Norfolk pine Ok?

[Angela Poleto]

Hello. I am new to keeping chameleons. I have two Mellers. I bought them at a reptile show. The guy gave me all the wrong directions! I had them in a 100 gal tank! Now I have built a free range. I am unable to get any good trees in my area this time of year and had to resort to a Norfolk pine. Is this ok for them until spring? Will the needles hurt them? The ones on the branches are kinda soft but the trunk of the tree has some sharp ones. I also am having trouble feeding them. I have hung bins with crickets for them and they are not taking to them. Any suggestions? It has been three or four days since they ate.( since placed in free range) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[haleybobl]

I would be more concerned about the sap from the tree personally. I would get online and purchase some plants. Here is a link for some ficus. http://chameleonsonly.com/plants.htm

How large of an area are they kept free range? Are they even aware of the container that your crickets are in?

 

[Julirs]

I would say no pine of any kind. I too would worry about the sap. And the needles causing skin irritation.

 

[Angela Poleto]

Thanks for all the help. I'll look for other plants!

 

[Angela Poleto]

Good news! One of the chameleons ate 5 crickets from my hand. Maybe the other will soon! I am still offering the bin of crickets. Hopefully they will eat from it.

 

[Chameleon Company]

Angela,

If unable to find a better plant right now, you could also go with artificial plants/garlands and some dead branches, dowel, etc. They create hide areas, provide drinking surfaces, etc, well enough. Wal-Mart always has a pretty thorough selection. Good luck.

 

[kaity]

I read ona list of "safe Cham Plants" that the Norfolk pine was OK, however it seemed unapealing to me... I mean if I was a Chameleon I would not want to be climbing on one of thoes....


I have three Chameleons, and two would only eat from my hands... when I first brought them home. I thinks its stressful being in a new invorment and they just don't want to go hunting...until they have been exploring for a while.

This seemed too work well for me when getting my Chams to start eating. I would remove the antennas and one back leg from my crickets, so that they could not really run away from my chams but would move like they where alive... then after them starting for long enough with the cricket right in front of them they started eating.

but once they crickets got away they put no effort in chaseing... this still really don't much

 

[Angela Poleto]

I am still working on the area. Generally, I would have done this before I purchased the animals, but I was misinformed and had them in a tank. I did find a cheflera but It's barely big enough for the two. I didn't think fake trees were ok. I will purchase one to get me through until spring when local greenhouses have some trees. As far as feeding. Thanks for all the suggestions. I did get one to eat a little from my hand yesterday. I tried today and she won't. The male will not eat from my hand or the cricket bin I have hanging from the tree. The bin is 14 inches deep. Maybe too deep? I didn't want the crickets loose in the house. I guess I could get something less deep and do as suggested and rip the back legs off. I will keep trying. Thanks again!

 

[Grizz]

I would say no pine of any kind. I too would worry about the sap. And the needles causing skin irritation.

i would agree with Julirs

 

[Shaner]

I would be worried about the needles poking them in the eye and causing eye trauma more than skin irratation, I would not suggest pines.

As for the free range enclosure, do you have them in the same enclosure? If they are still babies that is fine but if they are more than 3 months old I would separate them, may be stressing each other out.