Why does my veiled chameleon do this?

[yojon3000]

This has been happening since maybe last week Im guessing but he always walks to the pothos and he sits at the edge of the pot and shoots his tongue and sometimes gets some soil. Theres no bugs in there when i see where hes looking theres nothing has this happened to anyone

 

[lisagr07]

He's eating dirt, mine will do the same thing. You need to put some stones over the dirt so that he can't eat it. Make sure to use stones large enough that he can consume them, don't use pebbles. He may still get a little but shouldn't be able to zap a lot of it.

 

[yojon3000]

so is it normal?

 

[Kmw]

Normal or not it's not good for them.

 

[PREACHAP]

yes its normal why IDK stones like stated prior need to be put in there. I did all of my plants today. replanted my purple passions and stoned them too. its for their protection

 

[lisagr07]

so is it normal?

Yeah, some just have a taste for dirt. It can be harmful because if they eat enough they can get impacted or if the dirt has fertilizer in it it can cause other issues, possibly death...

 

[HolyToledo]

My vet said that they may be attracted to some minerals that may be in the dirt or sand.

My male veiled was obsessed with the sand in the female's laying bin and did his damnedest to get a tongueful every chance he could (when I was cleaning it). Doc told me that a little bit on rare occasions doesn't hurt as long as there is nothing too big and chunky or too much of it.

So, every month or so I did allow a bit of cleaned and baked dry sand. I would put just a tiny bit in a feeder cup and show it to him and he would zero in on it immediately. Then I would move it away and make him go over and get it for himself. Didn't matter how sick he was, it might take him awhile to get there but he would work until he did and then get huffy that I took it away even though the cup was practically empty.

 

[reptilover]

My male veiled liked it so much I had to PILE rocks in my pots or his poo was 60% sand/dirt.. finally a week ago he's sand free!... I was very worried..

 

[AllFallDown]

How weird! What a coincidence. Lately my veiled has been doing the same thing I have walked in a few times and he is just starring into the soil his plants are potted in. I thought it was off but assumed he was looking for bugs.

 

[Slug]

Looks like I need to get some rocks for my cage now.

 

[HolyToledo]

Try taking a scoop of the dirt and spread it out on a white/light color surface. Watch very closely with a magnifying glass if you have one. Chances are there are some little gnatty type critters living in the dirt. Especially if you have fruit-flies, etc. anywhere around. I was shocked at how many there were when I really looked even awhile after I started with organic soil that I rinsed and then baked dry.

Even if no bitty critters, some of them like dirt.

I hope some of our resident vets join on this thread and share their input.

I have always been curious because of Twister's reaction when would see the laying bucket. One time he managed to get over to the bucket when it was cleaned out and drying and the sand was baking. That was one of the few times he ever gaped and puffed up at me LOL! He was so disappointed there was no sand in there and sat close by (almost 6 hours) until I gave in and gave him a bit!

 

[Wykd]

yeah you could have gnats and not know it unless you stir the soil. Some stay down at soil level not all fly around willy nilly. My wife taught me that years ago with house plants.

Also you can use coconut liner instead of rocks to cover the soil. It will drain into the soil but nothing for the cham to get on with his tongue.