Cage clean & shedding

[lysinlight87]

Hi,

How often should I change the substrate in my chams cage & clean the bendy branches? I've had him now for 11 days and his branches have gotten all covered in calci-dust.

Also, how often do they shed? He's about 3.5 months old now and shed last monday

 

[BocaJan]

Hi,

How often should I change the substrate in my chams cage & clean the bendy branches? I've had him now for 11 days and his branches have gotten all covered in calci-dust.

Also, how often do they shed? He's about 3.5 months old now and shed last monday

Welcome to the Forum. This is the place to come to ask questions and learn all about your little chameleon. Here are the answers to your questions.

1. You shouldn't be using any substrate. Your cham can eat this and become impacted. Remove it all and only use paper towels to catch your water spray if you need to mop up the water and poop. Replace as needed.

2. I am confused about why your branches would haave calcium on them. You should only be putting calcium on your crickets, not in your cham cage.

3. When young, they can shed as often as every month. As they get older they don't shed as often, but they shed their whole lives. As adults they may shed in parts instead of popping their whole skin off at once.

Please fill out this questionaire on your cham. We can help you with your husbandry and let you know if you have any issues that need to be corrected for the health of your little guy. If you can post a pic of him and his cage that would be helpful too.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Wykd]

I guess the calci-dust is from a strong dusting the crickets and letting the food free range the cage?

Substrate debate is 50/50 some say just paper towels or nothing and wipe down. Others promote substrate for the live plants and help with humidity, but cover the substrate with non-editable items like river rocks etc... and clean regularly to reduce risk of bacteria from feces/urine/dead feeders/etc...

 

[lysinlight87]

Hi,

Calci-dust in on his branches because it comes off his food when I place them down on the branch.

If it is advisable, I will remove the substrate. It will make it easier to clean his terranium too.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male veiled chameleon, 3.5 months old, in my care for 10 days.

Handling - once or twice a day for a minute or 2.

Feeding - Feeding small crickets and larger 'small' locusts. 10 of the baby crickets, 3 locusts per day. He is fed late morning and late afternoon. The feeders are gut-loaded with Bug Grub and curly kale.

Supplements - Calci dust- sprinkled on feeders at each feed.

Watering - He is misted 2-3 times per day with fresh water, for a short duration because it doesn't take long to soak his terranium. He has a big dripper set to drip steadily.

Fecal Description - Medium brown droppings with white urate attached. He has not been tested for parasites.

History - Purchased from an aquatic/reptile specialist shop. He was keep in a terranium of the same dimensions as now, with a female of the same age.

Cage Info: 30x30x45cm (tall.) The terrainium is tall glass with a mess roof and plenty of ventilation. I intend to upgradeto a full size terranium when he is big enough to find his food in one.

Lighting - He has a light which is on a timer. It is switched on from 9am to 9pm. 13W Repti Glo, Exo Terra- 5.0 UVB

Temperature - His temperature is measured using a senor connected to a dimmer thermostat. The sensor is located in about half way up his cage to create a gradient. Currently on 24C in the day and 20C at night. It was 28C during the day but he was acting as though is was too hot. The bulb is 50W infra-red, Exo-Terra

Humidity - Unsure how to measure humidity. He is misted 2-3 times daily & has a Big Dripper.

Plants - No live plants

Placement - In the living room, about a foot above the floor, room is relatively low-traffic. Only me and my boyfriend.

Location - UK

 

[Chammers]

In response to your question about shedding, I have a 4.5 month old panther that I've had for 7 weeks now and I've seen him shed 4 times. I've heard that it's rare for them to shed this often but can happen. As for calcium dust covering your branches you may be dusting your feeders with too much calcium which I believe could cause issues. Being that I'm still a newbie to the hobby this is only speculation and I'm sure someone more knowledgeable could give you a better answer on that issue.

 

[Wykd]

Supplements - Calci dust- sprinkled on feeders at each feed.You need to check on the calcium type you are giving. If it has d3 or not. You may be over calcing if you are doing this every feeding

Humidity - Unsure how to measure humidity. He is misted 2-3 times daily & has a Big Dripper.a Hygrometer will help monitor humidity and is a must otherwise you could run into issues

 

[lysinlight87]

The calci dust doesn't have D3. My pet shop had a supplement powder that said it was specially formulated for chameleons, perhaps I should give it a look?

I've read lots of things saying his food should be dusted at every feed, so I'm getting a bit of conflicting information?

 

[Wykd]

There is alot of discussion around supplimenting and when/how much. I should of said the amount you were dusting and checking if it was w/d3.

The link below is to a what I have bookmarked as my goto source on suppliments:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

 

[lysinlight87]

thanks, I'll check it out