First Timer needs help/advice/assistance.

[KiloTheChameleon]

Hey guys,
I’ve never owned a reptile before. I was really excited and did alot of research.

I got a 1 1/2 yr old male. I love him and hes doing well. His eating is weird, i tried feeding him 6in am 6 in pm and he was still hungry!!

but im not worried about the food, he wont over eat.

He has these dark purple, blue patches, they’ve been there for 2 days now and they’re not going away, getting bigger/smaller?

Also any ideas on a home made waterfal idea? maybe you made one, a friend did? not a huge thing, just a nice set up.

OH! He opens his mouth ver wildey. I must admit for 2 days we over fed him Calcium powder, deffintly well hydrated with a constant dripper dripping onto many brances and down an elaborate vine system.

I’m not worried about his well being, I’m just worried.... Ya know...

The pet store deff blew smoke up my bowels with the info he gave me, but i have him a Large screen cage with UVB light/Basking light morning-evening. then at night i do the red light .. is that good?

Am I "Sun Burning" him with the lights??????? I have handled him a few times since we have had him, and he turns the most beautiful colors in my hands and on my body. I just hate that stressing him out shortens his life span...

I read/hear [on here] about Chameleons suffering and dying as well as unexpectingly dying..... and it breaks my heart... The value [not just the price] but the feeling I feel in my heart for my Kilo is tremendous. I openly admit we’re unexperienced, but I’m seeking advice before I waste money going to a vet (I will take him back to the vet soon but no serious concerns/not time for routine check up)

Please share with me any stories, advice, helpful hints, Homemade waterfal/cage ideas.

FYI not apposed to construstive critisicm haha I just want longevity for him!!!

 

[Jay1501]

I would definetly say not to bother with the night lamp chameleons need to have cool tempatures when they sleep ive been told on here before so maybe stop useing that also the dark colours could most likely be his stress pattern....if the enclosure wasant new uv bulbs need replaceing after 6months realy as they stop giveing off the right uv.

 

[Jay1501]

Any pictures? What type of chameleon is he?

 

[ReptileLove18]

Welcome to the forum and the "addiction"! lol
first off, what species of cham is Kilo?
secondly, the light at night is not needed unless the ambient temp drops below 55 degrees fahrenheit, any light at night disturbed their sleep.
the waterfall is unneeded and can be a hassel because he wont drink out of it and will deficate in it, therefore it become a breeding area for bacteria!!
there is no hard evidence of handling cause early death for chams, dont stress about that. it is important that you dont push him and work with him slowly so that handling is a non stressful event and it can be a joyful experience for both you and him.
what is your lighting schedule at this point? and your feeding schedule? also what supplements are you using and when?
sounds like you are gonna provide a loving and good home for him, oh and we love pictures!!!!

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

Love that you guys responded!

this is very addicitng. I really want to have babies at some point too!

I got a Vield Cham at 1 1/2years old. I really got ripped off on the price, and to quite frankly the pet store didnt even have his lights on at 7 pm... soo all day his light was off when i bought him, he was black, grey and brown.
Since brining him home, I've NEVER seen those colors again.

Here's a picture of our little booger nose!!!

thats us

I feed him a balanced cricket, meal worm, waxworm diet with calcium dusting, gut loaded crickets (with orange bits the cricket kind sold in stores) I use potate and apple cut up for them too (the crickets)

I have a great brand new elaborate drip system going on with the dripper, vines and plants!

I feel like i forgot to answer some questions, but i'd love to chit chat more with people..

the waterfal seemed like a good idea, until i realized he constantly poops in the bowl the dripper ends up in.

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

I'm not sure how to upload a picture, let me try photo bucket or something. I really want to show him off

We've put a good pound on him, he has a belly now and when we first got him, sooo small i could see his ribs, we thought he was in good health but I think our TLC has brought him the best like, he is entitled to!

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

Also I turn the lights off later than i think i should, honestly he sits uder the UVB and Basking light all day/night till i turn it off. What time at night is BEST to shut everything off?? I wake up early most days by 9 am, if i sleep in up by 11 am, so its not like he gets really late start.

Anyone know what the dark patches of scales on the head means?

 

[Jay1501]

Pictures dont come up for me........? Cant see them for the waxworms theyre very fatty and have no calcium in or any goodness at all realy best used as a treat something as little as one or two a week im a fine one to talk though as im giveing mine a few more than that at the moment i want to fatten him up lol

 

[ReptileLove18]

for some reason where the pics are i see x's, its probably my computer!
anyhow, for your lights you should have his UVB and heat light on 12 hours a day and both off 12 hours for sleeping.
what kind of calcium do you have and how often are you using it?
the dripper is awesome
yup, standing water is a toilet to them and water droplets like what is provided with the dripper is drinking water. cant really avoid having some standing water thought because you have to catch the excess water so just empty it really frequently!
check out this caresheet for veileds, it talks about supplements like calcium which are essential, and humidity https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
this is a blog about feeders https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
and this one is about how to best gutload your feeders, most keepers say the orange cubes are a no no because they dont really give good nutrition for the chams https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

 

[Jay1501]

I would say dark patches could be stress patern my lights are usualy on 9am till 9pm sometimes 10pm

 

[ReptileLove18]

waxworms are too fatty for everyday, just for a treat one a week generally. the blog on feeders is great because it has different kinds of feeders and how much they can make up of a chams diet and be healthy!
humidity is a big thing with chams, do you have a hygrometer?
pics with photobucket generally work, seen those alot here on the forum, just post the link to them here on this thread
if its sometimes hard to turn the lights on and off at the rights times, i turn mine on at 7 am and off at 7 pm, you can get timers which do it for you

 

[ReptileLove18]

what a handsome cham!! i see what you mean about dark scales, but the pics a little fuzzy so its kinda hard to tell what it is, i think it is probably just his stress pattern like jay said. they get darker and more intense when stressed

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

kilo and 1 of his Daddies

 

[Jay1501]

Hi jasmine that hygrometer you mentioned is this something thats avalable in the uk? What actualy do they do just mesure humidity?

 

[ReptileLove18]

hmm the darker scales on his face are interesting, havent really seen that before. almost looks like a bruise but im not an expert on that..
and i would say, no more waxworms for awhile! hahaha

 

[Jay1501]

Lol kilo looks awsome i cant wait till mine gets colourfull and huge hes still so small also are your chams fast moveing on you??? When i handle mine usualy constantly moves around (abit anoying) or does this stop when theyre older

 

[ReptileLove18]

Hi jasmine that hygrometer you mentioned is this something thats avalable in the uk? What actualy do they do just mesure humidity?

im not sure if hygrometers are available in the UK im in the US. im sure they could be found online and shipped! they just measure humidity what i have is a combination thermometer hygrometer so it measure temperature and humidity.

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

I am really busy right now, Jay and ReptileLove18, we have alot more discussing and chit chatting to do! I have to thank you guys, because yet again my chameleon care plan is going to take another diracstic change. I am very scared about his stress pattern. I Got an older Kilo so I wouldnt have it raised from a baby, i was worried i couldn't do it.... But I should of thought more deeply about the pros/cons of raising it from a baby. i ihave my fingers crossed.

I have a date w/ my sigificant other for a movie at 7:30, i'm goig to look like a bum because I'm so into this! I'd rahter just stay here (shhh!)

HA! But I am going to gather all of these facts when I get home, do the reading supplied by Jay and go from there.

I'll also get UP close and personal pics of kilo (if he will allow me, ill try zooming)

Thank you guys for caring, ive read such lies, worst than hearing the lies at the 'pet stores' deff getting my female from an experienced breeder I can drive to either locally or long distance, totally worth it.

you guys are beautiful inside and out!

Keep on Chamin

Talk soon guys!!!!!!!!

-Brian & Kilo <3

 

[ReptileLove18]

Lol kilo looks awsome i cant wait till mine gets colourfull and huge hes still so small also are your chams fast moveing on you??? When i handle mine usualy constantly moves around (abit anoying) or does this stop when theyre older

i think when they are smaller they move around constantly because they want to get as high as possible so that they can feel secure but it seems like they calm down more as they get older