Chameleon enclosure - maybe hurting himself?

Veiledchamdk

Veiledchamdk

New Member
Hi all,

I'm a new chameleon owner and new to this forum.
Three weeks ago I got this little guy you can see on the photo. I've read tons of articles regarding how to give him the best conditions. Things have gone great, and he seems "happy" and healthy. I have arranged the enclosure as you can see on the photo, putting the food every day close to the basking spot - this seems to work allright for now.

However, I still have my concerns regarding him crawling up to the top, squeezing himself into very little space in the top of the enclosure, especially in the evening before he goes to sleep (as you can see on the photo). Do you think I should cover this, so he is not able to do that - I don't want him to hurt himself and become deformed?

Furthermore, do you think the enclosure is good enough arranged? The bulb I'm using is an Exo-terra Solar glo 160W - and some LED's just to give more light in the terrarium (probably shouldn't do that - or change them to some UV-B instead?)

The enclosure is 36*34*20 inches.

Thanks!
 

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Thank you, sure, hope this is the right one:
  • Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon, male, age: guess around 5 months, I've had him for 3 weeks.
  • Handling - I only did once, at the pet shop. I've rearranged the enclosure, so I am giving him as much time on his own as possible.
  • Feeding - I am feeding mainly crickets (every day, he normally eats 3-4), dubia (rarely eats them, 1-2 per week, but i offer him them every day) and zophobas (loves them, eats around 1-2, 2 times a week). I put in food in the morning, and removes whatever he haven't eaten when I get home. Gut loading of feeders: Beetle jelly, water crystals and dry food.
  • Supplements - Calcium w.o. d3 - every day mon-sat (brand: Dragovit). Every other sunday: Calcium + d3 (brand: Nekton), and every other Sunday multivitamin (Brand: Nekton-Rep)
  • Watering - Manually misting 2-3 times a day with a spray bottle. I keep on doing until he starts drinking, after misting for some time, I sometimes offer water from a pipette (he tried to eat the pipette once, so I know now that I should remove it after every drop on the tongue).
  • Fecal Description - He haven't done that much, only 3 times after I got him. It is mainly black and white, but little orange. He have not been tested for parasites.
  • History - He has been at the Pet shop for some time (think they said that they've had him for a month), and I am sure they took good care of him.

Cage Info:
  • Cage Type - Combo, glass in front, partly screen on one side and screen cover on top. Dimensions: 36*34*20 inches
  • Lighting - Exo terra Solar Glo 160W. Schedule 7:45 am to 8pm.
  • Temperature - Temperature: Basking spot: 35-37C (95-99F), floor: 23 (74F), general temp.: 26C (79F). During Night: 20C (68F).
  • Humidity - Actually I do not know - I mist 2-3 times a day, guess I should buy a hygrometer.
  • Plants - Ficus benjamina and Epipremnum aureum
  • Placement - By a wall, in the corner of the living room - no nearby air vents or by any trafficated areas. Top of the cage is 160cm.
  • Location - Denmark

Current Problem - He is squeezing himself into very little space, mainly during night. You can see this on the pictures that I have attached. Please tell me if any of the information above concerns you, and if anything that I should change.

I appreciate your answers.
 
That's way too hot for basking spot.

I would ditch the MVB and get a linear Flo UVB light and a Separate Halogen Flood.

Or add a linear and raise the MVB up higher where it's not so hot.


You need way more branches, for him to crawl and to rest on. Also way more foliage for him to hide in, which is likely why he is going in that crack.
 
I will find out who can help me with the foaming asap.
Ok, I will add a UVB as well as branches and foilage right away.

Thank you all for the answers!
 
Last edited:
Do either of the nekton products have prEformed vitamin A in them (retinol, retyinyl, retinal, etc) or is it beta carotene?

For feeding/gutloading the insects I use dandelion greens, kale, collards, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, carrots, and a bit of berries, apples, pears, melon.
 
My theory here is that the hiding is him trying to get away from that INTENSE and POWERFUL mercury vapor bulb. 160 watts at that distance is creating a furnace that he's probably trying to run and hide from. I think that is the first thing you address. It has the potential to end badly...

He's a very pretty boy. You have a gorgeous Cham. If you follow the advice on this forum, you'll surely be able to keep him that way.
 
kinyonga said:
Do either of the nekton products have prEformed vitamin A in them (retinol, retyinyl, retinal, etc) or is it beta carotene?

For feeding/gutloading the insects I use dandelion greens, kale, collards, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, carrots, and a bit of berries, apples, pears, melon.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the answer

The multivitamin has Vitamin A - see the photo, this is the amount pr. kg (some of it is in Danish, hope you understand most though)
 

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Sammy Grigio said:
My theory here is that the hiding is him trying to get away from that INTENSE and POWERFUL mercury vapor bulb. 160 watts at that distance is creating a furnace that he's probably trying to run and hide from. I think that is the first thing you address. It has the potential to end badly...

He's a very pretty boy. You have a gorgeous Cham. If you follow the advice on this forum, you'll surely be able to keep him that way.
Click to expand...

Thank you! - I really admire his colors and shape, instantly had a connection when I saw him at the pet shop :)

Today I bought all I need for the top cover - I will show you some pictures when finished. But according to the bulb, I came up with this solution (halogen + UVB), just want to hear your thoughts before buying the equipment (already spent 55$ on the solar glo, so hopefully I do it better this time - guess it is a beginners mistake...)

Found these on a DK-supplier for total "only" 30usd + delivery:

52 watt halogen:
https://www.hetterrarium.com/en_GB/a-43499984/heat-lamps/solar-raptor-halogen-basking-spot-52w/

UVB inside the cage, covered with a metal mesh (I actually already do have the power supplly for 25/30W):
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-euro-range-forest-5-25w-30in_p23208271.htm

And then remove the 160w solar glo... You think that is a better solution?
 
The linear bulb you linked is for a T8 bulb. These are now essentially obsolete in the reptile husbandry world. Please make it a point to stay away from this older technology. I will provide links for the most cost effective solution to your lighting woes below. It is really pretty simple and you should be able to walk away spending about $70-$75.

UVB T5 HO Linear Light and Fixture:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQU8FR4/ref=twister_B07MF1NQV4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Basking Light:
https://www.google.com/search?q=BR3...URRa0KHVMGDBcQ_AUoAnoECA0QBA&biw=1280&bih=913

The basking light bulb link is just an example of what you need. You can find one of those at your local mega store's like Wal-Mart or Home Depot. I personally use a 75 watt BR30 bulb with great success.

The UVB light will need to be upgraded to either a Repti-Sun 10.0 or Arcadia 12%. The UVB fixture from Amazon comes with a bulb but it's a 5.0 which isn't quite strong enough for a Veiled.

I hope this helps. I know this can all be very confusing so please don't hesitate to ask for clarification or any other help navigating through your husbandry.
 
Be careful...you only need to give D3 lightly twice a month and you said you do calcium/D3 twice a month but them you also use NectonRep twice a month...and it has D3 in it too...so you're using D3 4 times a month. Also the bottle only says vitamin A ...not whether it's a carotene prOformed source or a preformed source...so I have to assume it's preformed and you need to be careful with it. Vitamin A from prEformed sources and D3 from supplements can build up in the body because they are fat soluble and in addition they need to be in balance or they're antagonistic to each other.
 
kinyonga said:
Be careful...you only need to give D3 lightly twice a month and you said you do calcium/D3 twice a month but them you also use NectonRep twice a month...and it has D3 in it too...so you're using D3 4 times a month. Also the bottle only says vitamin A ...not whether it's a carotene prOformed source or a preformed source...so I have to assume it's preformed and you need to be careful with it. Vitamin A from prEformed sources and D3 from supplements can build up in the body because they are fat soluble and in addition they need to be in balance or they're antagonistic to each other.
Click to expand...

Okay, so do you suggest I just avoid using the Calcium + D3, and only the multivitamin 2 times a month?
Link to english webpage: https://www.nekton.de/en/product-reader/nekton-rep-148.html
 
Thanks for the link...but it wasn't that I couldn't read your bottle...it's that all their products list the vitamin A only as vitamin A and to know if it's prEformed or prOformed it has to say things like beta carotene, retinol, etc.

You can do that but I can't tell you if it would be too much D3 or vitamin A or not enough since I haven't used the Nekton products for years. I use RepCal with at all feedings but 4 a month lightly and RepCal without D3 twice a month lightly and Herptivite twice a month lightly.
 
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