Best "Tree" for Veiled Basking & Soaking

[LaserGecko]

Hi everyone,

A bit confused here, maybe it's all the melamine dust.

I need to get a tree to use for my veiled to sun-n-soak. All of our trees outside are either thorny or in the shade, so they're not suitable. I keep seeing pictures of ficus benjamina in all kinds of enclosures, including veileds. Now, I've never seen her eat any of the umbrella plant, but since they can eat vegetation, I'm a bit leery of it.

Of course, there's always the ease of a fake plant, but well...impaction and all.

What to do? This wouldn't be in her enclosure at all. It would just be used for showering and sunning.

...not that I can find a freaking ficus benjamina in Vegas, anyway for under $100.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

TIA!

 

[Will Hayward]

Ficus Benjamina is not a plant that will do well when moved inside, and then out or to any change in lighting. The leaves grow accustomed to a particular type and strength of light, and when it changes, the developed leaves will drop off, and new leaves will start to grow, each time the plant is moved. This makes it difficult for the plants natural growth, and uses it's energy on surviving, rather than thriving.

Large, well developed Shefflera species would do well for you. It responds better to showering, changes in light, and study in many temperatures. The leaves also cup and collect water during showers.

POTHOS ----------------------------------------------------------------------SHEFFLERA

 

[LaserGecko]

Thanks, Will. I thought I'd read about their leaves dropping when the light changed, but then I also thought I'd read about people doing just this, too.

BTW, beautiful picture there! I think something like that is in my future.

 

[Will Hayward]

Thankyou. I'm sure I had a photo of another shower setup I had. I have two 6' tall sheffleras that work great in the shower. Alas Im unable to find them at the moment. Next time.

Anyways, Sheffleras are great plants, as are vining pothos in their own design.

 

[Dankmeleon]

my chams seem to only eat herbivourous things when its hungry, my deduction, is to keep my cham fed well, less feeding more often to keep plant consumption to a minimal

 

[Will Hayward]

Dank, That's one way of thinking of it. However, without research we wont know if vegitation and consumption of fruits provides lacking nutrients that may provide an extra edge for them. It is well known that they will survive and seemingly thrive on insects alone, but we don't know the potential for a diet that includes plant matter that they would be exposed to in the wild.

Remember in the wild, chameleons probably rarely "have their fill" in insects, providing them more opportunities to consume plant matter. Also remember that captive veileds are often obese.

Just some thoughts.

 

[davemailcall]

I have one of the plants on the right. I bought it about two months ago. In that time its been mainly indoors. With the misting and lighting just from being in the cage it has grown nearly a foot. Pretty amazing how big it gets from so little resources. Very good plant for cham climbing too.

 

[Jerm]

You may want to try a hibiscus, they can take full sun. They are also not poisonous and reptiles seem to like to eat the flowers that they produce. They usually come in tree form and bush form. I wouldn't keep it inside for extended periods of time though, the do better with natural sunlight. As for ficus, the ficus benjamina not only lose leaves, but if a branch gets broken it secretes a white sticky substance that can get into a chameleons eyes. I have used them without issues in the past, but I prefer ficus alii. Alii seems to be less sensitive to change in environment. It has elongated leaves similar to a peach tree.

 

[LaserGecko]

I have a schefflera in there now, along with a dracaena and a pothos. I'm going to rig the pothos up to the top of the cage so I can get rid of the fake leaves.

The shefflera isn't stout enough to support her right now. I've never seen her actually trying to climb it since she's always on the vines. They're cheap enough that I think I will just buy one of the bigger ones from the nursery and possibly integrate a piece of wood into the pot.

The nursery near my house hasn't had many hibiscus plants lately, so I think I will check another store.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Will Hayward]

Take a bendi-wire vine and wrap it around one stem at soil level, move to the next stem over and loop it around that one, repeat, repeat, each time rising slightly forming a spiral. Voila, now you have a sturdy plant.

 

[SierraNevada]

That's a beautiful chameleon.

 

[PardalisGirl]

Shower Trees......

Great shower shots Will. Most inspiring Pothos is a great plant. Easy to find and they do great in a trellised arrangement. I buy the coated pot trellis forms (coated ones don't rust) and stick them in pots and wind the pothos around it. They last a long time, are not fussy plants and provide excellent water drinking opportunities. My chams like to sleep inside the trellis form at night. I need to put one in the shower. I like the way your pictures show the "fake" jungle vine winding up and around. It's good in damp situations and sturdy

 

[Ladyhpm]

hello

just wondering..... Will could u mesg me, i am new with chams and have some question's and ur so close to where i live Hamilton, thanks Joy