Baby Chameleon - Help

M

markaswanston

New Member
New owner of baby Chameleon and i am concerned re my housing for him. He currently 16 weeks old.

My set up is a Vivexotic viva arboreal vivarium - 575 x 490 x 915 with Reptisun 10 and basking bulb, running 12 hours each day.
Current temperatures are:- the hottest place is 80F (Basking) and coolest is 65F
Have a Monsoon rain system which water the Viv every 3 hours during the day. Humidity doesn't go higher than 70
The Viv has ventilation and doesn't steam up.
Within the Viv i have live plants, plastic plants, vines and a large branch going under the basking spot.
Only had chameleon out once to handle when placing him in new viv.
When i purchased him, i did see him eating couple of days later and have seen faeces in the Viv since. I haven't seen him eat since, but place crickets in the Viv twice daily. Its difficult to see how many crickets if any he is eating with all the plants in the viv.
Current concerns:-
1. don't see him basking, always hiding on the other side of Viv behind plants.
2. concerned temperature might be too high
3. concerned might not be eating the correct amount of food
4. is the Viv to big for him
5. don't seen him move much within the viv

Any help and support would be very much appropriated
 

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Viv should be good for now (if your veiled is still little). you will need to upgrade down the road.
Recommended size for adult Veiled is 24x24x48" (610x610x1219) minimum for a male, suitable for a female.

My lil guy is about the same age. He is in a 18x18x36" (457x457x914) at the moment.

Looks great so far!
 
80 would not be too high if you have a Veild or Panther. On the contrary, on the low side. Actually it could even be higher than that, in the mid 80's would be fine. I see a cup in there, so I am assuming you are cup feeding? Can't you monitor what he is eating by counting the crickets? Your cage set up looks great! Is there a branch sitting under the basking lamp? Make sure you have one running horizontally under the light about 6-8 inches below. Also assuming you say you are a new owner which means you just got your chameleon? How long have you had him?. If it is just a few days or a week or so, it is common for them to hide and some will not eat right away or in large amounts. It can take them time to get used to you and their new environment.
 
Thanks Carol - had him since 4th April. i started putting crickets in cup, but have seen crickets in viv so them must be getting out. Just worried he just hiding and not basking under heat / light.
 
Well you have had him for a little while them. Some people pull the legs off the crickets so they don't jump out. I for one don't do that, even though I am sending them to their death anyways! He is 4 month old you said, so is not a new baby. Has he shed yet at all?? Do you have access to any other feeders, like small superworms or silkworms? He might not be big on crickets. He should be getting a variety of feeders in his diet. Have you tried handling him at all? He really needs to get used to you and realize you are not a predator that is going to eat him. You can try hand feeding him. Holding a cricket up to him and see if he will take it. This way he will associate your hand with food and not something that will try and hurt him. Could he be basking when you are not around? I would raise the temp up some and make sure he has a comfortable branch to bask under the light. I always run mine horizontally.
 
Ive only had him out once, have my hand in viv every day, tried going towards him but he dropped to bottom of viv last time. I put crickets and mealworms in every day, also tried silkworms.
when i got him on the 4th he was 12 weeks so he run 16 weeks old now.
Yea he has shed as seen dead skin on plants. When i check him during day he has moved and sometime i just cant find him.
 
Well if he is shedding, he is growing, so he must be eating. Also, if you are seeing poop he is eating! These little creatures can drive us nuts at times! lol
 
just worried, like looking after a child.
You read all sorts on net and everyone says different things.
So should i start handling and getting him out / or just leave him to grow on his own?
I would be more happy if i seen him eat.
 
I always handle mine everyday. Some people say not too, but to each his own. I usually give them a few weeks to settle in before I start bothering them! I get a stick and have them climb onto it and bring them out. Set the stick on my lap, let them look around and know I am not going to hurt them. It is a process, but most are ok with handling. Some tolerate it and others never take to it. It just depends on your chameleon. I like to be able to take them out and really look over their overall health. Sometimes when they are in a cage all the time you might miss something that is wrong with them.
 
Thank carol - just new to this and i might just be worrying too much, but always better to ask others.
Do you leave the heat on over night or switch off - everyone says different things about night time heat
 
Turn everything off at night they need a good 10°f drop at night. It's not to big my 5 month old veiled free ranges in a 8'×15' room with 9'ceilings her plant space is about 5'×5'×5'tall but she frequently goes to the windows or cabinets in the room sometimes it takes a minute to find her. Now as far as feeding I mainly have to hand feed so I know how much she is eating. She won't touch a feeder cup and they room is to big to hunt but I occasionally let some crippled prey or superworm go free and I think she eats them? Maybe? Any who its not to big. Can you take a pic of the cham?
 
Also for the handling, I handle blanche everyday. She seems to enjoy it (most days) she comes to me. She does realize that most times I'm going to take her outside. So that probably helps. When you do handle him try to make it worth his while. With special treats or outside time he will stay to associate you with his favorite things. Hope this helps. Light, love, and good vibes to you and yours.
 
Thanks Daypaul - i hace been switching everything off at night.
Wish i could get a picture of him, but just looked and he hiding away in plants at back of viv
 
I think you're him might be a her can you get a better picture of the back leg? I didn't see any spurs which males have
 
Try placing a couple horizontal perches about 6-8 inches from his/her light see if he will start basking.
 
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