Trying to eat a rock?
- Thread starter Matt1851
- Start date
ChromaChameleons
New Member
He may be trying to get at the soil below the rocks. He may be trying to acquire vitamins or minerals that are missing from his diet. He might be trying to ingest some grit to scrub parasites from his intestines and stomach.
Matt1851
New Member
hmm alright so im assuming its healthy for him to eat the soil?
PedroANDAshley
New Member
Well no I dont think so.
I did some reading up on impaction and loose substrates (like soil/sand/wood chips) will get wet and could cause impaction (blockage in the intestines and can be deadly) if eaten. Also, if you have those little moth rocks (the white ones) take them all out or just use soil w/o them in it.
Those can deff. cause impaction if a big one is consumed.
And trust me they do eat them (I found one in pedros poop).
I did some reading up on impaction and loose substrates (like soil/sand/wood chips) will get wet and could cause impaction (blockage in the intestines and can be deadly) if eaten. Also, if you have those little moth rocks (the white ones) take them all out or just use soil w/o them in it.
Those can deff. cause impaction if a big one is consumed.
And trust me they do eat them (I found one in pedros poop).
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
This is a big debate and for the longest time the prevailing advice was to not allow access to soil.
A lot of people will tell you not to let them eat soil due to possibility of intestinal impaction.
I am one of the people who allows all chameleons to have exposure to substrate, in fact all of my enclosures are fully planted.
The soil is organic, fertilizer, perlite and pesticide free.
In my experience, once they are allowed to eat soil if they want, the behavior does not last long. It is also more prevalent in young animals.
I have never had an animal with an impaction issue.
-Brad
A lot of people will tell you not to let them eat soil due to possibility of intestinal impaction.
I am one of the people who allows all chameleons to have exposure to substrate, in fact all of my enclosures are fully planted.
The soil is organic, fertilizer, perlite and pesticide free.
In my experience, once they are allowed to eat soil if they want, the behavior does not last long. It is also more prevalent in young animals.
I have never had an animal with an impaction issue.
-Brad
Matt1851
New Member
they are actually very big rocks probably about ttwo inches in length and in inch in width to give you an estimate. they are white but they are not moth rocks
PedroANDAshley
New Member
Well if he cant eat them now Im sure when he gets bigger he'll try again.
Ive seen a adult cham eat a really small mouse that big maybe bigger.
Like I said I found one in pedro's poop and I instantly removed them.
Id get the rocks out just to be safe. Because impaction can be deadly.
Its always better to be safe than sorry.
Ive seen a adult cham eat a really small mouse that big maybe bigger.
Like I said I found one in pedro's poop and I instantly removed them.
Id get the rocks out just to be safe. Because impaction can be deadly.
Its always better to be safe than sorry.
Matt1851
New Member
no seriously i think im good for a while, like these rocks are litterally way bigger than his head lol and if he could even get one in his mouth id like to see him swallow it
the only way i can see him eating one is when he is "fully" grown even then ill have a different plant in my bigger terrarium with bigger rocks to cover the soil
Melina
New Member
Hmmmmm i'm wondering since the rocks are white they might look shiny and almost wet in some lights. Our cham used to lick shiny things and it turned out she thought it was water catching the light. We let her lick water from a small teaspoon now and the behaviour has stopped so it seems to have satisfied her cravings!!!!
