Plants

snakeman92 · 01-05-03, 05:29 PM

Do u have to have all live plant in the tank or con u have some fake one too,and what r some of the plants u guys us
thanks

P.S. pics of the plants would really help

Trace · 01-05-03, 06:05 PM

I use Pothos for all of my cages. It grows like a bad weed and it can stand up to all the heavy misting that I do.

For the most part I do not use fake plants, I find that they do not hold the water droplets as well as the real ones do. Also real plants tend to keep the humidity a bit higher than plastic ones.

Other recommended plants are: Hibiscus, Schefflera, Umbrella Trees and Ficus. All of these are non-toxic should your new fellow decide to take a nibble!

A tip about the Ficus: Should you decide to trim it down, sometimes the stalks will ooze a milky white sap that may (?) be harmful to chams. If you do this, leave the plant outside the cage for a few days to let it dry up!

Hope this helps!

Cheers!

Trace

snakeman92 · 01-05-03, 09:16 PM

thanks Trace u have help me lots i thought about not getting the chameleon because people told me that they were so hard but now i think i can handle it
thanks

Matt_K · 01-05-03, 09:52 PM

Snakeman92: I know how you feel.. I put off getting one for over a year.. I have always wanted one, then when i thought i was ready, i heard so many conflicting things about how hard they are to take care of.. Well, 1 week into December i got my first, a male Veiled and i have had NO problems.. Since then i have bought him a girlfriend who is doing just as good! I am extremly happy with my experiences with them so far and am actually sorry i didnt get some sooner!!. Just take your time and read your info and i am sure you will do GREAT!!.. Good Luck and post some pics when you get one!!

Trace · 01-05-03, 10:27 PM

Hey Snakeman92... you're welcome! I'm glad to see this forum actually getting used!!! YAY! Feel free to post your questions anytime.

I started off the same way as Matt (in fact, I taught him everything he knows

). I heard they were IMPOSSIBLE to care for... now I have 13 chams and 2 more on the way! You can totally handle one.

Post some pics when you get it.

Here are a few good sites to check out:
http://www.adcham.com/
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/

Cheers!

Trace

Matt_K · 01-06-03, 03:24 AM

Here's a site that has a complete and indepth list of plants that are suitable for Chameleons..

(if you just want the Plant List)
http://home.att.net/~chameleons/safeplants.html

(The Site)
http://home.att.net/~chameleons/index.html

snakeman92 · 01-06-03, 07:41 AM

Thanks guys i fell better knowing its just not me that felt this way about getting the one of these wonderful animals

Jaylyn · 01-07-03, 06:37 PM

Hi Snakeman92!!

I haven't used pothos with my adult chams - unlike Trace I can't keep it alive (like most houseplants)!! Just a warning - if you end up with a veiled that likes to eat vegetation pothos is high in oxalic acid. This binds with calcium and forms calcium oxalate (salt that accumulates in the kidneys). Otherwise pothos is fine.

I like fiscus for the lighter species and love schefflera (umbrella tree) for the heavier ones - more vertical branches. You can get a big sturdy 3 foot schefflera from Home Depot for ~$10. Same for fiscus.

For babies I like pothos, little schefflera and hibiscus.

And Trace .... where on earth are you finding all the awesome species????

Jaylyn

Trace · 01-07-03, 11:34 PM

HAHAHA! Pothos is the only plant I can seem to keep alive! Yes, I can kill cactus! LOL

Jaylyn: I'm SSSOOO addicted right now. I recently bought a house and I don't have any furniture yet, so I might as well fill that space with chameleon cages!

I SWEAR I'm not actively persuing new chameleons! They just seem to find me and I can't seem to say "no"! LOL

How come you aren't on the Picasso list?

Laurier: How is my deremensis doing?

Cheers!

Trace

Linds · 01-08-03, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trace
Other recommended plants are: Hibiscus, Schefflera, Umbrella Trees and Ficus. All of these are non-toxic should your new fellow decide to take a nibble!

Be careful witht he umbrella as there are several species of umbrella plant and one of them is indeed toxic.......

KaHane · 01-08-03, 03:05 AM

We use both live and fake plants. As Linds pointed out, you just have to be careful to choose safe ones.

Jaylyn · 01-08-03, 10:12 AM

Trace,

I was - but decided to wait for the pinks & turquoise blues. You must be soooo excited!

Jaylyn

P.S. I wish they would just find me, too. And you're lucky - I keep throwing out furniture to make room for cham cages. LOL New house later this year.

BILLP · 01-17-03, 11:06 AM

In all my cages expect for snakes I use real plants. Snake just seem to destroy all plants. I live ficus and Photos the both take alot to kill them and if you do the are $13 at home depot.