Substrate

[sandrachameleon]

baby's tears grows in a mat like moss, and is completely edible so even if they change their mind it wouldnt be a problem

^ good suggestion.
dandelion is another option

 

[Mike Fisher]

I've been using fully planted cages for the last 30 years or so....I always hear I'm doing it all wrong.<shrug>

The photo shows part of my setup before placing basking branches and chameleons inside them. This is what they look like when first set up or after they get freshened up. They start out kind of sparse, but every four to six months I have to prune/propagate because the plants go wild.

The bottoms have a small hole for drainage, then the hydroton goes in, then the plastic landscape fabric, then a potting soil fills 2/3, then topped off with a 50/50 sand peat moss mix.

My cham area smells like a forest.

 

[brownie64]

It really helps on species with high humidity needs

Right. Basically substrates are a risk and take a huge amount of attention to work well. There's really no need for one either. If you have a setup for a terrestrial herp it may be worth it, but not for a cham. Maybe you could pot some of your plants together in larger pots or small oblong planters instead? You could still cover the soil surfaces with larger river rocks or screen to keep feeders and tongues out.

I have Jacksons, and they need 60-80% humidity at all times. I have used a planet substrate for over 16 years without any problems. I put small stones on the bottom, and the soil on the top of that. I leave a hole in the back in case it does get too much water thin I can suck it out with a wet vac, but this rarely if ever happens only if I forget to stop the dripper. I cover the soil with baby tears, and pump air along the substrate to keep the air from becoming stagnant, and causing mold. This air also pushes the humidity up into the screened area. I agree some think it is harder than no substrate, but in some cases I would have to disagree there are some times where the benefits outweigh the cons especially if you live in a cold climate where it gets really dry in the winter. And in my opinion if you're willing to take the time to make it work I do think it benefits the well being of the cham. I have had some veiled's live for over 9 years. But this is what works for me might not work for everyone. Just wanted to say substrates aren't always the evil they are portrayed to be.

 

[brownie64]

curious

I cant take credit for it, my parents have huge green thumbs and it was a trick I picked up from them. works like a charm though, a couple teaspoons of 3% per gallon of water

quick link:
http://www.quickgrow.com/gardening_articles/hydrogen_peroxide_horticulture.html

This may be a stupid question but could you put this mixture in you mister, or would it be harmful to you cham? they use it to make dogs and cats vomit at higher levels. And I know it can be harmful to a human in their eyes, and lungs at high strength, but at these low levels was just wondering. It would make it more convenient.

 

[Carlton]

This may be a stupid question but could you put this mixture in you mister, or would it be harmful to you cham? they use it to make dogs and cats vomit at higher levels. And I know it can be harmful to a human in their eyes, and lungs at high strength, but at these low levels was just wondering. It would make it more convenient.

Why would you want hydrogen peroxide in a misting system? Broadcasting it all over the cage for what reason?

 

[brownie64]

Why would you want hydrogen peroxide in a misting system? Broadcasting it all over the cage for what reason?

Well for the health of the vivarium, you know aerating the roots killing any mold, spores, and fungus that may appear. But I can see from looking back at the post that it is supposed to be only done once a month. So upon further consideration I guess I wouldn't. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

 

[Lazy Boy]

Wouldnt be a bad idea to clean your pump and res every once in a while but I wouldn't spray the cham with it.

 

[NHenn]

Substrate Solution

This was our solution to the substrate problem. Looks greats, cleans up easily, and hides the ugly white bottoms and poop stains. There are currently three different patterns but this is our favorite one.

 

[fuzzhc]

+1
not necessarily for the beginner, but substrate isnt an immediate no...its not like chams dont run into dirt in the wild...

a large slab of hygrolon would keep enough moisture to grow moss and other plants and you wouldnt have to worry about the cham eating it, as it would be too big. you could even grow edible plants like baby's tears, which my ambilobe devours.

hygrolon:
http://folius.com/product-category/media/hygrolon/

I have a planted tank myself, the worry of drainage isnt as big as people make it out to be; if the tank is heavily planted then they soak up a lot of the water. I do two 5min misting sessions at the beginning and end of each day, as well as a 2min session mid day to keep the humidity level consistent

I have yet to run into a problem, but you will have to watch out for mold or fungus; but so do people who overwater their potted plants (its a frequent discussion on this board). A diluted hydrogen peroxide spray once a month kills spores and bacteria in the soil/hygrolon and helps to aerate the roots.

I would love a fully planted enclosure for my chams! But it's just not practical with them being in screen cages at the moment

As for the mould and fungus problems, there is always the option to make it bio active. I have kept my monitor on a bio active substrate for over a year now and never had any problems or even had to clean it! The enclosure constantly smells like a fresh forest, all you need is a clean up crew- some pill bugs, worms, beetles and springtails living in there

My veiled when he was living in an exo terra glass enclosure has bio active for a little over a year and had no problems either.

 

[JosieJobo]

finally people that think its a good idear!

I have a living vivarium all glass I put the subtrate in I put a layer of clay balls and a water bottle cut in half to access the bottom for draining this still got pretty wet so I scooped out the compost and mixed with sand then put moss on top it is much better now I suck the water out once or twice a week brilliant for keeping humidity up and it cool at the bottom and my plants are growing like crazy in it though I have resently found mushrooms from the moss I think but I just pull them out. I then found my tank was getting too small for my male panther (growing about 1cm in lenth and putting on 2g a week! ) needed somthing bigger so built him a loft conversion lol

 

[Mike Fisher]

I would love a fully planted enclosure for my chams! But it's just not practical with them being in screen cages at the moment

That's why I invented and marketed a line of tubbed screen cages in the 90's. They never caught on for some reason. I still use them. The best way I found to keep montanes happy was a well drained fully planted enclosure.

 

[fuzzhc]

I think it allows for a more natural way of living.

They sounds great, sorry to hear they never caught on. If it were in Europe they would have been a big hit it's just what we need!

 

[Mike Fisher]

I think it allows for a more natural way of living.

They sounds great, sorry to hear they never caught on. If it were in Europe they would have been a big hit it's just what we need!

I learned all I could from keepers in Europe before I started working with montane species which led to this cage design. The weather in my local area is much like parts of Europe. I lived in England as a child.

 

[Cait0420]

Thank you all for your ideas and opinions! This really is a great forum!

 

[JosieJobo]

Mushrooms

suddenly I have loads of mushrooms they grow so fast im palling them out every day but they just come back how can I stop this without using anything that will halm my boy he somtimes eats a little dirt or moss at the bottom and I don't want to poison him but k dont want the mushrooms too either! ????