Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I'm starting to appear more and more here. I'm getting a new chameleon on Father's Day and I set up the cage on Tuesday just to get it all ready...ok, well, also cuz I'm really excited. I'm getting a baby veiled and I've got and ESU Fresh Air Habitat that is 12x18x20. I've bought a ficus and a hibiscus. The ficus is around two feet high so I'll save that for when its older and in a larger cage. So the only thing in there is the hibiscus. My question is, is it ok to put fake plants in there for extra climbing and hiding spaces? and if so do i use plastic or silk? I know that when i can put it into the larger cage i'll be able to put more live plants in there but what should i do for now? Thanks for any info, Lo
PS. I do not have a green thumb at all, would it be possible to trim/prune the ficus to make it fit? or would i end up killing it? Thanks.
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.1 ?Fiddler Crab (Crusty)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

I have heard of people trimming there ficus and fitting it into their enclosures before, but when this happens a white sap leaks out from the plant and if the cham rubs it into its eyes it could cause problems ie; eye infections. So I say skip the trim and just put in some fake plants, I used plastic ones myself, I'm not sure what the silk ones are like, just make sure that they can support the cham while they are climbing.
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Lex and Cecily sittin in a tree.

Yes, you can use silk plants for now. Live plants help keep the enclosure more humid and help with air quality, so use live whenever you can. The fakes can help fill in the gaps and offer more surfaces for water droplets. Yes you can prune Ficus. The cuts will ooze sap, but it is easily washed off. Prune the plant, give it a good hose or shower off, and you'll be fine. A cham would really have to lay its eye directly on a freshly cut branch to have problems. It is not all that big a risk.

I'm getting my cham on fathers day too! Reptile show in Missisauga!

Hey cool!!! so, who are you getting yours from? or areyou just hoping to go and see?? Last year when we were "just looking" there seemed to be quite a few vendors there with baby veileds.,, thats when i was being the "no we don't need another lizard" kinda mom,,, but now that its MY idea we can get one (hehehehe).... Lo
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.1 ?Fiddler Crab (Crusty)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

I am buying one for sure, I am going to put him(hopefully) in a tank for now, and then move him into the 4' by 3' by 2' I am going to make shortly.

OK, got some silk plants now and the cage is more chameleon friendly. I've got a large table (tv stand actually) that the cage is on so i'm surrounding it with other plants on the outside of the cage to help with air and humidity etc. Looking at the ficus i think its too big to prune,, i'd end up with all sticks and no leaves.... at least if i was the one pruning it thats what it would look like anyways.,,, gawd,, its killing me to wait for this new addition to the family!!! (patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue),,, LOL,, Lo
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.1 ?Fiddler Crab (Crusty)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)