What are these trees/plants?

[skully23]

I have a male veiled chameleon and wanted to get him some real trees/plants. I have three different kinds of trees/plants that I am looking at.

In the link are three different kinds of trees/plants.

1) What kind are they?
2) Are they safe?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44910169@N07/?saved=1


Thanks for posting

 

[jojothefirst]

top left 2 im sure are umbrella plants: https://www.chameleonforums.com/pla...browse=scientific&view=photo&order=compatible

 

[pssh]

Umbrella plants are perfect. Just make sure to repot them with organic fertilizer free soil and cover it with large river rocks so he can't eat any dirt. Wash off the leaves with soapy water too.

Don't know about the other one(s)?

 

[skully23]

Umbrella plants are perfect. Just make sure to repot them with organic fertilizer free soil and cover it with large river rocks so he can't eat any dirt. Wash off the leaves with soapy water too.

Don't know about the other one(s)?

soapy water?? Why and how often do I do that. explain more please?

Why do I need to cover dirt?

 

[pssh]

If the chameleon eats the dirt (which veileds are known to do) it can/will build up in his intestines and cause a blockage known as an impaction. Impactions usually cause a very very large vet bill or death to the chameleon.

You rinse it with soapy water just in case there is somehing gross on in. You also rise it with soapy water when you do a full cage cleaning every month (or even sooner if you clean more often) to wash away poop residue and stuff.

 

[skully23]

If the chameleon eats the dirt (which veileds are known to do) it can/will build up in his intestines and cause a blockage known as an impaction. Impactions usually cause a very very large vet bill or death to the chameleon.

You rinse it with soapy water just in case there is somehing gross on in. You also rise it with soapy water when you do a full cage cleaning every month (or even sooner if you clean more often) to wash away poop residue and stuff.

wont kill the plant to wash?

if I cover the dirt then do I need to switch the dirt?

 

[pssh]

Yes, the dirt it is in now may have fertilizers in it.

I use dawn soap and I use a clean sponge or wash cloth to soap up on the leaves, then I rinse it in the shower or outside depending on the weather. Soap has never killed my plants before!

 

[skully23]

Yes, the dirt it is in now may have fertilizers in it.

I use dawn soap and I use a clean sponge or wash cloth to soap up on the leaves, then I rinse it in the shower or outside depending on the weather. Soap has never killed my plants before!

If I screen/rock the dirt in then why do I need to change it? I have a plant right now that the dirt is not covered in anyway.

 

[pssh]

The dirt could have fertilizers in it. I already said that. The fertilizers go into the plant and if he eats the plant, well, he's eating the fertilizers.

You don't have to screen/put rocks there. I didn't used to, but then my chameleon became impacted. I was lucky that it didn't kill him though. Many chameleons have died from impaction and I don't think you want that to happen right?

 

[skully23]

How you know when they are impacted?

 

[pssh]

When they don't poop for a long time, get bloated, some get hind leg paralysis, and they just generally don't look good (eyes closed, weake grip, etc.) it's different with all chameleons and there may be more symptoms than that but that's what I've found to be most common.

Mine didn't poop for a long time, got slightly bloated, and his grip became weak especially in his hind legs. Took him to the vet and the vet we had taken him to was stupid and didn't do a dang thing! I ended upgiving him a tiny bit of mineral oil and he passed it (in my hand o.o) thank goodness, but he died a month later.

 

[skully23]

wow how many chameleons have you had?

The other plants, can they be used?

 

[dodolah]

there are two kinds of umbrella plants commonly sold.
One is Schefflera actinophylla.

And the other is Schefflera arboricola or dwarf umbrella plant

The common one used for chameleon enclosure is the latter one.

 

[skully23]

there are two kinds of umbrella plants commonly sold.
One is Schefflera actinophylla.

The common one used for chameleon enclosure is the latter one.

So this one is like my 5th and 6th picture? I can also use that??

The friend said that was also some kind of umbrella and now I'm thinking so.

 

[dodolah]

they are both umbrella plants.
I personally recommend against the use of actinophylla because it is listed toxic in http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-COM.htm.

But... they also listed pothos as toxic as well. And, I have used pothos in my chameleon's enclosure with no problems.
So, knowing that...
I would advise you to be extra cautious if you decided to put actinophylla in the enclosure. Take it away in the instant your chameleon start munching the leaves.
Of course, if you do not want to be a worrywart all the time, you can always use hibiscus rosa sinensis. Hibiscus is my favorite plant for chameleon. The leaves and the flowers are edible and contain vitamin C as an added bonus for your chameleon.

 

[skully23]

they are both umbrella plants.
I personally recommend against the use of actinophylla because it is listed toxic in http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-COM.htm.

But... they also listed pothos as toxic as well. And, I have used pothos in my chameleon's enclosure with no problems.
So, knowing that...
I would advise you to be extra cautious if you decided to put actinophylla in the enclosure. Take it away in the instant your chameleon start munching the leaves.
Of course, if you do not want to be a worrywart all the time, you can always use hibiscus rosa sinensis. Hibiscus is my favorite plant for chameleon. The leaves and the flowers are edible and contain vitamin C as an added bonus for your chameleon.

So the first umbrella I showed you will be fine? I have one potho in my enclosure and he loves being around it and occasionally eating it.

 

[dodolah]

if you have a chameleon who loves munching leaves.. then, I would advise you to take out the pothos. So far, none of my chameleon (with the exception of my veiled) ever munch leaves.

 

[skully23]

if you have a chameleon who loves munching leaves.. then, I would advise you to take out the pothos. So far, none of my chameleon (with the exception of my veiled) ever munch leaves.

He has eaten atleast two of the leaves since december 5th which I got him dec. 4th. Everyone keeps telling me to use this then someone tells me to take it away. I just want something to stay and be safe instead of wasting money.

What should I do then?

 

[Montium]

they are both umbrella plants.
I personally recommend against the use of actinophylla because it is listed toxic in http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/PoisPlant/Tox-COM.htm.

But... they also listed pothos as toxic as well. And, I have used pothos in my chameleon's enclosure with no problems.
So, knowing that...
I would advise you to be extra cautious if you decided to put actinophylla in the enclosure. Take it away in the instant your chameleon start munching the leaves.
Of course, if you do not want to be a worrywart all the time, you can always use hibiscus rosa sinensis. Hibiscus is my favorite plant for chameleon. The leaves and the flowers are edible and contain vitamin C as an added bonus for your chameleon.

He has eaten atleast two of the leaves since december 5th which I got him dec. 4th. Everyone keeps telling me to use this then someone tells me to take it away. I just want something to stay and be safe instead of wasting money.

What should I do then?

I think the green answered that question

 

[dodolah]

He has eaten atleast two of the leaves since december 5th which I got him dec. 4th. Everyone keeps telling me to use this then someone tells me to take it away. I just want something to stay and be safe instead of wasting money.

What should I do then?

Pothos contains crystal oxallates that blocked calcium absorption.
again, I have used pothos with great success.. but, that is also due to the fact that my panthers have never obsessively munched the leaves.

Use your best judgment. If he start eating them too much, it is best to take them out of the enclosure. but, if he doesn't, then the pothos can stay.
Same thing goes for umbrella plants.

If you want a safe plant, go with hibiscus. He can gobble the whole leaves and the flowers if he wants to.