substrates for baby chams?
- Thread starter Purpur
- Start date
fluxlizard
Avid Member
I don't use substrate.
If I wanted to- I'd use paper towel for your size chameleon.
But insects will crawl under paper towel or reptile carpet and hide.
If I wanted to- I'd use paper towel for your size chameleon.
But insects will crawl under paper towel or reptile carpet and hide.
Justin18
Member
If you would like some piece of mind you could use paper towels as said before. Although it might just get annoying changing them out all the time, but yes paper towels are safe.
qdude46
Member
What size and kind of glass cage are you using?
Purpur
New Member
ok. I just love her so much, I want her to be ok, and happy and healthy 
I saw her eat a cricket the other day, and I was so excited...Know she's eating now. Cause she likes to hunt her food down. She is still figuring out the cup and tongs and hands offend her She's a picky little princess.
I saw her eat a cricket the other day, and I was so excited...Know she's eating now. Cause she likes to hunt her food down. She is still figuring out the cup and tongs and hands offend her She's a picky little princess.Use whatever substrate you wish ! Whatever suites your vivarium. Watch the carpet stuff and their toes/nails getting caught up. Lots of folks use bare bottom because it's easy to clean, crickets cant hide, although it does nothing for humidity retention, obviously. It's just sterile and easy.
I, for one, used to raise all of my baby veiled and panthers on soil. That was bare none a better substrate for babies raised in a low humidity environment. Little more high maintenance.
Shea Peterson
I, for one, used to raise all of my baby veiled and panthers on soil. That was bare none a better substrate for babies raised in a low humidity environment. Little more high maintenance.
Shea Peterson
Tyaeda
Established Member
I've heard that it's a bad idea to use soil or loose substrate of any kind in a chameleon cage, as they may accidentally ingest it and possibly cause impaction. It's gotta get a little stinky too no?
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
Dehydration and general poor health are much bigger factors in impaction than the loose, particulate substrate itself. Take for example a lizard that is severely calcium deficient, since it doesn't have enough calcium in the body to contract the muscles of the gut (calcium is used in the nerve signals to muscles) even just a good meal of crunchy insect shells could potentially create a blockage, since nothing is helping to move it along. Healthy animals can pass a mouthful of soil or sand without much ado, in the vast majority of cases (like my one dog, who eats dirt but what landed him in the hospital was a man's gym sock.)
Paper towels, on the other hand, like the sock, are probably more risky. They are meant to stay intact at all costs, even in water, have a texture, and a large enough piece creates a lot of drag. Not to scare anyone, since paper towels also don't break away into pieces very easily lol But certain every-day products may not be as safe or dangerous as we first think.
That said, I keep bare floors in my cham cages just due to the sheer amount of water I go through. Much easier to clean and maintain sterile.
PressurePro
New Member
I have used soil (not potting mix) in the past with senegals. I currently use ABG mix with two Jackson's.
There is no smell at all. I have nice populations of springtails and isopods that eat all of the waste. This substrate helps keep humidity high. If I kept pygmies, this is the only substrate I'd ever consider because of supporting the microfauna.
If you're that worried about impaction, just cup feed
There is no smell at all. I have nice populations of springtails and isopods that eat all of the waste. This substrate helps keep humidity high. If I kept pygmies, this is the only substrate I'd ever consider because of supporting the microfauna.
If you're that worried about impaction, just cup feed
