Hydro balls in potted plants?

[Posey]

Just wondering if anyone has used hydro-balls in potted plants inside your cages. Or a combination of hydro balls and coconut husk instead of potting soil.
I am wondering if the plants could still survive and it seems it might be better for the chameleon since there wouldn't be potting soil in the cage for her to accidentally eat.

 

[mvad]

Just cover the soil with rocks. Any rocks big enough not to be injested will do.

 

[Scout]

Just wondering if anyone has used hydro-balls in potted plants inside your cages. Or a combination of hydro balls and coconut husk instead of potting soil.
I am wondering if the plants could still survive and it seems it might be better for the chameleon since there wouldn't be potting soil in the cage for her to accidentally eat.

Hydro balls are used for drainage.

You would not want to use one as a substrate, the hydro balls are fired clay balls that absorb extra water, they would essentially starve the plant of essential water.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Just wondering if anyone has used hydro-balls in potted plants inside your cages. Or a combination of hydro balls and coconut husk instead of potting soil.
I am wondering if the plants could still survive and it seems it might be better for the chameleon since there wouldn't be potting soil in the cage for her to accidentally eat.

Hydro balls are used in hydroponic gardening, so yes, you could pot it up in pure hydro balls assuming you can fertilize it enough with liquid fertilizer and keep the ball moist enough. They are small enough for a chameleon to eat, and might be ingested when he hits an insect and takes the insect and the hydroball into his mouth.

 

[brownie64]

I would have to agree I would only use hydro balls if I were using a substreight and needed the drainage. It's really mint to be used in conjunction with other media in a substreight.

 

[kinyonga]

Are they small enough to be ingested?

 

[chammy1234]

my cham just ate one what do I do

 

[chammy1234]

Hydro balls are used in hydroponic gardening, so yes, you could pot it up in pure hydro balls assuming you can fertilize it enough with liquid fertilizer and keep the ball moist enough. They are small enough for a chameleon to eat, and might be ingested when he hits an insect and takes the insect and the hydroball into his mouth.

my cham just ate one what do I do she's 5 months

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Coconut chips are also an ingestion risk.

If your chameleon ate one, hope it passes and if it doesn't within 3 days or you notice any change in the chameleon, seek a vet, ASAP and be prepared for it to require surgical removal.

 

[chammy1234]

Coconut chips are also an ingestion risk.

If your chameleon ate one, hope it passes and if it doesn't within 3 days or you notice any change in the chameleon, seek a vet, ASAP and be prepared for it to require surgical removal.

she threw it up lol