Feeding and enclosure

[jennleila]

I just fed our chameleon 6 dusted crickets. She was moved into a 24x24x48 all screen cage last night from a smaller cage, about 1/3 or half the size it is now. We saw her eat one cricket but went to her basking spot. Do they usually eat all crickets in a short time; like one after another, or do they take their time and eat throughout the day? I'm asking because she's in a bigger cage now and maybe can't find the other crickets. She is about 4 months old. Could the cage be too big for her? It is also heavily planted.

I would love some input on how I set up the enclosure. I have attached some pictures. Please let me know if my setup is okay. I have an umbrella plant, ficus and croton in the cage. I will have a 18 inch reptisun 5.0 linear going across the top later today. Right now there is a Zoomed nocturnal infrared heat lamp,100 watts. Is that too hot or does it just matter that the temperature is suitable where she basks? It should be 85-95 in her basking area, right? Currently their is a UVB compact fluorescent light but I will be taking it out for the 5.0 linear.

I was also reading that the red light can bother their sleep. If my house gets down to 50 in the middle of the night, does she still need a heat lamp? I read that they can tolerate 40 degrees but that seems too cold.

 

[Progrmor]

I just fed our chameleon 6 dusted crickets. She was moved into a 24x24x48 all screen cage last night from a smaller cage, about 1/3 or half the size it is now. We saw her eat one cricket but went to her basking spot. Do they usually eat all crickets in a short time; like one after another, or do they take their time and eat throughout the day? I'm asking because she's in a bigger cage now and maybe can't find the other crickets. She is about 4 months old. Could the cage be too big for her? It is also heavily planted.

I would love some input on how I set up the enclosure. I have attached some pictures. Please let me know if my setup is okay. I have an umbrella plant, ficus and croton in the cage. I will have a 18 inch reptisun 5.0 linear going across the top later today. Right now there is a Zoomed nocturnal infrared heat lamp,100 watts. Is that too hot or does it just matter that the temperature is suitable where she basks? It should be 85-95 in her basking area, right? Currently their is a UVB compact fluorescent light but I will be taking it out for the 5.0 linear.

I was also reading that the red light can bother their sleep. If my house gets down to 50 in the middle of the night, does she still need a heat lamp? I read that they can tolerate 40 degrees but that seems too cold.

I would get rid of the red lamp anyway. They can handle it. Otherwise, looks good.

She is just checking her new enclosure, thats probably why she didn´t eat all of them. Give her time.

 

[melble68]

You might my try a sunny D / cup feeding method if you are worried about free range feeders. there are many threads around w/ examples of sunny d feeding station kind of a thing. Not my video, just a quick search i did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBvjGTFwpk&feature=youtu.be

croton should go. replace it with another shefflera or something.

 

[sandrachameleon]

welcome to the forum!

its normal for there to be a period of adjustment when moved to a new cage.
I might add a few more lateral branches.

I would keep your home (or at least the room she is in) warmer 60F minimum until she is at least 6 months old. I would not recommend the red light.

you are correct that the wattage of the lamp isn't the important thing - what is important is the temperature zones in the enclosure that you are creating.

 

[jennleila]

So what type of heating bulb should I use that doesn't have a visible light? Also what do you mean by lateral branches?

 

[Jelloman]

Can't tell if the soil is covered or not but my Chameleons will go right after dirt or gravel if it is not covered with LARGE rocks.

 

[Zephalia]

Lateral branches meaning more vines/branches across the top of the cage. They seem a little far down to me. Chams like to be up high so having them half way down the cage may cause them to feel insecure in their surroundings. For me, I try to spread the vines out so there are some at the top section, middle section and a couple lower so my guy can escape to a cooler area if needed or reach the warmest spots to heat up.

The red lights aren't necessary and will disrupt their sleep patterns. They need dark at night. I use a 60 watt heat bulb for Pete's basking spot and a UVB bulb. They are set on 12 hour timers and so far have been working out great.

In regards to temperatures, I don't let the room go below 60F at night.

 

[Ahyriah]

If it isn't possible for you to keep the room 60F with a heater you can buy ceramic bulbs that don't admit light but will keep her nice and warm! They are a little spendy but they last for a few years. You can find them on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...8&qid=1384042389&sr=1-2&keywords=ceramic+bulb