First Chameleon.

[prizefighter]

Bought "Dinosaur" two weeks ago. Female vieled, not sure on the age, she's maybe 3-4 inches long not including the tail so im guessing 2-4 months old? The move from Petco to my house must have stressed her out because she kept her eyes closed and wouldn't eat for a few days. She opened her eyes yesterday, started moving around more and this morning her feeder cup was empty so I think she'll be ok.

Right now I have her in a temporary cage, one that I made out of screen door mesh and a plastic storage shelf. It 2x2x3. I plan on making her a permanent home this weekend or next out of wood and I was planning on making it 3x2x5, maybe even 3x2x6. Do you think this enclosure will be to large for a chameleon this young?

My other question is on feeder crickets, obviously buying bulk online would be more economical, but how many should I order at a time? I've read that juveniles should be eating about 12a day, how long will the crickets keep for? Whats the most I can buy at this point so my chameleon will eat them before they die off?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I think that a 3x2x6 cage would be wonderful for her. Just make sure she gets her food and she will be in chameleon paradise.

As for her, based on that first picture of her, I would say she is older than you think. She seems to basically have her adult coloring and is a pretty good size (that or the hand in the picture is TINY). I would guess she is at least 6 months old, and knowing how the pet stores care for them, maybe even older.

The rule of thumb for cricket sizing is that the feeder should be no wider (side to side) than the space between your chams eyes. I DO NOT use crickets any more because they are LOUD and VERY STINKY!!! I am a dubia roach fan to the day I die. If you can swing it start a small colony. You will be so glad you did.

Good luck with your little girl, and be sure to get a laying bin in her cage soon. She may not need it now, but it is always a good idea to have one available to her at all times.

 

[johnnyev]

She doesn't look very well to me. Could just be stressed from having no where to perch on. But happy healthy Chameleons like to be up off the floor usually, in my experience. Unless of course they are hunting or nesting.
Personally i'd take her to an experienced reptile vet for a check up.

 

[prizefighter]

She's perched about 5 1/2 feet off the floor, I can see from the picture I posted that it looks like she's on the ground but she's not. The picture of her In my hand was from a few days ago when she had her eyes closed. Already took her to the vet and he told me what I already figured, she was dehydrated and stressed. She's eating and drinking now, and rarely in the same spot when I check in on her. If you have any input on my planned cage size, or how many crickets I should order at a time your help would be appreciated.

 

[johnnyev]

Ha ha!! Yeah sorry, can sort of see that now.
I personally think the enclosure sizes are fine. As long as you monitor her feeding. Just have to keep an eye on her, to make sure she can catch the prey items ok, without them hiding in or escaping from enclosure before she can eat them. Tbh mate, they grow so quick that buying/building a cage in between sizes will largely be a waste of time/cash. Unless cash is not an issue i suppose. You could always put a temporary floor in, half way up the enclosure. I have kept three month old yemen & panthers (not at same time) in a cage size measuring 48x24x24 inches, without any issues.

 

[brownie64]

?

Are you sure she is a she?? I have raised veiled's for over 16 years and have only seen this coloration pattern on males. Now the second picture looks like a female which seems really weird to me same cham right? Did the Vet say it was a female? Just never seen this on a female before except maybe neonates that show color briefly. May be do to stress she really looks sick, and dehydrated hope she pulls out of it. good luck

P.S. look at the back feet if there are bumps or spurs if you will thin she is a he.

 

[simca357]

Are you sure she is a she?? I have raised veiled's for over 16 years and have only seen this coloration pattern on males. Now the second picture looks like a female which seems really weird to me same cham right? Did the Vet say it was a female? Just never seen this on a female before except maybe neonates that show color briefly. May be do to stress she really looks sick, and dehydrated hope she pulls out of it. good luck

P.S. look at the back feet if there are bumps or spurs if you will thin she is a he.

yah as what ive notice first, "she" has a very long casque

 

[brownie64]

She's perched about 5 1/2 feet off the floor, I can see from the picture I posted that it looks like she's on the ground but she's not. The picture of her In my hand was from a few days ago when she had her eyes closed. Already took her to the vet and he told me what I already figured, she was dehydrated and stressed. She's eating and drinking now, and rarely in the same spot when I check in on her. If you have any input on my planned cage size, or how many crickets I should order at a time your help would be appreciated.

Well how many crickets you get depends on if you have a suitable place to put them. (THEY STINK ) and by that I mean they are very smelly. I would buy a thousand at a time it was the most economical for me. But don't buy anything over medium size or you will lose a lot of them before she eats them do to them dying of old age. I know veiled cham eat like crazy but a thousand is a lot of crickets. The only reason I don't suggest 500 at a time is because 1000 is just a few dollars more.

 

[brownie64]

yah as what ive notice first, "she" has a very long casque

Yah I agree she sure looks like a he to me in that first pic.

 

[SycoSquirl]

personally i wouldnt buy in bulk, I have a small cricket keeper where i keep about 24 medium-large ones every week and if I didnt clean it at least once a week it smells terrible. I literally hate them, but on the plus side for me is their noise helps me fall asleep which is why i still keep them (plus my mom would kick me out if i started with dubia) If I go to the pet store near me (they are a small chain and we know the owners very well) once a week for the crickets I pay only $2 and i put cham safe food in with them and replace it daily so they dont feed on rotten food. But the smell is the worst part honestly. Once I am back at school and out of my parents house I will try dubias honestly.

 

[johnnyev]

Yah I agree she sure looks like a he to me in that first pic.

Must admit i thought the same.

Get some dubia roaches, much better than crickets (though crickets are still a good feeder insect) & dont smell, make noise or escape as easily as crickets.
Do you have locust available over there? Chameleons love them & they are easy to keep & use as a feeder.

 

[prizefighter]

Casque? There are definitely no spurs on the back legs. Im almost done with his/her permanent home 2x2x6 and I'm going to move her/him into it tonight or tomorrow, when I do ill post some more pics so you guys can get a better look. In that first pic i can see now she looks rough and dried out but She's definitely doing better now than a few days ago, eyes are open and much healthier looking, she's eating and moving around more.

 

[brownie64]

Casque? There are definitely no spurs on the back legs. Im almost done with his/her permanent home 2x2x6 and I'm going to move her/him into it tonight or tomorrow, when I do ill post some more pics so you guys can get a better look. In that first pic i can see now she looks rough and dried out but She's definitely doing better now than a few days ago, eyes are open and much healthier looking, she's eating and moving around more.

Yah it's the top part of his/her head, the veil. Glad to hear he/she is doing better. If there isn't any bumps directly behind the feet than she would indeed be a she. Would like to see some pics of her back feet though.

 

[prizefighter]

More pics as promised, including her new home. Still working on getting some sticks higher up in the cage closer to the light.

 

[brownie64]

From what I can tell from pic #3 I can't see any spurs so I am leaning towards female. Even though the color pattern looks male. Like they say first time for everything because I personally have never seen this. She is looking better though, but looks like she has a way to go. Just make sure you give her plenty of chances to drink. You might want to consider a laying ben for her because she looks like she has reached sexual maturity to me, and she will lay eggs rather she has been with a male or not. I hope she holds off until she has recovered laying eggs are hard on them. If she does lay eggs wile she is still weak you might want to consider taking her to a Vet. They can get egg bound when healthy, and if you are not on top of this she will go down hill fast I lost two this way. Good luck she is lucky to have you.

 

[brownie64]

Hope you're still reading this thread. How is she doing? After taking another look at your new enclosure you need more vines, and branches closer to her UVB, and heat source. She needs a temp of around 90-95 F for a heat spot. And she needs to be at around 12-15" from her UVB to get the right effect from it. And after looking at her a little closer it kind of looks like her leg is slightly bowed. That could be MBD (Metabolic bone disease). which means she isn't getting the right amount of calcium +D3, and/or UVB. Does she always linger around the bottom like that? I don't mean to alarm you but it's been my experience that's not a good sign. They may wander around to hunt on the bottom, but they normally like it high up when just sitting, or sleeping. Good luck and I hope she makes a full recovery.