Substrate or no?

[brownie64]

I am not so sure why everyone is against substrate when apparently moist towels are fine? Moist towels are a sponge for bacterial growth whereas a properly executed substrate will have a microbiome that will break down poop within a few days. The issue is in the formula....any old 'soil' will simply not do. You must use something along the lines of the ABG Mix (Atlanta Botanical Gardens) which has proper ratios of necessary ingredients. Think of substrate as a 'recipe'. You also want 'probiotics' for your soil, such as tropical woodlice and springtails. The most important thing is the top layer - put a decent layer of leaves (magnolia, oak, catappa (indian almond)).....the leaves will act as a barrier between your chameleon's tongue and the soil. Everyone is afraid of impaction but it's such a simple thing to avoid. Chameleons live in jungles which have.......substrate...covered in leaf litter...

If you are still afraid of substrate, just add more plants. Your cage now looks extremely basic. Try adding some trellis along the back with pothos climbing up, add 2-3 plants in one pot. (each plant does not require its own individual pot). Try fixing a piece of bamboo 1/3 from the top, to hang a hanging basket on, again this can have 2-3 types of plants growing out of it.

As plants respirate, they will increase and keep a stable humidity.

Couldn't agree more a substrate done right in my opinion is way closer to their natural habitat especially if we are talking about a montane species. I have used them for more than twenty years without any ill effects. Not saying that other ways are wrong just saying there is more than one way to skin the cat here.