Pachypodium

[Microthrix]

I really want to get a chameleon, but have not gotten one yet ... i want to make sure it stays alive too, so im making sure what goes in its cage when i get the chameleon is safe for it to taste ... so is pachypodium safe for chameleons to eat? Or is the sap poisonous?

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Don't those have sharp spikes????

 

[PantherEnvy]

There is not any chameleon in the world that has kevlar skin to withstand the spikes on this plant.

Click on our Resources tab above, then click on live plants for a database of safe plants for our chams.

 

[Microthrix]

Hmm ... so no pachypodium ... what about peperomia? Ill take a good look at that plant list too.

 

[Kmw]

http://www.flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp

 

[Carlton]

I really want to get a chameleon, but have not gotten one yet ... i want to make sure it stays alive too, so im making sure what goes in its cage when i get the chameleon is safe for it to taste ... so is pachypodium safe for chameleons to eat? Or is the sap poisonous?

I have several Pachypodium species, but would NOT use any of them in a cham cage. First, they want it dry, very warm temps, intense lighting to do well. Also, they want soil that is super fast-draining and that dries out fast. The humid air of a cham cage won't permit this. Most pachys don't have super sharp spines, but most species are poisonous as are Adeniums and many Euphorbias. Frankly I wouldn't risk damage to such a valuable, slow growing succulent either. The couple I have that are large enough to look great in a cage setup are worth more than the cham itself! Peperomias same concerns. There are so many more suitable plants out there why put a succulent in a habitat it won't be happy in? I know it's tempting to put Malagasy plants together with Malagasy chams, but they really do come from very different habitats.

 

[Carlton]

Hmm ... so no pachypodium ... what about peperomia? Ill take a good look at that plant list too.

I doubt you'll find these plants listed, so just look up Pachypodium and Peperomia directly. Check Adeniums too.

 

[Carlton]

There is not any chameleon in the world that has kevlar skin to withstand the spikes on this plant.

Click on our Resources tab above, then click on live plants for a database of safe plants for our chams.

Some of the other Malagasy "spiny forest" plants (Alluaudia makes me shudder!) would make Pachys look wimpy, and there are chams in these habitats (Oustaleti and verrucosus). Amazingly, they do OK and the thorns protect them from predators.