Nelbows
New Member
I got my first chameleon (veiled) on Feb 22, 2025. I got him (pesto) from a reptile expo in montana that same day from the LLLreptiles booth.
He was starting to shed when I first got him and now he's shed everything but a few spots on his crest and head. I think from his head to the base of his tail is around 4 inches. I think he is around 3 months old, not entirely sure.
Cage/Enclosure: 18x18x48 (LxWxH) He came with the Zoo Med Deluxe Chameleon Kit (https://www.lllreptile.com/products...MImNuZwMHliwMVAM_CBB2NciNQEAQYASABEgIKy_D_BwE) I'm using everything that came with it but none of the fake plants/vines because I already had a big pothos for when I did get a cham. I have many branches in a variety of thickness (most relatively thin since he's juvenile). Plenty go horizontal and some nearly vertical but still have a slope. The pothos vines are all over the enclosure so he can get anywhere he wants. I also have little clay balls (hydro balls) at the bottom of the enclosure and some flat and smooth stones as well.
Feeding and Water: I feed him around 8-10 ish small mealworms a day (or until he wont eat anymore) and a 1-2 (max) small superworms as treats after I handle him so he trusts me a bit more, (I know both aren't super nutritious and I will be getting better feeders soon) I gut load them with carrots and oranges and have dusted them all with repti calcium without d3 everyday and I dusted his today with some with d3. I hand feed him with a small shallow dish that i usually only put one worm in at a time (3-4 in the morning and the rest in the late afternoon when I get home from school). I've see him drink daily from the leaves when I spray them down in the morning and before I turn off his lights (I don't have a dripper.)
Handling: I (and some others) have handled him almost every day, trying to keep it to at most once a day and for usually less than five minutes just so he is more used to being handled. He has not hissed at all but he has puffed out his throat when I tried to find the temperature of his basking spot while he was nearby.
Temperature and Humidity: At the lowest during the day (near the bottom) it can get to like 69 degrees Fahrenheit, highest 73, and around 80-85 for basking. For humidity it's usually 45-65 during the day (mostly in lower 50's) and at night I have a regular humidifier on all night (I'm going to get an actual fogger that has timers soon) and it's about 85-100% humidity during the night.
Lights: I am using a linear reptisun T5 HO UVB that sits at the top of his cage, it doesn't like to ignite so its mostly been off (but I think I figured out how to fix that tonight.) His basking light is at least three inches above the top of the cage, (around five from his highest basking spot), and its a blue bulb that shines white light (I think zoo med).
Placement: He is in my small bedroom on my dresser, no windows and there is a small vent a few feet away that I have closed so it doesn't get too hot in there since it is such a small room. It is a very low traffic area, the only time people are in there is if I am in there, and or I am letting my family and friends see him. I'm planning on getting a curtain to go around his cage (attached to the ceiling) when he is asleep since usually I stay up later than when he's asleep and I don't want to wake him.
Concerns: HE HAS NOT POOPED since I have gotten him (or its just hidden in the back of his enclosure)
I can see his ribs a bit which I am concerned about since I just want him to be healthy.
He also likes to lay down (not supporting his weight) on branches during the day, usually up high in his enclosure, and he leans slightly when he does it, so he might be basking.
He also used to get a very dark brown when I first got him and he would be basking, which I know he is doing to absorb more heat, but I haven't seen him get as dark lately and usually its only for a little bit.
He also has a few tiny black spots on his face, like on the ridges on above his eyes and a larger one (but still small) that makes it look like he has a tiny beak.
He almost does a seal pose a few times a day, it started once he started to shed more but he also does it after he drinks, I just want to make sure it's normal and not a sign of something worse.
I just want the best for Pesto so I will take all criticism and suggestions for my baby. I will post photos of his enclosure tomorrow when he's awake, as well as his ribs, his black spots, and the way he lays down.
He was starting to shed when I first got him and now he's shed everything but a few spots on his crest and head. I think from his head to the base of his tail is around 4 inches. I think he is around 3 months old, not entirely sure.
Cage/Enclosure: 18x18x48 (LxWxH) He came with the Zoo Med Deluxe Chameleon Kit (https://www.lllreptile.com/products...MImNuZwMHliwMVAM_CBB2NciNQEAQYASABEgIKy_D_BwE) I'm using everything that came with it but none of the fake plants/vines because I already had a big pothos for when I did get a cham. I have many branches in a variety of thickness (most relatively thin since he's juvenile). Plenty go horizontal and some nearly vertical but still have a slope. The pothos vines are all over the enclosure so he can get anywhere he wants. I also have little clay balls (hydro balls) at the bottom of the enclosure and some flat and smooth stones as well.
Feeding and Water: I feed him around 8-10 ish small mealworms a day (or until he wont eat anymore) and a 1-2 (max) small superworms as treats after I handle him so he trusts me a bit more, (I know both aren't super nutritious and I will be getting better feeders soon) I gut load them with carrots and oranges and have dusted them all with repti calcium without d3 everyday and I dusted his today with some with d3. I hand feed him with a small shallow dish that i usually only put one worm in at a time (3-4 in the morning and the rest in the late afternoon when I get home from school). I've see him drink daily from the leaves when I spray them down in the morning and before I turn off his lights (I don't have a dripper.)
Handling: I (and some others) have handled him almost every day, trying to keep it to at most once a day and for usually less than five minutes just so he is more used to being handled. He has not hissed at all but he has puffed out his throat when I tried to find the temperature of his basking spot while he was nearby.
Temperature and Humidity: At the lowest during the day (near the bottom) it can get to like 69 degrees Fahrenheit, highest 73, and around 80-85 for basking. For humidity it's usually 45-65 during the day (mostly in lower 50's) and at night I have a regular humidifier on all night (I'm going to get an actual fogger that has timers soon) and it's about 85-100% humidity during the night.
Lights: I am using a linear reptisun T5 HO UVB that sits at the top of his cage, it doesn't like to ignite so its mostly been off (but I think I figured out how to fix that tonight.) His basking light is at least three inches above the top of the cage, (around five from his highest basking spot), and its a blue bulb that shines white light (I think zoo med).
Placement: He is in my small bedroom on my dresser, no windows and there is a small vent a few feet away that I have closed so it doesn't get too hot in there since it is such a small room. It is a very low traffic area, the only time people are in there is if I am in there, and or I am letting my family and friends see him. I'm planning on getting a curtain to go around his cage (attached to the ceiling) when he is asleep since usually I stay up later than when he's asleep and I don't want to wake him.
Concerns: HE HAS NOT POOPED since I have gotten him (or its just hidden in the back of his enclosure)
I can see his ribs a bit which I am concerned about since I just want him to be healthy.
He also likes to lay down (not supporting his weight) on branches during the day, usually up high in his enclosure, and he leans slightly when he does it, so he might be basking.
He also used to get a very dark brown when I first got him and he would be basking, which I know he is doing to absorb more heat, but I haven't seen him get as dark lately and usually its only for a little bit.
He also has a few tiny black spots on his face, like on the ridges on above his eyes and a larger one (but still small) that makes it look like he has a tiny beak.
He almost does a seal pose a few times a day, it started once he started to shed more but he also does it after he drinks, I just want to make sure it's normal and not a sign of something worse.
I just want the best for Pesto so I will take all criticism and suggestions for my baby. I will post photos of his enclosure tomorrow when he's awake, as well as his ribs, his black spots, and the way he lays down.
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