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Today I observed my veiled chameleon eating dirt..can anyone explain this? Is it a problem? I've heard they do this to supplement their mineral intake. Also, I have a flourescent bulb that is roughly a year old, but I only used it for a little under 4 months...should the bulb be replaced only after it has been used for 6 months, or after it has simply existed for 6 months. I would think that I still have a couple more months of life left in it. Sounds like a dumb question I suppose, but it could make the difference in my chameleon living or dying. Thanks

I have observed mine eating dirt too,he finds it interesting, though he might have been searching for moisture,anyway,doesn't matter,although he is unlikely to be hurt by this the best thing you can do is to place some small stones on top of the soil and cover the space so he can't reach it.
Regarding the bulb,the 'rule' stands for the operating time

Define "small stones". Too small and the cham could accidentally swallow one- which is chunky badness. If stones are the decision, they need to be the large river stones that can be had at a garden store or Lowes.

-roo

Veileds eating dirt is quite common and the general consensus is that they’re seeking out trace minerals or something like that. Just make sure the dirt is free of perlite, pesticides or anything that could cause impaction or something similar. “Super Soil” brand is recommended but hard to find … at least on the east coast.

Some people add large river stones to cover the top soil, but that’s a lost cause IMO since my veiled would just remove them - which could possibly cause a tongue injury. Others keepers will go as far as covering the soil with mesh so the cham can’t eat the dirt. I personally have no problem with my veiled eating dirt. Now that he is an adult, he doesn’t do it as much, but on the rare occasion I catch him doing it.

The rule of thumb for changing the UVA/B bulb is 6 months but I change them out every 5. If it were me I would just go out and get a new bulb.

-roo

when I first read the topic line I was thinking (why does he have exposed (flower) bulbs in the cage! Silly me, always thinking plants!

Ditto on everything roo said. A note about Others keepers will go as far as covering the soil with mesh so the cham can’t eat the dirt. that roo mentioned. Well, I am one of those keepers. I do it as a precaution in case there are larger items in the soil (small pieces of wood, etc.) or small stones he may accidentally shoot. It also gives the crickets one less place to hide

I use plastic canvas, cut to fit, use coated paper clips to hold in place and its done. Just giving you the option

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