Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
My parsons and their enclosure is one of my favorite things, as of late and while the enclosure was beautiful and serving the animals well, the hibiscus seemed to have a viral condition and had to be pulled out, which meant something else would have to go in. I also was having trouble with the fans blowing too much of the misting our through the screen doors. I decided to bite my lip and replant the habitat, vines and epiphytes included.
I removed 2 plants, but there are many more included in the new planting and as it grows in, the diversity will show. I removed, in addition to the ailing hibiscus, the variegated ficus elastica, because it lacks lateral branches and was only serving the chameleons as a toilet, with the slightly cupped leaves holding insect remains and chameleon deposits. I decided to remove it and maximize the space.
Here are the updated photos.
You will notice perlite in my potting mix. The perlite is inert and not toxic and it is a fine grade, which poses no real risk of impaction. My chameleons aren't eating soil and they feed from the branches and by me placing insects on the screen, with rarely a feeder on the ground. The plants filling in will cover the petite and it's prescience will create a better substrate for egg laying and for the plants.
I removed 2 plants, but there are many more included in the new planting and as it grows in, the diversity will show. I removed, in addition to the ailing hibiscus, the variegated ficus elastica, because it lacks lateral branches and was only serving the chameleons as a toilet, with the slightly cupped leaves holding insect remains and chameleon deposits. I decided to remove it and maximize the space.
Here are the updated photos.
You will notice perlite in my potting mix. The perlite is inert and not toxic and it is a fine grade, which poses no real risk of impaction. My chameleons aren't eating soil and they feed from the branches and by me placing insects on the screen, with rarely a feeder on the ground. The plants filling in will cover the petite and it's prescience will create a better substrate for egg laying and for the plants.
