concern for my chameleon

[jaggybask]

hi I recently purchased a veiled chameleon who is understood to be a month and a half old and seemed in good health. I also purchased a small enclosure for now as i am in the middle of errecting a self made one. In the pack were 2 bulbs one i was told was UVB.
i have had my chameleon for 2 days now and have stuck to everything i think i am ment to, he is sprayed 3/4 times a day is fed the amount of crickets he wants along with fresh greens all of this is coated in a calcium suppliment powder his tank is between 75 and 85 usually sitting around 82 in basking area with other end of tank slightly cooler he also has a drip sytem for water. I was unsure about the UVB that came with the kit so I have been online and ordered the correct UVB now as the bulb i got given is not strong enough.
Today i noticed that my poor boy is suffering he is unsteady on his feet and is unsure about his walking but seems to be wanting to move around.
I am concerned as I do not have a local pet shop near me and the UVB I have ordered will not be here untill the end of the week.
can anyone offer me any advice on what i can do..and is it only a missing UVB that can cause these side effects?
thank you for reading this I hope someone can offer me some guidance or at least lecture me for making this fatal mistake

 

[Chameleonic]

Hi new friend, welcome to the forum It seems you have a good idea of what is the stuation. Often chameleons seem unsure or unsteady but it a natural dance that they do. Maybe like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7XiwSM-oA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

The affects if you have them can be from lack of calcium, or from other diet things it is called MBD https://www.chameleonforums.com/wha...ase-mbd-looks-like-how-happens-how-fix-95071/

This caresheet is good for Veileds https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

This is nutrition info https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

If you have pics everyone likes pics

 

[jaggybask]

ok so now i do feel rather silly it seems he is doing the dance.. although i will be keeping an eye more than usual untill i know the UVB is in place.
so whats with the dance..why do they do this and how long can it last he has been doing it every time he moves for hours?
thank you for the post back it has settled me slightly i dont like messing up when it comes to my animals i dont like to know there suffering because i didnt do enough research...sorry and thank you again

 

[Kate]

Hi and welcome. As Cameleonic says chams have a way of stop/ start walking which can be alarming if you are not prepared for it. Not having uv for two days shouldn't cause problems however I don't know how he was looked after before you got him. I don't know where you are but is it possible to take him out in the sun? Are you using the uv you were given until your new one arrives?

 

[Sinfulintent]

The dance is to move more like leaves in trees, atleast that's what I've come to understand. They try to mimic the way leaves move in the wind so it's harder to spot them...

 

[jaggybask]

ok i im in scotland we have no sun at the moment lol just snow but yes i am still using the bulb i was given and will continue to use it untill the new one arrives....I cant believe i was unaware of this dance but yes i suppose if i think logically about it he is unsure of his new enviroment so might try to blend in with leaves to prevent being spotted or hurt.

 

[Chameleonic]

.sorry and thank you again

Dont be sorry but thank you for politeness You are right about your chameleon is most important. I understand from the forum that Scotland is beautiful

 

[jaggybask]

ok so its been a few hours since I raised my concerns with yous and yous made me feel easier about the whole dance steps thing but i think i have been working myself up now ....maybe i am looking for a problem that is not there but for the last couple of hours kyro (the chameleon) has not came out of his leaves even though food has been put in. I raised the food up towards him (its in a small container in his tank as he has not been hand fed before so is weary) so he has had a good look but still has not made an effort to come for it..so either he is not hungry and i am being paranoid or something is up. he usually has quite a few crickets over the space of the day but only had 3 this morning and has not went for anymore since?
is it normal for chameleon to just have a "bad day"??
he is still bright eyed and inquisitive to the extent of popping his head out every time he notices something but just doesnt seem to be quite as active or hungry??
any ideas??
or am I looking for something that is not there

 

[Kate]

Just relax and enjoy him. Could he be eating stray feeders? Do you usually cup feed him? Perhaps some different feeders would stimulate his appetite. I am presently looking after two small panthers that are slow feeders. Last week I got some curly wing flys and some fruit flys and they love them. Hunting all day. I'm waiting for silkworm eggs to hatch so I can feed them the worms. I find its best to feed from 8am till about 4pm this gives them time to digest before going to bed. Try not to leave crickets in at night as they can annoy and bite. If you are worried you could perhaps weigh the little one every couple of weeks to see him gaining weight.

 

[Kate]

ok i im in scotland we have no sun at the moment lol just snow but yes i am still using the bulb i was given and will continue to use it untill the new one arrives....I cant believe i was unaware of this dance but yes i suppose if i think logically about it he is unsure of his new enviroment so might try to blend in with leaves to prevent being spotted or hurt.

I'm in Aberdeen and its been snowing on and off all day. No sun!LOL

 

[Carlton]

The dance is to move more like leaves in trees, atleast that's what I've come to understand. They try to mimic the way leaves move in the wind so it's harder to spot them...

It is also an attempt to break up their movement pattern so they don't look like a prey animal. An animal "running" from a threat would not waver, pause, sway, etc.

 

[jaggybask]

thanks everyone...i am enjoying him i love to sit and watch and talk to him the reason i cup feed him is because thats how he has always been fed and i didnt want to stress him out to much by changing that straight away.
i will try another source of food with him but he might feel more like eating tomorrow so we shall see. he came out late tonight i misted his tank and started of the drip system and he came out a little to drink so i had a chat with him and told him to stop stressing me out lol. i think he is ok am just very protective as he is so young i knew it was a big responcabillity and i was undertaking a huge task so i was prepared but i threw myself by having the wrong equiptment which then put dought in my head about weither i was doing right by him.
i understand it will take a few weeks for us to get used to each others ways and get a bit of trust. but i love him already i think he is going to fit in with my family great. he has a good personality. i just dont want to mess it up for him

 

[Kate]

Pet shops are good at selling us stuff we don't need it's just a sale to them. I wish I had found this forum before I started as I have quite a lot of stuff I don't need. Glad you are enjoying him.