A little help / reassurance needed!

[Budandme]

Yesterday, thanks to my mum, I rescued a Yemen Chameleon. Lord knows where she finds these pets in need but he's at my house and here to stay. Unfortunately I know very little about them and need to learn quick. I took him to my local exotic pet store (they are really very good and have an exotic vet visit every friday for customers to speak to), they say he's in good health. Advised me to feed him crickets every day, make sure the crickets are also well fed, spray him a minimum of three times a day and this is all I've been told which is far from enough information for me to be comfortable. I apologise in advance but I need to learn quick for the sake of this little guy so please excuse the bombardment of questions. For ease, I'll list the ones I have up to now.

1) what do I feed the crickets?
2) how often do I feed the crickets?
3) where is the best place to keep the crickets?
4) Is it correct that the temp should be 80-90 degrees?
5) Is it correct that I should turn off lights and heaters at night?
6) Is there a particular temperature for the water I'm misting with?
7) How much should I mist, ie light mist or complete soak?
8) When I mist the plants etc, should I mist Bud (my chameleon) as well?
9) He hatched 20th January (the only fact I have about him) how many crickets a day should I be feeding him?
10) Is there a preferable time of day to feed him?
11) Last night he went to sleep at around 6pm and slept like a rock until this morning. Is that normal? His tail is all curled up which I'm told is healthy and he's eating well, I've just never seen anything sleep so solidly.
12) How often should I dust the crickets before feeding bud.

This is all I can think for now but By any means it's just to start. I've done some reading on the internet but am wary of what to trust and I'm finding it impossible to find a book with more than a few paragraphs on Chameleons. I even had to look up on the internet what kind of chameleon he is which I found really difficult because they look so different as adults.

I hope you don't think badly of me, I NEVER get pets before doing the reading but it was either take him now or he was to be let loose to fend for himself. Thanks in advance.

Oh and here's a picture.

 

[camimom]

Yesterday, thanks to my mum, I rescued a Yemen Chameleon. Lord knows where she finds these pets in need but he's at my house and here to stay. Unfortunately I know very little about them and need to learn quick. I took him to my local exotic pet store (they are really very good and have an exotic vet visit every friday for customers to speak to), they say he's in good health. Advised me to feed him crickets every day, make sure the crickets are also well fed, spray him a minimum of three times a day and this is all I've been told which is far from enough information for me to be comfortable. I apologise in advance but I need to learn quick for the sake of this little guy so please excuse the bombardment of questions. For ease, I'll list the ones I have up to now.

1) what do I feed the crickets?Fresh fruits and veggies, find blogs on gutloading by sandrachameleon
2) how often do I feed the crickets?I feed mine daily, replace it when food starts to get icky.
3) where is the best place to keep the crickets?in a rubbermaid bin, in a room that doesnt get super hot (heat= dead bugs and smell)
4) Is it correct that the temp should be 80-90 degrees? i keep younger chams at 83-85, and my adult male at 88 max.
5) Is it correct that I should turn off lights and heaters at night? yes, they need a 12 on/12 off cycle. darkness to sleep
6) Is there a particular temperature for the water I'm misting with?room temp is fine.
7) How much should I mist, ie light mist or complete soak? I mist my guys with an auto mist system 5 times a day for 30 seconds. you want the cage to dry out between mistings.
8) When I mist the plants etc, should I mist Bud (my chameleon) as well?He probably wont like to be misted.
9) He hatched 20th January (the only fact I have about him) how many crickets a day should I be feeding him? He can eat 10-20 appropriately sized crickets a day
10) Is there a preferable time of day to feed him? i feed my guys about an hour after lights on, you dont want to feed them right before lights out as they need heat to digest.
11) Last night he went to sleep at around 6pm and slept like a rock until this morning. Is that normal? His tail is all curled up which I'm told is healthy and he's eating well, I've just never seen anything sleep so solidly. thats normal, some go to sleep an hourish before lights out. and the tail curled or uncurled is fine, his perogative.
12) How often should I dust the crickets before feeding bud. You need to dust calcium without d3 for every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month.

This is all I can think for now but By any means it's just to start. I've done some reading on the internet but am wary of what to trust and I'm finding it impossible to find a book with more than a few paragraphs on Chameleons. I even had to look up on the internet what kind of chameleon he is which I found really difficult because they look so different as adults.

I hope you don't think badly of me, I NEVER get pets before doing the reading but it was either take him now or he was to be let loose to fend for himself. Thanks in advance.

Oh and here's a picture.

Welcome!

hes very cute! Congrats.

I hope you have a uvb bulb, and a basking bulb. the baskng bulb can be a regular house bulb.

Can you show a photo of what cage hes in please.

Good luck!

any other questions, feel free to post.

 

[Sleaper88]

I'm no expert on Yemens at all, but I do know they need roughly 12 hours of uv, do you have a uv bulb?? Also feed him crickets everyday for now as he is only 5 months old! I feed my panther roughly 10, no too sure on the dusting schedule for them, do you have a pic of enclosure?

 

[carol5208]

welcome to the forums! Does "he" have little spurs or points on the back of his back heels? if not then you have a girl. It is hard to tell from the pics and the way his feet are positioned.

 

[skittles1234]

Looks like a Senegal to me...the orange down the back and white chevrons on the side. Puckered lips too and that dopey expression. Priceless. Just my opinion

 

[camimom]

Looks like a Senegal to me...the orange down the back and white chevrons on the side. Puckered lips too and that dopey expression. Priceless. Just my opinion

Its def a veiled. my female has orange like that too. and those white markings are typical veiled markings for babies and juvis.

 

[Budandme]

He is definitely a he, he has the spurs. He has all the appropriate lights and equipment which was my main concern when I got him. His previous owner got bored (not really sure what she expects a chameleon to do?) and wanted rid quickly, she's the typical person who spends a fortune on a fad, gets bored then gets rid. He's in a mesh cage, reasonably big (big enough to move around but not so big that he can't find his food, I suspect he will grow out of this cage when he gets a little bigger) with a basking light and uvb bulb. I got the local shop to check all of the equipment over. I've known the guys in there for years, I keep parrots from rescues and have been going in there for years, I know they know what they are talking about but I can't take up all of their time. There are plenty of shaded corners if he wants to get out of the way. Some plastic, some real branches. Thanks for the answers so far, I'm surprised at how simple this is all sounding compared to some of my other pets (all rehomes/rescues except for one). More questions:

1) is it ok to put his schedule on a timer for the 12/12 hour cycle?
2) Does he need a drip water type system or is it correct that I can spray him during the day? (I work from home so spraying multiple times is not a problem)
3) I want him to be tame if possible, but don't want to stress him out or force him to do anything he doesn't want to. Any tips on how to go about this.
4) Do they bite? If so, do they have teeth or warning signs that a bite is on the way? (bites don't bother me I just like to know of the possability and avoid if I can)
5) Assuming he eventually likes to be handled, is there a limit as to how long I keep him out of his cage (is cage the right word?) I wouldn't want my little guy to get cold or harmed but also want to give him all the attention he wants / deserves.
6) are there any obvious signs of illness to look out for?
7) the shallow dish of water in his home? I'm confused as to it's function, i'm guessing its for any crickets left from feeding.
8) do the crickets in the cage need food in the cage too?
9) can you overfeed chameleons?
10) should i spray him before lights out?

again i apologise for all the questions, i'm just not used to being so unprepared. Thank you all for the help so far. I've had bud for 1 day and I already adore him.

 

[camimom]

He is definitely a he, he has the spurs. He has all the appropriate lights and equipment which was my main concern when I got him. His previous owner got bored (not really sure what she expects a chameleon to do?) and wanted rid quickly, she's the typical person who spends a fortune on a fad, gets bored then gets rid. He's in a mesh cage, reasonably big (big enough to move around but not so big that he can't find his food, I suspect he will grow out of this cage when he gets a little bigger) with a basking light and uvb bulb. I got the local shop to check all of the equipment over. I've known the guys in there for years, I keep parrots from rescues and have been going in there for years, I know they know what they are talking about but I can't take up all of their time. There are plenty of shaded corners if he wants to get out of the way. Some plastic, some real branches. Thanks for the answers so far, I'm surprised at how simple this is all sounding compared to some of my other pets (all rehomes/rescues except for one). More questions:

1) is it ok to put his schedule on a timer for the 12/12 hour cycle? yes it is, in fact its recommended. ALot of us use timers.
2) Does he need a drip water type system or is it correct that I can spray him during the day? (I work from home so spraying multiple times is not a problem) I would use a drip system just in case he gets thirsty between mistings.
3) I want him to be tame if possible, but don't want to stress him out or force him to do anything he doesn't want to. Any tips on how to go about this.Hand feedings, letting him come out of his cage on his own.
4) Do they bite? If so, do they have teeth or warning signs that a bite is on the way? (bites don't bother me I just like to know of the possability and avoid if I can) they can and wil bite, yes they have teeth, and they can draw blood. warning signs- hissing, gaping at you, swaying like a leaf, puffing up their chin, color changes,
5) Assuming he eventually likes to be handled, is there a limit as to how long I keep him out of his cage (is cage the right word?) I wouldn't want my little guy to get cold or harmed but also want to give him all the attention he wants / deserves. i wouldnt keep him out all day long with no uvb, but a little bit wont hurt.
6) are there any obvious signs of illness to look out for? sitting on the bottom of the cage, eyes shut during the day time, overly puffy eyes *when not cleaning)
7) the shallow dish of water in his home? I'm confused as to it's function, i'm guessing its for any crickets left from feeding. you can remove that dish, chams wont drink standing water.
8) do the crickets in the cage need food in the cage too? some do this some dont, if you free range the bugs in the cage, you can put a piece of food somwhere so they will congregate.
9) can you overfeed chameleons? its possible, but not really likely. my guys stop eating when they get full.

again i apologise for all the questions, i'm just not used to being so unprepared. Thank you all for the help so far. I've had bud for 1 day and I already adore him.

never apologize for asking questions! This forum is here for that reason!



Edit- i would not spray right before lights out, as you want his cage to be dry at night. too much humididty can lead to mold growth or a respiratory infection

 

[pssh]

Doing all this research shows how good of an owner you will be. You're doing a great job. How big is his cage? He will eventually need one that is about 24"x24"x48" (in cm 60x60x122 or so.)

As for having him out of the cage. You can eventually free range him if you want. Otherwise you can let him settle in, then start hand feeding him and getting him used to you. Once he is, you can start working on handling to see if he will become accepting of it. Eventually he might be "friendly." Just never force anything or it call all backfire and make him scared of you. (Also keep in mind that not all chameleons will become tolerant of handling.)

 

[Budandme]

Doing all this research shows how good of an owner you will be. You're doing a great job. How big is his cage? He will eventually need one that is about 24"x24"x48" (in cm 60x60x122 or so.)

As for having him out of the cage. You can eventually free range him if you want. Otherwise you can let him settle in, then start hand feeding him and getting him used to you. Once he is, you can start working on handling to see if he will become accepting of it. Eventually he might be "friendly." Just never force anything or it call all backfire and make him scared of you. (Also keep in mind that not all chameleons will become tolerant of handling.)

Already I love you guys. I try my best for all of the pets I have. His cage is around 60x60x80 (cm) I don't expect to keep him in this forever but it seems big enough for now. I know every pet has their own personality and even if he decides he's more of a 'loner' than a 'hold me' type chameleon thats all fine too. Most pets have their own little personalities regardless of my preferences. Question: When you say they draw blood, are we talking 'just had an injection stick a plaster on it' type blood or 'skin hanging off go to a&e for stitches' type blood (I have had the latter from a rescue bird once before, I still love him all the same). Oh and do crickets bite? Just thinking of the handfeeding. Does he need anything other than the crickets and vitamin suppliments?

 

[pssh]

Both. It depends on how he does it. If its more of a nip or quick bite, it might just break the skin a little (or sometimes not at all.) If he starts whipping his head from side to side, it can tear and rip the skin off in chunks. They usually don't do the tearing thing, but its always a possibility.

 

[Budandme]

Ok that's always useful to know. I don't plan on harassing him so I'm not too worried about the biting. If I do get bitten I'll assume I unwittingly did something to deserve it.

 

[Rambully]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forums and thank you! I come from a background involving rescue and I just wanted to commend you for taking him on and ensuring that he gets the care he needs! Good luck, and beware these little guys are addicting

 

[Budandme]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forums and thank you! I come from a background involving rescue and I just wanted to commend you for taking him on and ensuring that he gets the care he needs! Good luck, and beware these little guys are addicting

Thanks. i find most pets addicting It's just knowing when enough is enough at times isn't it? There's just too many needing help. I was going to buy a marine fish tank but Bud has taken the space, budget and time I would have invested in them. I'm definitely at my limit of what I can look after so for me it will just be the one chameleon

On another note, I managed to tip nearly a full box of crickets into his cage. Should I remove bud while I catch the crickets? I'm thinking there is too many in there to leave (don't want them to irritate him at night), but I don't want to stress him when I'm catching the crickets.

 

[Kate]

I don't like to leave crickets in viv overnight. As he gets bigger he will need bigger crickets and they can bite him. Try and offer them in a cup feeder, this way you can control the little buggers. I often hold the cup in front of him and he shoots them!

 

[Budandme]

I don't like to leave crickets in viv overnight. As he gets bigger he will need bigger crickets and they can bite him. Try and offer them in a cup feeder, this way you can control the little buggers. I often hold the cup in front of him and he shoots them!

Thanks. I bit the bullet and took Ozzy (he's had a name change, Bud didn't really suit him) out of the cage while I caught the crickets. I have to admit he seems to have done a pretty good job clearing them up by himself. Can chameleons be shy? I have tried to watch to be sure he's eating but he never seems interested if I watch. If I go away and come back he seems to have finished the lot! There's still around 2 in there right now just in case he is hungry (still working out how much to feed him. If they're still there when he's gone to sleep I'll remove them.

In the mean time I've bought a separate container to keep the crickets in. It's quite deep so I can open it without worrying that they're gonna jump everywhere. Figured this is easier than the plastic boxes they come in which is how I dropped it in the first place this morning. I tried to open it carefully so that they didn't jump everywhere and dropped the buggers.

 

[Kate]

Haha!!!!!!

 

[pssh]

Some are very shy. They wont eat/drink if anyone is in the room sometimes. Just make sure he's pooping and his urates are nice and white: