Chameleons and Vine Moss (PLEASE RESPOND QUICKLY)
- Thread starter XxKasmixX
- Start date
Probably a good idea to remove it and have your husbandry reviewed. Please answer the questions below in as much detail as possible and also post pics of your cham and enclosure top to bottom.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
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?
XxKasmixX
New Member
I didn't, but I can take it out and do that but he's back to sitting on top of it and basking in his heat lamp
XxKasmixX
New Member
- Vieled Chameleon, Male, A month old, today is the second day
- I haven't attempted to handle him as I read it isn't recommended to handle for around the first week
- I am feeding him crickets with calcium powder, 3-5 in the morning and around the same in the afternoon. I have not yet gut-loaded my current guys yet was planning to do that when I can get to the store during these tedious times
- I am using ReptiCalcium daily, and haven't used any vitamin products yet
I mist my cage for watering I mist two times a day for 3-5 minutes and I see him drink sometimes
- I have a pretty covered cage and have yet to see any droppings in the 2 days of my care
- He is known to be a slow eater
- I have a 2 x 2 x 4 screen cage
- I have a Zoo Med Tropical heat and UVB bulb kit that I start at around 8:30 and turn off at around 8ish
- It is around 70 average, Around 60 at night, I use a temperature strip to check these temperatures
- My humidity levels are generally around 57-60% It is generally humid where I live, and if it gets to the lower 50s I do a light misting, I use a hydrometer to measure this
- I'm using live plants a ficus and a Scindapsus
- It is located in front of the door to enter my room, it is below a vent, and a fan is in front of it. The height of the cage is about a foot and a half from the ceiling
- I live in North Carolina
And I do want it to be known that he generally does not have those dots on his body nor is he that dull color he changes colors to that when I open up his cage generally he is a brighter green with the darker colors going down the side of his body
First off - Welcome to the forums. Secondly - Congrats on your new chameleon. Thirdly - Deep breath. I'm going to give you a lot of feedback. But once you make these changes, your little guy will be very happy and healthy.
- Vieled Chameleon, Male, A month old, today is the second day This is VERY young to get a chameleon. You'll have to be extra on top of everything to make sure he grows up without any defects.
- I haven't attempted to handle him as I read it isn't recommended to handle for around the first week Yup. Good call. Give him at least two weeks to settle in.
- I am feeding him crickets with calcium powder, 3-5 in the morning and around the same in the afternoon. I have not yet gut-loaded my current guys yet was planning to do that when I can get to the store during these tedious times Try feeding him all his bugs in the morning so he has enough time to digest them. Try getting him some different feeders - Dubia roaches, black solider fly larvae, black solider flies, silk worms, silk moths, hornworms (as a treat), hawkmoths, wax worms (as a treat), wax moths, and blue bottle flies. Do you have any fresh fruits or veggies at home?
- I am using ReptiCalcium daily, and haven't used any vitamin products yet The calcium you're using is 1 of 3 supplements you need. You'll also want calcium WITHOUT D3 and a multivitamin (I use Reptvite without D3)
Use calcium without D3 6x week, calcium with D3 1x every other week, and multivitamin 1x every other week. This video will help you understand it better:
I mist my cage for watering I mist two times a day for 3-5 minutes and I see him drink sometimes Great.
- I have a pretty covered cage and have yet to see any droppings in the 2 days of my care I respectfully disagree. The top left corner is empty and therefor is unused space. He really only has one diagonal branch. He shold have a bunch going horizontal and another going the other diagonal. He also doesn't have any coverage at the top.
- He is known to be a slow eater
- I have a 2 x 2 x 4 screen cage Perfect.
- I have a Zoo Med Tropical heat and UVB bulb kit that I start at around 8:30 and turn off at around 8ish This is something that needs to change ASAP. You want a linear T5 HO (high output) UVB. The one you have now does not give him enough UVB. Without a proper bulb, he will develop metabolic bone disease which is fatal. What you have is a COMPACT UVB which doesn't penetrate more than like 3 inches. The T5 LINEAR bulb I'm suggesting penetrates much, much further. I'm going to link a video where I tested the ultra violet index of a bunch of different UVB bulbs including the one you have now and the one I'm suggesting and you'll be able to see what I am talking about.
- It is around 70 average, Around 60 at night, I use a temperature strip to check these temperatures What is the basking temp?
- My humidity levels are generally around 57-60% It is generally humid where I live, and if it gets to the lower 50s I do a light misting, I use a hydrometer to measure this Good.
- I'm using live plants a ficus and a Scindapsus Good.
- It is located in front of the door to enter my room, it is below a vent, and a fan is in front of it. The height of the cage is about a foot and a half from the ceiling
- I live in North Carolina
- Vieled Chameleon, Male, A month old, today is the second day This is VERY young to get a chameleon. You'll have to be extra on top of everything to make sure he grows up without any defects.
- I haven't attempted to handle him as I read it isn't recommended to handle for around the first week Yup. Good call. Give him at least two weeks to settle in.
- I am feeding him crickets with calcium powder, 3-5 in the morning and around the same in the afternoon. I have not yet gut-loaded my current guys yet was planning to do that when I can get to the store during these tedious times Try feeding him all his bugs in the morning so he has enough time to digest them. Try getting him some different feeders - Dubia roaches, black solider fly larvae, black solider flies, silk worms, silk moths, hornworms (as a treat), hawkmoths, wax worms (as a treat), wax moths, and blue bottle flies. Do you have any fresh fruits or veggies at home?
- I am using ReptiCalcium daily, and haven't used any vitamin products yet The calcium you're using is 1 of 3 supplements you need. You'll also want calcium WITHOUT D3 and a multivitamin (I use Reptvite without D3)
Use calcium without D3 6x week, calcium with D3 1x every other week, and multivitamin 1x every other week. This video will help you understand it better:
I mist my cage for watering I mist two times a day for 3-5 minutes and I see him drink sometimes Great.
- I have a pretty covered cage and have yet to see any droppings in the 2 days of my care I respectfully disagree. The top left corner is empty and therefor is unused space. He really only has one diagonal branch. He shold have a bunch going horizontal and another going the other diagonal. He also doesn't have any coverage at the top.
- He is known to be a slow eater
- I have a 2 x 2 x 4 screen cage Perfect.
- I have a Zoo Med Tropical heat and UVB bulb kit that I start at around 8:30 and turn off at around 8ish This is something that needs to change ASAP. You want a linear T5 HO (high output) UVB. The one you have now does not give him enough UVB. Without a proper bulb, he will develop metabolic bone disease which is fatal. What you have is a COMPACT UVB which doesn't penetrate more than like 3 inches. The T5 LINEAR bulb I'm suggesting penetrates much, much further. I'm going to link a video where I tested the ultra violet index of a bunch of different UVB bulbs including the one you have now and the one I'm suggesting and you'll be able to see what I am talking about.
- It is around 70 average, Around 60 at night, I use a temperature strip to check these temperatures What is the basking temp?
- My humidity levels are generally around 57-60% It is generally humid where I live, and if it gets to the lower 50s I do a light misting, I use a hydrometer to measure this Good.
- I'm using live plants a ficus and a Scindapsus Good.
- It is located in front of the door to enter my room, it is below a vent, and a fan is in front of it. The height of the cage is about a foot and a half from the ceiling
- I live in North Carolina
Bush baby
Avid Member
You should NOT be using this daily. You should be using WITHOUT D3 daily or your cham will overdose.
XxKasmixX
New Member
Will it be ok if he has a single day or two without the calcium them so I can run and buy some?
XxKasmixX
New Member
For feeding him multiple bugs, would meal worms be something he could also eat, I will order the light immediately, I can get more diagonal sticks and some top leaf coverage.
If it isn't a bother is there anyway I can directly contact you so that I can keep you up to date and ask more questions than needed
Yeah he will be fine for a day or two. Not much longer.
Meal worms are a no-no for chameleons. They are not great nutritionally and can be hard to digest because of their exoskeleton. Stick to the bugs I mentioned above (oooh! could also feed stick bugs when he is older)
Yes of course! Feel free to send me a DM. Just click my profile and select "Start conversation". I'm also on YouTube and Instagram as @neptunethechameleon if that's easier.
Welcome to the forum! You've been given some good advice here by @Gingero .
Just a couple more things..You don't need to buy a specific gutload just use dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, mustard greens, carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, etc and a very small bit of mango, apples, pears, berries, melon, etc.
Make sure the crickets are of a proper size for the chameleon.
Just a couple more things..You don't need to buy a specific gutload just use dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, mustard greens, carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, etc and a very small bit of mango, apples, pears, berries, melon, etc.
Make sure the crickets are of a proper size for the chameleon.
Bush baby
Avid Member
Yes, he'll be fine for a few days. Just feed him feeders that are high in calcium, i.e crickets or super worms gut loaded with dark green leafy veggies, or feed him silk or hornworms.
