Using a Planter for an Enclosure?

[DanSB]

I was wandering around the garden center at my local home depot and noticed some large square terracotta, wood, and plastic planters that a typical Zoo Med screen cage would slide right into after removing the plastic bottom part.

Is there any reason it would be a bad idea to set up a planter with Eco earth covering expanded clay to keep the drainage going, plant it up really well and seed heavily with springtails?

I would think this would allow for healthier plants, the fecal matter would just absorb in and be fertilizer while the springtails could take care of any fungus or other nasties that might decide to propagate. In addition there should be a huge boost to the humidity where that is a problem.

The other benefit I can envision would be that it would be easy to plant up a few planters around the house and just move the enclosure to a new planter if the old one gets dirty or infected with something.

Is there anything particularly bad about this anyone can think of outside of the fact it isn't conventional?

Thanks!

 

[Lizardlover]

There is nothing wrong with this at all, however eco-earth would provide little nourishment for your plants so I would recommend using organic potting soil instead.

 

[millsamus]

Substrate of any kind is not recommended for chameleons, they may ingest it and this can be problematic. If any substrate, use rocks over top of the soil, as long as the chameleon can NOT get them in there mouth while attempting to eat!

 

[Lizardlover]

Substrate of any kind is not recommended for chameleons, they may ingest it and this can be problematic. If any substrate, use rocks over top of the soil, as long as the chameleon can NOT get them in there mouth while attempting to eat!

Can you provide me of an instance in which a chameleon has died from consuming soil? Or any evidence that they do not have access to soil in the wild? You are correct substrate is not recommended in some cases, but only when it may harbor harmful bacteria, usually this only occurs with barks, mulches and cage carpets (in this case there will be springtails/isopods) or when it is in the form of larger objects (such as bark or mulch). There is absolutely nothing wrong with using soil as a substrate when it is properly executed, and the OP seems to know what they're doing. There is a stigma with using substrate but the only time it is truly problematic is when it can be consumed and not digested (barks or mulches) or is unsanitary (cage carpet, barks or mulches).

 

[DanSB]

The only reason I was thinking Eco Earth is that it would pose little to no danger if consumed but I suppose you're right in that a good organic soil would be perfectly safe as well.

I know barks mulch and rocks that can fit in the mouth can be really bad for frogs and have personally lost a frog who ate a piece of bark with a cricket so I see no reason to risk it with a chameleon.

My thinking is that this type of set up might have multiple advantages over the standard potted plant set up most are using. If done correctly I suspect it my be less likely to harbor disease, bacteria, fungus etc and be a lot less maintenance all while providing better humidity levels.

At the very least I'm not sure it sounds worse at this point...

 

[EvilLost]

I would think the fact that the sides are all enclosed could cause issues. In my experiences my chameleons like to sit up high and hidden...being in a container where all sides are enclosed would simulate a cave or near-ground setting more imho....

maybe as a temp setup for babies it might work though, but I wouldn't permanently house a chameleon in an enclosed setup like that


EDIT: You can do a simple test. Set up the tank, put your chameleon in it, and watch what he does. My prediction is that he would continuously try to climb up and be on the screen or trying to go "up" more...

 

[DanSB]

I would think the fact that the sides are all enclosed could cause issues. In my experiences my chameleons like to sit up high and hidden...being in a container where all sides are enclosed would simulate a cave or near-ground setting more imho....

maybe as a temp setup for babies it might work though, but I wouldn't permanently house a chameleon in an enclosed setup like that


EDIT: You can do a simple test. Set up the tank, put your chameleon in it, and watch what he does. My prediction is that he would continuously try to climb up and be on the screen or trying to go "up" more...

It seems there was a slight misunderstanding. I wouldn't keep any animal in what amounts to a wood box (Except maybe feeder bugs). I was thinking of using the planter as a base filled to the top with soil and heavily planted and put a normal screen enclosure on top. I got the idea when I noticed the planters were 16 x 16, 18 x 18, and 24 x 24 all the popular sizes for Zoo Meds Repti Breeze line.

I take that back, some nocturnal and ground dwelling creatures may enjoy the security of a solid wall enclosure... but definitely not a Chameleon!

 

[EvilLost]

oh in that case, yes it should work perfectly fine....


but where would you drain it? I don't imagine the wooden planters are waterproof and the planters have holes right? and if it doesn't have a hole then I'd imagine the drainage layer would fill up pretty fast due to the amount of watering we do


This is basically just using 1 giant planter instead of several smaller ones I think

 

[DanSB]

I think the indoor planters are waterproof with drain holes on the bottom, if there wasn't a drain hole it would be easy enough to drill one. A standard plant drain pan should work fine or maybe a Rubbermaid storage bin under it?

Okay so the water draining will require a little logistic work...

After I finish a few other projects I think I might give this a shot.