Posey
New Member
Hello everyone. I have been reading and researching on here since my son rescued a chameleon from a friend who no longer wanted her and have learned so much information! I really thank you all. There are a few things I have been wondering about that I couldn't find a direct answer so thought I would ask the experts here 
First of all we have a female veiled that is about 6-7 months old. We set up her cage (a large dragon strand breeder this weekend). Most of my questions are about the setup because I want to make sure she is happy and comfortable.
1. We have some dowel rods (different sized) and some of the fake bendy vine. I've seen her on the dowels but not the vine and I have more to put in but I was wondering do they prefer the stability of the dowel or is the little bit of give the vines have okay? I don't want her to feel unstable or unsteady but I figure that they walk on vines in the real world and do fine.
2. How steep can they climb. We have one dowel rod that basically goes from top 1/4 of cage to bottom 1/4. I haven't seen her on it and wonder if it is too steep to climb
3. Has anyone used bird perches? I saw one at petsmart that looked like a real branch (said it had been heat cured)and had a bolt you could bolt it right to the dragon strand ledge. I thought it would be a good way to give her additional branches to climb on.
They also had a ladder made out of wood and rope - I was wondering if I hung it down the side she could climb up it or if I stretches it across she could walk on it - again not sure how stable they want things to feel underfoot.
I had a rock type bridge for her basking area thinking that she would like the stability but read that they don't like to walk on flat surfaces and although it isn't completely flat it isn't like a branch so I plan to take that out unless people say she might like it. I have seen her on it but only once.
4. So do I need to keep a place for her to lay eggs in her cage at all times since we won't know how to tell when she needs to lay? Will she not eat the sand and get sick? And how do you keep it moist enough for her to dig? Does the misting system do that?
5. We just did her cage and put her in it and she has been hissing at us. I know she needs to get used to the new cage but if I want to make changes for the better is it okay to take her out and fix it up and put her back or should we wait a couple weeks until she is settled and then change things. I don't want her to feel unsafe.
6. We are going on vacation in a month for a week and will have grandparents feed her and they aren't too happy about feeding live crickets - they will if they have to but I saw a can of crickets at petsmart - looked like cat food can. Would that be okay to feed her for just a week?
Sorry for all the questions and especially if any of them are dumb or uninformed. I'm trying to learn all I can. These are complicated little reptiles and I don't want her to be unhappy! Thanks again!
First of all we have a female veiled that is about 6-7 months old. We set up her cage (a large dragon strand breeder this weekend). Most of my questions are about the setup because I want to make sure she is happy and comfortable.
1. We have some dowel rods (different sized) and some of the fake bendy vine. I've seen her on the dowels but not the vine and I have more to put in but I was wondering do they prefer the stability of the dowel or is the little bit of give the vines have okay? I don't want her to feel unstable or unsteady but I figure that they walk on vines in the real world and do fine.
2. How steep can they climb. We have one dowel rod that basically goes from top 1/4 of cage to bottom 1/4. I haven't seen her on it and wonder if it is too steep to climb
3. Has anyone used bird perches? I saw one at petsmart that looked like a real branch (said it had been heat cured)and had a bolt you could bolt it right to the dragon strand ledge. I thought it would be a good way to give her additional branches to climb on.
They also had a ladder made out of wood and rope - I was wondering if I hung it down the side she could climb up it or if I stretches it across she could walk on it - again not sure how stable they want things to feel underfoot.
I had a rock type bridge for her basking area thinking that she would like the stability but read that they don't like to walk on flat surfaces and although it isn't completely flat it isn't like a branch so I plan to take that out unless people say she might like it. I have seen her on it but only once.
4. So do I need to keep a place for her to lay eggs in her cage at all times since we won't know how to tell when she needs to lay? Will she not eat the sand and get sick? And how do you keep it moist enough for her to dig? Does the misting system do that?
5. We just did her cage and put her in it and she has been hissing at us. I know she needs to get used to the new cage but if I want to make changes for the better is it okay to take her out and fix it up and put her back or should we wait a couple weeks until she is settled and then change things. I don't want her to feel unsafe.
6. We are going on vacation in a month for a week and will have grandparents feed her and they aren't too happy about feeding live crickets - they will if they have to but I saw a can of crickets at petsmart - looked like cat food can. Would that be okay to feed her for just a week?
Sorry for all the questions and especially if any of them are dumb or uninformed. I'm trying to learn all I can. These are complicated little reptiles and I don't want her to be unhappy! Thanks again!
