pottypad substrate?!

[Roni013]

So a friend of mine told me they use puppy potty pads for thier bearded dragon and they are great and I should use them for my new pygmy cham I'm expecting. Wouldnt the smell they put in those things bother them, I'm suspicious of thier advise but I was wondering what other people thought.

 

[xoiceox]

No Very bad Idea, there are chemicals in those pads to prevent smelling and to breakdown urine. God forbid ur cham decides to try and eat the pad, only bad things could result.

 

[Kat77]

Definitely do not use those things. Pygmys need a nice lush terrarium. Those potty pads are chemically treated.

 

[Justin Carl]

Looks like you need someone to elaborate on what the two others before posted.

Pygmy chameleons are for the most part a ground dwelling species.
Yes they will venture a few feet up into the trees, but spend the most part of their life exploring on the forest floor.
Pygmy chameleons are one of the few species that can be kept in a glass aquarium.
The two people normally use is a normal aquarium like this one:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-pygmy-enclosure-11889/

Or a stand up ExoTerra like this one:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-pygmy-enclosure-12091/

One of the best articles for setting up a pygmy enclosure can be found here;
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=63

Really the only thing I would not use in my enclosure would be the cork.
Just remember, chameleons arent cheap!
I built a cage like the one in the article above and it still cost me 100 dollars.

Make sure you dont short cut anything either.
From the botom up:

Hydroton- It can be found here: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ng-vivarium-products/-/hydroton-clay-pebbles/
If you read the article above it tells you what hydroton is for.
It absorbs the excess water from mistings.

Screen- Seperates layers

Charcoal- Dont use the kind for grilling. Go to a garden place and pick up a bag.
This is for filtering the water before it reaches they hdroton.

Screen- Sperates layers

I use a mix of cocofiber, sand, and a very small amount of dirt.
I like to toss it in a 5 gallon bucket when I mix it together.
If you use a lot of dirt or topsoil you end up with a mud pit, so you need to be careful.

Next add all of your plants.
I use low light plants like; dwarf umbrella plants, pothos, and ferns.

Last will be you bark, small twigs, biovine, and leaves.
If you pull anything from the outside make sure you bake it.
The twigs, barks, leaves, etc can carry mold/mildew and bacteria.

Have fun with your pygmy cage because you can make it very appealing to eye.

 

[Roni013]

thats why I need you guys, my friends come up some crazy and probably pretty dumb ideas. Thanks for setting the record straight.

 

[opihiman]

Hydroton- It can be found here: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ng-vivarium-products/-/hydroton-clay-pebbles/
If you read the article above it tells you what hydroton is for.
It absorbs the excess water from mistings.

.

Sorry I don't know any thing, but I found something Justin recommended very interesting.

Hydroton- since it is absorbant do you have to worry about bacteria and the like....I have Jackson and have been misting them enough to create a small lake for the chams in their cage...let alone the water will leak out. I bought a small tub to keep the water where it should be, but if this will help out more that will be great.

On a side note...I was just thinking. I don't have the waterproof pads in the cage but the cage sits on top of the pad...just keeps the mess in one place more...

Thanks

OPI

 

[mczoo]

OPI

pygmy and other chams such as jacksons are quite different i would keep the standard bare bottom (for Jacksonni)

S

 

[Kat77]

Wait, you would keep a bare enclosure bottom for pygmys? I don't think that is how most pygmy enclosures are set up....at all...

 

[opihiman]

I think I understand...the other stuff that was suggested was great...but I was just saying that if you wanted to set you cage on a water proof pad that might work....what you do in the cage is a different story.

OPI