Dirt!!

[Psychobunny]

While watching my Yemen cham roam arond the house after being let out, he
went to the sunny window sil to soak up some rays.
I saw him eating some dirt on the sil! I told hime that was bad dirt! LOL
and got a pinch of good soil from a potted ficus, and put it on the sil.

He ate all of it!!

Since he has no real plants in his cage, hence no dirt, I am wondering if this
is something they actually NEED to have!!??

Does anyone know?

 

[twatts704]

I would highly suggest not feeding your cham dirt.. the answer is no they don't need it and by providing it for him to eat he has a chance of becoming impacted

 

[Hoj]

I think to say a definate NO they do not need it is a misguided statement. I beleive there must be something lacking in their system/diet that creates the need to eat dirt ( low iron possibly )
I do however believe that large ammounts could lead to impaction problems and as such am carfull not to allow any one to consume too much of it.
The way you gave him some may be the best way, at least you know where it is from and exactly how much was consumed.

 

[Psychobunny]

I agree, there must be a need for it or he would not be bothered.

He will only eat a small pinch and walk away, so its not enough to
really worry about, and its too small to cause impaction.
I just thought someone might know why!?

I know some reptiles do eat sand to help with digestion (in spite of the
fact that they dont have gizzards!!). In fact, there is always a argument
in the leopard gecko hobby about weather you should provide a small dish
of grit, and places do sell grit made for them.

Just a thought

 

[AngieL]

I agree with hoj, all the times I've read about this it's because the chameleon is lacking something in its diet and is trying to compensate by eating dirt, the same way geckos eat sand or calcium powder to regulate.

Whats your sup schedule and what does your multivitamin contain? Also what are you gutloading your bugs with?

 

[Psychobunny]

I gutload my cricks and roaches with Cricket Crack (for dry food) and I make
them "cricket salad", which is chopped greens, veggies and fruit, plus I give them Repashy Bug Burger.

I dust cricks and roaches with Repashy Calcium plus about 3 times a week and my cham gets to eat fresh greens (kale, collard, chard) and he likes blueberries, strawberries and grapes.

I dont think he should be lacking in anything!?

P.S. after typing all this, I just realized that my chams eat healthier then I do!! LOL

 

[xanthoman]

While watching my Yemen cham roam arond the house after being let out, he
went to the sunny window sil to soak up some rays.
I saw him eating some dirt on the sil! I told hime that was bad dirt! LOL
and got a pinch of good soil from a potted ficus, and put it on the sil.

He ate all of it!!

Since he has no real plants in his cage, hence no dirt, I am wondering if this
is something they actually NEED to have!!??

Does anyone know?

microscopically speaking, there is no such thing as good dirt. at least not in cham terms.

please see post #129 of this thread.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/rescue-jack50n-trying-bring-him-back-life-help-87118/

eating dirt is often thought to be a sign of some sort of mineral deficiency, which makes sense,
but i dont know of any science that actually implies that. jmo

 

[AngieL]

I gutload my cricks and roaches with Cricket Crack (for dry food) and I make
them "cricket salad", which is chopped greens, veggies and fruit, plus I give them Repashy Bug Burger.

I dust cricks and roaches with Repashy Calcium plus about 3 times a week and my cham gets to eat fresh greens (kale, collard, chard) and he likes blueberries, strawberries and grapes.

I dont think he should be lacking in anything!?

P.S. after typing all this, I just realized that my chams eat healthier then I do!! LOL

I get you, Teal'c and the bugs eat better than we do too!

Are you using kale a lot? It contains high levels of oxalic acids. Oxalic acid binds the absorption of calcium.

 

[Psychobunny]

Yeah, I know about the oxalic acid thing, I use a different green with every
batch of cricket salad, which is made fresh twice a week.
I use chard, kale, mustard greens, collards, romain.

All the leafy greens have oxalic acid (I think??) so I just buy whatever looks
good in the store.
Sometimes I make the cricket salad w/o greens and use veggies, like green beans.
Doesnt collards have even higher level of oxalic acid?

What is the best leafy green to use every day?

P.S. since I am paranoid about pesticides, I try to buy organic, but I always wash the
veggies and then let them soak in a large bowl of water for a few hours before I use them.

 

[AngieL]

Yeah, I know about the oxalic acid thing, I use a different green with every
batch of cricket salad, which is made fresh twice a week.
I use chard, kale, mustard greens, collards, romain.

All the leafy greens have oxalic acid (I think??) so I just buy whatever looks
good in the store.
Sometimes I make the cricket salad w/o greens and use veggies, like green beans.
Doesnt collards have even higher level of oxalic acid?

What is the best leafy green to use every day?

P.S. since I am paranoid about pesticides, I try to buy organic, but I always wash the
veggies and then let them soak in a large bowl of water for a few hours before I use them.

No collards are not higher in oxalic acid. Some good greens are chicory, dandelion leaves, water cress and green beans are good too.

 

[AngieL]

And you can grow your own cress and dandelion quite easily so no pesticides to worry about

 

[Kate]

Dandelions grow free in abundance in my garden.lol

 

[justjumpit621]

I know clay is a good source of minerals, so maybe they are looking to eat clay when they eat dirt? I have heard of many animals eating it in the wild. OR, maybe he is just hungry How many feeders does he get?