A new cham owner's first few days (questions)

[arkist]

Greetings! After about a month of research (which clearly wasn't enough) I purchased a Jackson chameleon a couple of days ago. Now I have a few new questions.

1. The slimline flourescent bulb fixture I am using has a clear plastic cover over the bulb, that sits between the bulb and the mesh on the top of the cage. Should this be removed? Is it blocking UVB from cage?

2. It is taking ALOT more water to keep my humidity up then I thought it would in this mesh cage. I have covered two sides with plastic but I need to put in a bigger drain system so I can pump some serious water in their. I am thinking of removing the pvc bottom from my mesh cage, filling a 2.5'x.2.5' tub with echo earth and putting the cage in their with a wire mesh seperating the cage from earth. Is this a good idea? Or would just placing the cage in a plastic tub with a drain to a reservior be good?

3. The skin between his neck and bottom jaw was loose today. I don't mean it was inflated or puffed out as if he was stressed, I mean that this section of skin just looked relaxed and was hanging, where as he normally keeps it up against his lower jaw. Does this mean anything?

4. I showered him today, after he stopped fighting it he buggled is his out for about two min. (he is shedding so I think he might have gotten some in his eye, I dont think the place I bought him from kept the humidity very high) But after that he lifted his head straight up, turned bright green, and fell asleep o.0 What does this mean. I was expecting him to drink and chill out but fall asleep?

Thanks to anyone who reads through this. Sorry for the noob questions, really want to do everything in my power to make him happy.

 

[mczoo]

I did the same thing 8 weeks ago but have learned much

1. yes remove cover, is it reptisun 5.0 or what?
2. i use a whole room humidifier and potted plants room is 65% cage 70-90 at misting
3???no idea
4. he is probably stress being new.......did you shower him directly, i usually put him on fake vines and hang vine in center of tub and shower wall with good warm shower temp until my hot water runs out about 25 minutes, he drank little but i beleive the ambient humidity is the bigest factor

remember i am new like you be sure to take my advice with caution

good luck

Sean

 

[arkist]

I did the same thing 8 weeks ago but have learned much

1. yes remove cover, is it reptisun 5.0 or what?
2. i use a whole room humidifier and potted plants room is 65% cage 70-90 at misting
3???no idea
4. he is probably stress being new.......did you shower him directly, i usually put him on fake vines and hang vine in center of tub and shower wall with good warm shower temp until my hot water runs out about 25 minutes, he drank little but i beleive the ambient humidity is the bigest factor

remember i am new like you be sure to take my advice with caution

good luck

Sean

Yea I'm finding that the learning processes may be as much a post purchase process as it is a pre-purchase process.

The cover did seem odd to me, it is a 7 % UVB from slimline, I'm keep the fixture, the bulb will be replaced with a zoo med 5% UVB.

I understand him being stressed as he is still so new, and is not used to the habbitat change, but how does that play into him sleeping in the shower?

 

[chelshart25]

I dont understand why they put the plastic over the UVB light because yes it blocks the UV coming through...I had a bearded dragon and didnt remove the plastic and he ended up getting MBD which cost me $250 at the vet just to learn to remove the plastic so get that removed asap (they usually just screwed on there)

 

[Dave Weldon]

2. It is taking ALOT more water to keep my humidity up then I thought it would in this mesh cage. I have covered two sides with plastic but I need to put in a bigger drain system so I can pump some serious water in their. I am thinking of removing the pvc bottom from my mesh cage, filling a 2.5'x.2.5' tub with echo earth and putting the cage in their with a wire mesh separating the cage from earth. Is this a good idea? Or would just placing the cage in a plastic tub with a drain to a reservior be good?...

Howdy,

It is best if you don't use any substrate (eco earth etc.) and just keep a clean bottom. Many of us drill a series of small drain holes (1/8" to 3/16") to allow drainage to some sort of pan that drains to a bucket that can be emptied on a regular basis.

An adjustable, regulated humidifier ($30-$50) can be a good method for regulating humidity in a closed room. 60% is a good number to shoot for but 40% can be fine so long as you keep your chameleon fully hydrated.

What part of the world do you live?

 

[arkist]

Howdy,

It is best if you don't use any substrate (eco earth etc.) and just keep a clean bottom. Many of us drill a series of small drain holes (1/8" to 3/16") to allow drainage to some sort of pan that drains to a bucket that can be emptied on a regular basis.

An adjustable, regulated humidifier ($30-$50) can be a good method for regulating humidity in a closed room. 60% is a good number to shoot for but 40% can be fine so long as you keep your chameleon fully hydrated.

What part of the world do you live?

It wouldn't be using substrate, the echo earth would be underneath the cage, just absorbing moisture. The problem is not getting mist/drip into the cage, its handling the volume of water that becomes excess at the bottom

The thing is I am having a hard time finding a self that will accomidate a drain system underneath the cage. But I'm developing a few ideas on how to approach the issue.

 

[mczoo]

i drilled a 3 inch hole at the botton and installed a standard sink basin (drain) i covered this with plastic screen. i can saok my cage and water runs out below

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Did he "fall asleep" while he was being showered?
When I mist my veileds they very often close there eyes and just enjoy the water. I am pretty sure this is the same type of reaction you got out of your jacksons. They also lift their heads a bit as well.

As for the shelving. We use plastic utility shelves that are stacked as three two layer shelfs side by side. Each shelf is about 24" x 36 I think. We have four 24x24x48 cages on them with room to spare. Not hard to find, I believe we got ours from target for relatively cheap. They are grated so you can set some type of drainage up underneath the cage. Just something to catch the water is fine...anything really just be sure that you will be able to empty it daily. I have seen many drainage systems set up with large funnels leading to a five gallon bucket. If you do a search you should be able to find pictures of peoples drainage systems.