Can cage size stunt growth in a Male veiled?

[katlovesaandw]

I adopted aka rescued a 1.5 yr old male veiled yesterday.
He will be moving to his new, PROPER cage today.....
He has been living in one of those 10 gal. aquariums with the 10 gal. screen top..like this only no ramps and the screening is smaller. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEW-PROOF-...ANK-HAMSTERS-MICE-GERBILS-MOUSE-/130645561529

When he turns, his face rubs the back, his butt/tail rubs the other side..... few vines, all plastic plants, no proper basking area. And they covered the screening with fiberglass window screen because the crickets kept escaping....so visually, you can barely see in and I am sure his vision out sucks too... He has a scar on his back from getting burned as a baby, about 1 in. long and 1/2 in. wide. He is in great health despite all this, though you can tell he is unhappy....even in the pics she sent. DUH! He should be in a totally different environment!

He is not much larger than my female veiled that passed away last June. His tail is longer but bodywise....nope.

So could the smaller cage have stunted his growth?

Will he grow at all once he is in a huge cage with room? He is 1.5 yrs old already.......

I will post pics of him once we get him out of this cage and into new one today!

 

[nthompson]

I don't have much experience. I would say though that if he was living in an improper cage than what other husbandry was improper (food, supplementation, lights). These could definitely effect his growth if he wasn't getting what he needed.

Im sure that others will give their experience/expertise on the matter regarding if he will rebound from his past life.

 

[Olimpia]

I don't have much experience. I would say though that if he was living in an improper cage than what other husbandry was improper (food, supplementation, lights). These could definitely effect his growth if he wasn't getting what he needed.

Im sure that others will give their experience/expertise on the matter regarding if he will rebound from his past life.

I would agree with you, I think just general lack of care hasn't allowed him to reach his full potential. With proper care and time he may manage to grow a little more. But at least he'll probably feel 100% better if he gets what he's needed as far as husbandry.

Do you have any photos of the poor guy?

It's terrible that he's been kept that way, too. I try not to let what I read on here affect me but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel quite a bit of anger.

 

[katlovesaandw]

I will get photos of him later.
I have been looking for a new veiled and knew I wanted a male this time around....
When his ad popped up on our local CL.... oh he was coming with me! I was mad when I read the ad and saw the pics. I was even madder when I picked him up, though I smiled nicely and thanked her and scurried away....steamed.....GRRRRR

Then once I got him home and watched him try to move around his cage....I was livid.

I cannot wait to get him out of that hole and into a proper cage today!

 

[carol5208]

I am so glad you got him! I cannot imagine a male adult veild in a 10 gallon tank. I cannot imagine any chameleon for that matter....you are a better person than me, cause I would have spoke my mind(after I paid them and got possession) it just makes me ill what goes on out there. We only see a very small portion of the ignorance on here. I guess it is best we don't know it all....Post some pics of him when you can. as far as the stunting...does he look unusually small for his age?

 

[HydroCarbon]

wow i couldn't imagine keeping a large cham in a small cage...sad

 

[Olimpia]

You're a saint! I would have clocked her in the nose!

 

[K9Luvn]

I agree.... seeing a pet in the wrong situation or environment makes me for that sad... it makes me down right mad.
Bless you for helping this guy get started with a new better life

 

[katlovesaandw]

This is what he came in....the stupid 10 gal aquarium with a cage top and you can see the screen they wrapped around it. You can barely see him, I have no clue how he can see out. We just have the heat lamp jury rigged right now and his UVB light is removed to we can attach to new cage.

His new cage is a 24 x 24 x 48 screen cage that we are in process of disenfecting and assembling right now. Bought REAL plants as he has just plastic. He will have real branches plus the fake vines, etc.

Here is a pic of him, though not very good as you cannot see him well to photograph thru the cage....will get better pics once he is transferred!

If I hadnt had my son with me, I would probably have said something.... though as we were coming home....he asked my why people buy pets if they are not going to do research on proper care and then follow thru....Son, you are wise for 13!! And ITA with him.....esp. in this day and age of internet!

I know she bought him 8/2010 at the local reptile show and I am betting that whomever she bought him from sold her all this lock, stock and barrel...because they had someone who didnt know better and she never learned from there...not defending her...trust me!

He is gonna be one spoiled rotten boy!!!
Must be my year for rescuing reptiles. Took in 3 anoles back in early Feb. and am still shocked at how I got them and that we did not lose any and they are thriving now.....
And now my cham!!!
Thanks guys for your input and support! That means a lot to me!

 

[DavidBuchan]

He does look a bit small for 18 months, but at least he's in proportion Well done for rescuing him and for keeping your cool
I'm sure he'll look a lot happier soon............

 

[katlovesaandw]

Yep, he doesnt seem out of proportion....just small overall compared to some of the pics of male veiled I have seen on here....

And if you look at the pic of him, you can see burn scar on his back...his spine spikes(not idea what they are really called)...there is a decent flat section right in the middle of his back. Appears to have healed ok and he doesnt appear to have probs due to it...which is good.

Going to have to spend one more night in crap cage....we have run out of steam and just did last stop at Home Depot for parts and acces. to finish it off.....will do it in the morning.

 

[katlovesaandw]

Oh and thinking of re-using his crap cage for the anoles. They are in 10 gal. right now and happy and now that they have gained some weight and are thriving...they could handle the extra area to roam but this would double their space and give them more arboreal area and I could get more plants for them...... esp. if I plexiglassed the back and sides, left the top and front open....they would get enough air flow but still be humid......

Because while it is a sucky cage for a cham, it would be good for the anoles.....

Still a thought and would wait until next weekend to implement....