the bioactive setups

 

[dondi13]

Yeah please, i just like to think he has enough water i dont use drippers just mister. You got link?

 

[GrimCamel]

Many here on the forum gonna suggest you leave the bottom bare for a good reason. Its easy to clean and with that amount of misting you do in that glass terrarium it would easy grow mold or overflood. With more work you could maintain a good substraited enclosure but its more complicated. I would recommend you to google articles on bioactive terrariums for advise IF you're prepared to do it.

The bottom gonna have to look something like this:
1. A drainage possibility. (Works as easy with a small cut in half plastic bottle at the corner. When its time to drain you just drain it like an aquarium with a hose. You don't want too much water pool up at the bottom as it may collect bacteria. Get rid of it as soon as possible.)
2. A thick layer hydrograins or rocks. I use hydrograins as they absorb water.
3. On top of that place a barrier membrane of cloth (not regular fabric) or mesh to separate this layer from the next
4. Plantarium soil. Easy to get at a petstore. Absorbs water MUCH better than regular soil that would easy grow mold
5. A cover layer. For this I would go for moss, big thick moss that stick together and wont fall apart if your cham would miss an insect and get the moss instead. I do not recommend to use bare soil of any kind if your chameleon would by chance eat some

It's a bit harder and you can't skip one of these steps and expect your enclosure to do just fine. Its therefore easier to go just without it
Good luck!

My English isn't the best but hope it helps!

 

[Carlton]

I know theres alof of subjects about them but is there any that helps with drainage... I use newspaper and i hate how it looks. Great too clean but also my viv has water in bottom alot that kills crickets... Am i over misting? (4 times a day for 20seconds) 20seconds dosent sound like alot but alot of water comes out in that time... Just like it to look better and be less water logged.. Also he seems to like to dig abit in the mug of plant... Any help?

We all struggle with the appearance and drainage and there are various ways to deal with it. There's a sticky message at the top of this forum with drainage ideas you can read. Having some misting water pool on the cage floor during the day isn't horrible, but you just want to sponge it up or remove soaked paper before it gets soiled with poop, stagnant/moldy. Just the nature of the beast. If your crickets are free ranging they will end up in the water eventually. You can avoid this by confining them in some sort of container with a screen bottom that doesn't sit on the cage floor.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/drainage-systems-for-cages-get-creative.102038/