Female veiled chameleon acting wierd

Hi there since no one has seen this yet I wanted to point out. You have a mirror sitting on the right side of her cage... This is very bad because she is seeing her reflection which causes a stress response. This needs to go. You will want to correct her entire enclosure, lighting, and add supplements along with gutload.

Here is my cheat sheet for what I like and things that you may need.

Cage 24x24x48 like this https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiBreeze-Screen-48-Inches/dp/B001PHABI8/ref=sr_1_11?crid=750TXFPLI11X&keywords=extra+large+reptibreeze&qid=1552311072&s=gateway&sprefix=extra+large+reptibre,aps,204&sr=8-11

Drip tray you can buy for these like a hotwater heater pan...
or you can spend more and get a better quality cage with drip tray for the water to collect in. These come in screen or clearside and are made by www.dragonstrand.com. The dragon ledges help attach potted plants higher in the cage. But he builds in a schedule so you have to pre order them unless he has some in stock. Or you can buy the drip tray from dragon strand and the ledges and get the reptibreeze cage.

https://dragonstrand.com/screen-cages-2/



FYI When using a screen enclosure you may want to wrap at least the back and one side panel if not both of the cage in clear plastic like a shower curtain and attach with magnets so the water does not spray out. Unless you live in a high humidity area then just do the back panel.


Lighting for UVB and plant growth is dual or quad T5 HO fixture. You can look on lightyourreptiles.com These fixtures should be purchased in the length that your cage is. UVB bulb you get will depend on the species of cham you get. You are looking for a T5HO fixture with a 5.0 zoomed bulb or a 6% arcadia bulb. UVB fixture should be placed directly on top of the cage and then basking should be 7-8 inches below for proper UVI levels.

Heat lamp I would recommend a: https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Repta-Clamp-8-5-Inch-Ceramic-Dimmable/dp/B003H200QC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8HVMEZI2QMV3&keywords=flukers+dimmable+heat+lamp&qid=1552311478&s=gateway&sprefix=fukers+dimm,aps,208&sr=8-1

bulb for it is your preference but I am partial to zilla brand day light white: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SRUU32/ref=twister_B07C8WY1XN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

May need timers for different fixtures as well. 12 hour on and off for lights on chams.



Dimming Thermostat for Heat lamp can be used with any dome light and ensures you will not bake your cham as it will keep your bulb at the exact temp you need it at basking. Please ensure that you are getting a dimming thermostat. Herpstat and Vivarium Electronics both make dimming thermostats.

https://www.joshsfrogs.com/vivarium-electronics-ve-200-thermostat.html

https://www.joshsfrogs.com/vivarium-electronics-ve-300-thermostat.html

https://www.pangeareptile.com/store...MIw4mU17-b4QIVENvACh0Y8g1MEAYYASABEgLusPD_BwE



Automatic mister a must have in my opinion. https://www.amazon.com/MistKing-22251-Starter-Misting-System/dp/B012IAK4SC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HEHG6S2ENP0I&keywords=mistking+starter+misting+system&qid=1552311288&s=gateway&sprefix=mistking+stra,aps,206&sr=8-1



hydrometer and thermometer to measure heat and humidity, you want a few to get different levels. Most use a wired thermometer at basking level then a non wired in other areas: https://www.amazon.com/Pangea-drt-1...reptiles&qid=1552311763&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-2

and https://www.amazon.com/Alfie-Pet-Pe...eptiles&qid=1552311838&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-18



Live plants like Pothos or dwarf umbrella plants. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/plants/

If you get a veiled you have to put large 1inch or bigger river rock in the top so they don't eat the soil. :)



Vines and branches for horizontal pathways in different sizes for grip. Natural branches are better. You can collect these from your yard as long as they are not from Sap producing trees. Give them a wash down with dawn and water then rinse well and dry out. Use zip ties to hook them into the cage or dragon ledges.


And then you need a multivitamin to give 2 times a month every other week, Calcium with D3 to give 2 times a month the opposite every other week, and then a calcium without D3 used nearly every feeding.

Or use an all in one supplement like repashy calcium plus lod https://www.amazon.com/Repashy-Calcium-Plus-LoD-JAR/dp/B00DLJRMV2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3KGDS02GG78YH&keywords=repashy+calcium+plus&qid=1572891486&sprefix=repashy+calciu,aps,301&sr=8-2



Feeders: Need to offer variety. See image below. You can buy feeders from a site sponsor


Feeder containers: I have bought my own as well as converted plastic tubs to hold them. I like these but the large size only if I buy one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0073KOGOG/ref=twister_B06X9LKF3Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


Feeder food aka Gutload: something like Repashy Bug burger, cricket crack, or insect fuel from Arcadia brand if you want a predone gutload instead of fresh veg and fruit everyday. See image below for feeder food.

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The mirror wasn’t always there but I did move it. Thank u for all the information idk how long u spent typing that but I appreciate you took the time!
 
Wow thank u very much
Your welcome hun. As far as importance level your looking at cage upgrade, lighting upgrade, proper supplements, and gutload. These 4 should be done all at once. Then you can look into an auto misting system just make sure your hand misting correctly. It is a lot of info so if you have questions please ask. But remove the mirror now and make sure it is no where near her cage. They are solitary animals so seeing even a reflection makes them feel extreme stress that another cham is moving in on their territory.
 
Your welcome hun. As far as importance level your looking at cage upgrade, lighting upgrade, proper supplements, and gutload. These 4 should be done all at once. Then you can look into an auto misting system just make sure your hand misting correctly. It is a lot of info so if you have questions please ask. But remove the mirror now and make sure it is no where near her cage. They are solitary animals so seeing even a reflection makes them feel extreme stress that another cham is moving in on their territory.
I moved it and am already researching everything I need to get for prices! I appreciate y’all so much!
 
If that’s an ashtray I would be very careful about smoking around the Cham. They have paper thin lungs. Not sure what kind of damage second hand smoke can do.
Good catch I did not even see that one lol. This is why I love it when people post pics we can catch things that are not spoken about. :p
 
I know you’re being bombarded with info, so it might help to start a notebook to better keep track of things.
Just some ideas about keeping costs down a bit. Many members have converted old China or display cases into some beautiful enclosures. Old cabinets can be picked up super cheap at thrift stores, Facebook marketplace and other places. You might even be able to find one for free. You can forage for branches - wash with Dawn and hose down well. For plants, pothos are awesome and you can make more with clippings.
 
I know you’re being bombarded with info, so it might help to start a notebook to better keep track of things.
Just some ideas about keeping costs down a bit. Many members have converted old China or display cases into some beautiful enclosures. Old cabinets can be picked up super cheap at thrift stores, Facebook marketplace and other places. You might even be able to find one for free. You can forage for branches - wash with Dawn and hose down well. For plants, pothos are awesome and you can make more with clippings.
Awesome! I will start doing that! Wow y’all have been amazing!!
 
I want to thank everyone for their advice and help with Willow. She just laid her first batch of unfertilized eggs and has been doing great! 41 eggs
 

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what types of roaches? most of us use dubia because they live forever and dont stink. if they are "Wild Cought" i would think they could have tons of parasites and bacteria that could affect her
Agree; feeding wild caught feeders presents all sorts of crazy harmful issues especially if they've come from a house in which poison might have been left out to destroy the colony ...
 
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