Can I use bark at the bottom?

[m1ndless]

I know typically using substrates is a bad idea, but what about large (1-2") pieces of bark at the bottom? It looks boring just having glass at the bottom, and I would like to use some bark I have (Orchid Bark from Petsmart) they are way to big to ever fit in a chams mouth, they look like half dollar pieces if not bigger.

Is this okay or no?

If not, can I use fake grass at the bottom? Like the turf stuff they use on putting greens and such?

 

[dodolah]

i still say no.
the risk and the hassle needed to clean the cage outweigh the benefit of having substrate.

 

[m1ndless]

That is true, I did not think about the hassle of cleaning.

What about the thin fake grass? Its like really short, I don't know what it is called, but I have some in my garage, like 12ft of it so I can just cut out a new piece each week and replace?

 

[Justin Carl]

put more plant in. i am sure you cham would appreciate it.
plus think of the positive effects of having more foliage.

 

[m1ndless]

I am getting him at 2-3 months old, he has a 12" plant and a smaller 6" plant right now, I will add more as he gets bigger.

 

[hanna145fancy]

I suggest no substrate. Even that is too small, you would be suprised what they can fit into their mouth! Also, even though most of the peices are that big, there will always be a few that were broken or cut too small and these could really do some damage!!If you really must use some kind of substrate I would use reptile carpet. Buy 2 and then while your washing one, use the other!

Fake grass or turf would need watering and you wouldnt be able to take it out to clean it, it would get REALLY annoying!

 

[Julirs]

I may have missed something, but why is there glass at the bottom?

 

[m1ndless]

I may have missed something, but why is there glass at the bottom?

I am rasing the baby in a glass tank until he is big enough for a screened enclosure.

As for the fake grass, I have ALOT of it, so I would replace it every week or so, I have enough to do at least a year probably.

 

[Julirs]

Oh-OK. You can use fake grass, but papertowels are so much easier! Fake grass seems like it would be a little rough.

 

[Treetop Chameleons]

i would have to say no as well i just would not risk it. pluss cleaning is so much quicker with nothing on the bottom of the cage.

 

[Will Hayward]

Mindless, it will be a lot of agravation for no benifit other than your own pleasure in creating an asthetic cage. Feeders will hide in the fake grass, eat it, etc, etc. Instead concentrate on simple effective cage additions.

For young chameleons in a glass tank you'll want to mist plenty, but also wipe and dry the bottom just as often.

 

[m1ndless]

Thanks for the advice, ill just suck it up, its only for a few months anyways!

I am going to order him anyday now, I just need to work out when I can be home to accept the delivery.

 

[Will Hayward]

Suck it up... as in do more work than the already overwhelming amount a new chameleon is for the first time keeper by using likely problematic fake grass anyways, or suck it up as in you will opt for the more logical tested route and pass on unnecessary aesthetics?

 

[m1ndless]

Suck it up and deal with the glass, not use the fake grass. Lol