Safe Plants/Soil?

[AndyRew]

i have some plants around my house and i don't know if they're safe or not. Also i had this potting soil in the garage is it safe?

 

[AndyRew]

crap the uploading isnt working. Anybody know how to fix this?

 

[nightcrawler]

crap the uploading isnt working. Anybody know how to fix this?

Potting soil is ok, you just have to make sure the cham can not eat it.
Most people tend to use organic soil because they don't want to take any chances.
Check out the plant database (https://www.chameleonforums.com/plants/) and see if any of your plants are on there.

 

[AndyRew]

thats good i think i have Schefflera arboricola and Epipremnum aureum. the potting soil i have has nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in it. Are those toxic or bad to chams.

 

[DGray]

thats good i think i have Schefflera arboricola and Epipremnum aureum. the potting soil i have has nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in it. Are those toxic or bad to chams.

No, those are normal components of plant fertilizers. They're not dangerous in the small quantities present in soil.

But, after saying that, you should prevent the animals from eating the soil with screen barriers or rocks or something that prevents them from getting to it. I don't know all the species that eat soil, but I've had a calyptratus that did.

 

[FirstTimeChameleon]

Is it necessarily bad for the chameleon to eat the soil?

 

[pssh]

It can cause impaction which can lead to very expensive vet bills and possible death.

 

[FirstTimeChameleon]

Good point, but I thought that was only if there were stones and sticks in it?

Hmm. Why would chameleons eat soil if it was completely unnatural to do so?

 

[pssh]

It's mainly veileds that do it, but when a bug is running around on the soil anthang chameleon goes to catch it they can eat it. Over time the dirt builds up in the intestines and causes blockage.

 

[AndyRew]

are Bromeliads safe? im looking to have a few small hanging plants at the top of my cage. any other suggestions?

 

[biffle]

My ambilobe (bil) was aggressively eating miracle grow potting soil from my baby oak trees. He was munching on it directly not going after any visible bugs. I've removed the trees but am unsure why he wanted that soil so bad. This has me wondering if it's natural for them to eat a little soil for digestion/bacteria needs?

 

[SliK JiM]

I've read it somewhere that they think chameleons eat soil in search of nutrients they're missing. It's not bad if they only eat a small amount, but they can get carried away. I presume its because the soil and stuff we use to keep our plants alive is far more fertile than the stuff they're used to in the wild (where most of the good stuff is deep down) so they just gorge themselves on it. That's my idea anyway. It's probably wrong!

My guy used to do it quite a bit, so to stop him I covered the soil with moss (I use sphagnum as you can buy big bags for very little) and this has stopped him eating it. It also stops those annoying gnats and has helped my plants grow as the moss absorbs a lot of water and stops the roots being bogged down!

With regards to the bromeliad, it's fine:
"Common Names: Bromeliad, Silver Vase / Scientific Name: Aechmea fasciata
Toxic Principle: Non-toxic "
That's from a plant website I use to check mine out.