Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read how people will use Grape vines(?) Or branches in their cages. I love the look of them but am too cheap to may that much for them.

There is a vineyard near our house (In ohio no less, go figure)
I was thinking of contacting them and seeing if they have any dead stuff they might be able to give me. Is this the same stuff people talk about?

If I do get ahold of some, what preperations do I need to do to make it bacteria/mite free?

Thanks for any info!

~Erin

erin i got a ton of the stuf here as well. the only thing i have been told to do is sandblast it. i have a sandblaster coming this next week.

dennis

Yes, you can use a grape vine in your cage, BUT you have to take all the grapes off, because the chameleons can eat one of them and choke on the seed. But chameleons can eat the grapes if you take the seeds out of them. When you get the grape vine you need to put it in hot water for a day. These kind of plants are hard to keep alive, but make sure you water it every day after you transplant it. Just use some bacterial spray on it once a week and wash down the plant everyday and you should be fine. Hope this helps you out!

P.S. I am also from Ohio too, where are you from. I am only 14 though.

Ethan Trowbridge

Im from northwest ohio, around toledo and Defiance. And actually im looking for dead branches =) but wanted to make sure how to make them chameleon safe
Hope your enjoying the snow if you got some!

~Erin

Hi Erin,
Since sandblasting isn't for everyone you should first assume
that herbicides and insecticides of some sort were used. Much of this will dissipate when they die and dry BUT, toxins can still remain and insects/eggs can lay dormant until right temps and humidity for a VERY long time. So, you can either cook them in your oven at 250 degrees for at least 1/2 hour - just be careful. Or, a safer method is to soak them in 10% bleach/water. Soak for several hours or overnight and then rinse them several times (under running water and soaking) to be sure you get rid of the bleach. This will kill anything in their. Let them dry - I would say in the sun, but I'm in NH so I know the unreality of that this time of year! LOL!) - thoroughly before using in the cage.

Hope this helps!

lele

>>Im from northwest ohio, around toledo and Defiance. And actually im looking for dead branches =) but wanted to make sure how to make them chameleon safe
>>Hope your enjoying the snow if you got some!
>>
>>~Erin
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