Smudgereeroo
New Member
Hello all, first some background:
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
--> Female Veiled named Zayna, about 8-9 months of age, with me since February '11
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
--> As little as possible, I don't really handle her, though she used to voluntarily crawl onto my arm during feedings
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
--> Bulk of diet is crickets, some mealworms now and then. About 10 medium to large per day. Crickets are fed a homemade gut load with ground organic dry dog food, rice baby cereal, oat bran, powdered skim milk; water crystals for moisture. Mealies are kept in oatmeal substrate with fresh fruit/veg for moisture, usually carrots.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
--> Calcium without D, light sprinkle most days, Calcium with D once every 2 weeks, Herptivite multi once a month
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
--> Reptifogger on timer, 30 minutes every 3 hours. This is set up so that the mist cascades down a plastic plant, where the water condenses and drips into a non functional waterfall dish. I have never seen Zayna drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
--> Dark brown feces, generally solid and cylindrical. White or occasionally light yellow urate
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
--> Zayna used to eagerly come to me at feeding time. I would always feed her a couple of crickets by hand before releasing the rest to be hunted, and she would often climb onto my arm to go after the crickets
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
--> 18"x18"x3' wire mesh enclosure (pic attached)
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
-->Exo-terra solar-glo 125W. 12 on, 12 off lighting
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
--> 80 to 90 daytime temp. range. Lowest overnight temp. about 70. daytime temps measured with Exo-terra thermometer.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
--> Humidity about 60% between mistings, maintained by Reptifogger. Measured by Exo-terra hygrometer
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
--> No live plants, only plastic
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?
--> Cage is in my study, not near fans/vents, quietest room in the house. Top of cage approx. 5' from the floor
Location - Where are you geographically located?
--> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
--> Lately (approx. the past 2 weeks) Zayna has become extremely shy. When ever she sees me she hurries away and hides in her foliage. I can't get her to eat out of my hand or a cup which she previously would eagerly do, and she's often an unhappy dark green/brownish colour, although I've caught her a more happy lighter green when I first come in the room or when she's sleeping. She is still eating the crickets I release into her enclosure, but not in front of me. I'm just wondering if this could be a sign of physical illness, or if it's more of a behavioural thing. I have been spending more time in my study lately, and not long before she started acting weird I did a big clean-up in this room, which might have freaked her out. I also don't know when I should start worrying about her becoming gravid, so maybe looking out for pre-egglaying changes in behaviour?
Any help/tips/advice would be very welcome. Thanks!
Michele
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
--> Female Veiled named Zayna, about 8-9 months of age, with me since February '11
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
--> As little as possible, I don't really handle her, though she used to voluntarily crawl onto my arm during feedings
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
--> Bulk of diet is crickets, some mealworms now and then. About 10 medium to large per day. Crickets are fed a homemade gut load with ground organic dry dog food, rice baby cereal, oat bran, powdered skim milk; water crystals for moisture. Mealies are kept in oatmeal substrate with fresh fruit/veg for moisture, usually carrots.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
--> Calcium without D, light sprinkle most days, Calcium with D once every 2 weeks, Herptivite multi once a month
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
--> Reptifogger on timer, 30 minutes every 3 hours. This is set up so that the mist cascades down a plastic plant, where the water condenses and drips into a non functional waterfall dish. I have never seen Zayna drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
--> Dark brown feces, generally solid and cylindrical. White or occasionally light yellow urate
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
--> Zayna used to eagerly come to me at feeding time. I would always feed her a couple of crickets by hand before releasing the rest to be hunted, and she would often climb onto my arm to go after the crickets
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
--> 18"x18"x3' wire mesh enclosure (pic attached)
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
-->Exo-terra solar-glo 125W. 12 on, 12 off lighting
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
--> 80 to 90 daytime temp. range. Lowest overnight temp. about 70. daytime temps measured with Exo-terra thermometer.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
--> Humidity about 60% between mistings, maintained by Reptifogger. Measured by Exo-terra hygrometer
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
--> No live plants, only plastic
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?
--> Cage is in my study, not near fans/vents, quietest room in the house. Top of cage approx. 5' from the floor
Location - Where are you geographically located?
--> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
--> Lately (approx. the past 2 weeks) Zayna has become extremely shy. When ever she sees me she hurries away and hides in her foliage. I can't get her to eat out of my hand or a cup which she previously would eagerly do, and she's often an unhappy dark green/brownish colour, although I've caught her a more happy lighter green when I first come in the room or when she's sleeping. She is still eating the crickets I release into her enclosure, but not in front of me. I'm just wondering if this could be a sign of physical illness, or if it's more of a behavioural thing. I have been spending more time in my study lately, and not long before she started acting weird I did a big clean-up in this room, which might have freaked her out. I also don't know when I should start worrying about her becoming gravid, so maybe looking out for pre-egglaying changes in behaviour?
Any help/tips/advice would be very welcome. Thanks!
Michele
