Cham eating substrate

[Dagreek]

My Cham eats 2-3 silkworms then will eat 2 licks of substrate which is made of coconut fibers. Is there an solution to this? I have crickets in the cage as well incase he just wasn't interested solely in silkworms.

 

[kinyonga]

I would take the substrate out and check your supplements, what you are feeding the chameleon and the insects. Is it a veiled?

 

[Dagreek]

Its a veiled and I have silkworms and crickets inside.

 

[kinyonga]

What supplements are you using specifically and how often for each? What do you feed/gutload the insects with? If it's not missing something in its diet then it might be eating the substrate because it tastes like it should be eaten. Some substrates can lead to impaction or prolapse so we usually recommend no substrate be used.

 

[Psychobunny]

Yes, there is a solution, get rid of the substrate
Chams (and esp veiled chams) will eat it, which can cause complications.

 

[SilverWolf]

Mine did this, but it wasn't substrate, it was soil of a plant. In my case though, he did this because his food wasn't gut loaded properly. But yes, you don't need substrate, just get rid of it, I'd say.

 

[junglefries]

Bad owner Just remove any substate and all will be well. If you must look at something, Lowes sells self adhesive backed 18"x18" hard linoleum like flooring with designs. There are even some with rock designs.

 

[LoganJ]

maybe he think its a chocloate desert

 

[Rango3d]

Gut load the crickets with coconut and banana. After several days he will stop. I had some eat soil from the plants before.
Coconut and banana did the trick for me.

 

[Kntonoff]

Get Eco-Carpet. Its not that expensive, and it lasts a really long time. All you have to do is wash any feces off and let it dry. I've had mine for almost 2 months now and it still looks good as new. I would definitely take it into consideration. My chameleon likes it a lot better than substrate. My brothers Cham, died from eating substrate. You can find eco-carpet at pretty much any pet store near you.

 

[Dagreek]

Get Eco-Carpet. Its not that expensive, and it lasts a really long time. All you have to do is wash any feces off and let it dry. I've had mine for almost 2 months now and it still looks good as new. I would definitely take it into consideration. My chameleon likes it a lot better than substrate. My brothers Cham, died from eating substrate. You can find eco-carpet at pretty much any pet store near you.

I can't find any my size.

 

[Canadianforever]

I can't find any my size.

go to a home renovation store (home depot, home hardware, rona, ect) and get a piece of really short green carpet there are some that are exactly like the mat he is talking about

 

[Kntonoff]

You will most likely have to purchase it and then use scissors, and cut it to fit your tank. I think they come in 3 sizes (Large, Medium, and Small) I have the medium one but I had to cut edges off here and there to fit my tank.

 

[xephyr17]

As far as live plants go, cover the dirt with river rocks or mesh so he can't get to it.

I haven't been able to cover up the whole area with river rocks but he's uninterested in the dirt since I got the rocks there and put a pothos in his enclosure.

I have a Veiled