eating dirt..good or bad?

[l0u1ss]

Ive read a few different ideas on this. Ive read its part of their natural diet and its not really harmful and Ive also read that it should be avoided. Im asking now because today I saw my panther chameleon eat some organic soil I have in one of his potted plants. Im leaning toward getting some river rocks on it to prevent this from happening again, just wondering what you guys think.

 

[jurjenfromholland]

i have it with my veiled to...
Peeps say they do it for better digesting..
and even some say lack of vitamins...
like dogss eat grass..
now i have a coral sand bottom substrate
and dindt see him do it anymore

 

[camimom]

Some say its normal others say its there way of getting minerals that they lack.

the problem can be that they can get impacted.

you need to cover your drt with large rocks they cant put in their mouths.

 

[Ninkylou]

I have a dirt eater...He is bound and determined to nibble some dirt every morning. I have covered it, added rocks, you name it...he moves rocks, worms his way under the covering...I have even chastised him to no avail. I swear its like his morning coffee...So far I have seen no ill effects. He poops well, he eats the same diet with the same supplementation as my other panther who is NOT a dirt eater.

I still do my best to discourage it and not make it easy but I have decided that I am not going to kill myself over it.