Male veiled wont stop eating dirt

[kobe24]

Hey guys i have two live plants in my enclosure now and my veiled, which is 6 months old seems to always go down to the bottom of the plant and get a mouthful of dirt. He eats it like its a bug or something.
He has stopped eating crickets and will only eat mealy worms but even after i feed him he still goes to the bottom and tries to eat the dirt, why is he doing this?

 

[blackened]

I'm not sure exactly why, but it is advised that you put some large pebbles on top of the soil. The pebbles must be too large for him to eat and need to be cleaned and baked before use to remove anything nasty from them.

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

Can you cover the dirt with big rocks? Another member in a similar thread posted that this could mean they're missing something nutritionally... I'm just not quite sure what though

 

[Ulrich]

It is common they do that. Not sure if they do this for digestion or for lacking some nutrians. Mine do that too once in a while. Usually more so when they just arrived. As long as the soil is organic without nitrates in it, I would not bother too much. Try not to give too many mealworms.

 

[kobe24]

I covered the top of the soil with paper towels so he cant get at it. He seems like he isnt doing that good. He kinda just is at the top of the cage right by the light not really moving. Thanks for the reply

 

[kobe24]

Thanks for the reply, he wont be eating dirt anymore.

 

[kobe24]

Ya i have seen other ppl having problems with them eating dirt and I did just get him about a week ago so hopefully everything is good. Thanks

 

[cloverthechameleon]

Does the dirt have perlite in it, those little white ball things I've found my chams attracted to those

 

[kobe24]

I don't think but he even ate the substrate I first had in at the bottom of the cage. Thanks for the reply.