Hi, I'm new to the forum and have just bought (on New Years Eve) after lots of research a year old male veiled chameleon from a reptile enthusiast along with their 6 x 2.5 x 2.5 flexarium and all the kit (scores of vines, wood, ficus plant, fake plants, dripper, UVB 5.0 tube, UVA basking bulb and ceramic bulb in holder). We've secured all the branches with cable ties and added an umbrella plant so there's loads of cover for security
Basking spot in the day is 90-95 and the ambient air around 80. I leave the heat sources on thermostats and they are on for 12 hours a day. Humidity is low at around 30-35 but I mist thoroughly twice daily and the dripper runs constantly. Water is treated with a calcium conditioner and generally the chameleon has been happy enough to be handled gently
I'm aware of the need to let them 'settle in' and over-worrying, also having a python and boa constrictor and a menagerie of fish and rodents but am a little concerned about his feeding. The previous owners said he feeds well every other day and can be fed by hand. He's 1 and a good 12" from head to tail tip and they said he feeds well on a variety of insects but that he loved locusts the best (takes 10 large). They gave us some locusts and he did take about half a dozen from our hand 24 hours after us bringing him home
We tried feeding him medium / large brown crickets (v lightly dusted with Nutrabol) 2 days later by hand to start (but to no avail) and then in a shallow dish in the cage but it appears few if any were eaten. We then added the reminder of the locusts and he did eat 3 or 4 (we checked the day after how many were left) but that's it
We were going out last night (2 days after last 'feed') and thought it best to leave him in peace and quiet to eat. We put mealworms and crickets in the dish and left him to it. We checked this morning and none have gone
My boyfriend tried again tonight with noone else about but said that the chameleon was very aggressive and not up for it at all so he put him back so not to stress him any further
We can get in touch with the last owners for advice but wondered if anyone's got any ideas? Do we just stick with locusts? What would you expect a sub-adult to be eating in terms of quantity and frequency? Do we leave it for a few days before trying again?
Any advice would be greatly received
Basking spot in the day is 90-95 and the ambient air around 80. I leave the heat sources on thermostats and they are on for 12 hours a day. Humidity is low at around 30-35 but I mist thoroughly twice daily and the dripper runs constantly. Water is treated with a calcium conditioner and generally the chameleon has been happy enough to be handled gently
I'm aware of the need to let them 'settle in' and over-worrying, also having a python and boa constrictor and a menagerie of fish and rodents but am a little concerned about his feeding. The previous owners said he feeds well every other day and can be fed by hand. He's 1 and a good 12" from head to tail tip and they said he feeds well on a variety of insects but that he loved locusts the best (takes 10 large). They gave us some locusts and he did take about half a dozen from our hand 24 hours after us bringing him home
We tried feeding him medium / large brown crickets (v lightly dusted with Nutrabol) 2 days later by hand to start (but to no avail) and then in a shallow dish in the cage but it appears few if any were eaten. We then added the reminder of the locusts and he did eat 3 or 4 (we checked the day after how many were left) but that's it
We were going out last night (2 days after last 'feed') and thought it best to leave him in peace and quiet to eat. We put mealworms and crickets in the dish and left him to it. We checked this morning and none have gone
My boyfriend tried again tonight with noone else about but said that the chameleon was very aggressive and not up for it at all so he put him back so not to stress him any further
We can get in touch with the last owners for advice but wondered if anyone's got any ideas? Do we just stick with locusts? What would you expect a sub-adult to be eating in terms of quantity and frequency? Do we leave it for a few days before trying again?
Any advice would be greatly received
