!!getting a chameleon tomorrow, advice please!!

[Beman]

Ok, that makes it better! Every time he basks he climbs right up and I was worried that he was too cold Thank you so very much! Also, do you know any good places to deliver smaller crickets? Thats the only thing he’ll eat and I am running out of small ones.

I order crickets from Rainbowmealworms.com. I would not buy anything larger than their 1/4 inch size since he is so young.

 

[lecaméléon]

I order crickets from Rainbowmealworms.com. I would not buy anything larger than their 1/4 inch size since he is so young.

Thank you! He will appreciate that!

 

[Delef3]

Great! Thanks to both of you! I have a birch tree with too many branches that I could steal. Thinner branches are preferable, right?

Congrats on entering this crazy journey! FYI: Birch trees can produce spas and resins. I’d be a little careful with those

 

[Beman]

Congrats on entering this crazy journey! FYI: Birch trees can produce spas and resins. I’d be a little careful with those

Birch is a very good option because it is a hard wood and will not break down as fast. Fresh cut birch can produce sap so you have to let them dry out.

 

[Delef3]

Birch is a very good option because it is a hard wood and will not break down as fast. Fresh cut birch can produce sap so you have to let them dry out.

Sorry. Spell check changed sap to spas! If they can give the little guy a spa treatment, bonus!
But yes, definitely let them dry out

 

[lecaméléon]

Congrats on entering this crazy journey! FYI: Birch trees can produce spas and resins. I’d be a little careful with those

Birch is a very good option because it is a hard wood and will not break down as fast. Fresh cut birch can produce sap so you have to let them dry out.

Yes, the birch that I used before was older and the ones I was planning to add aren’t in the cage yet!

 

[Raymond1412]

It is approximately three months old. I apologize on not adding it to the original post. Thanks on the last minute advice. I am frantic to have the adequate information before tomorrow.

Getting a new chameleon is always super exciting! I am so happy for you! It does look like you need a few more branches and real plants in the enclosure for more coverage. Since you have a 3-month-old, make sure you have the right-sized bugs. Also, keep in mind that younger chameleons are very susceptible to infections, like upper respiratory infections. Do you already have bugs? If so, what kinds? Can't wait to see more pictures of your new chameleon!!

 

[lecaméléon]

Getting a new chameleon is always super exciting! I am so happy for you! It does look like you need a few more branches and real plants in the enclosure for more coverage. Since you have a 3-month-old, make sure you have the right-sized bugs. Also, keep in mind that younger chameleons are very susceptible to infections, like upper respiratory infections. Do you already have bugs? If so, what kinds? Can't wait to see more pictures of your new chameleon!!

Thank you! I already have added some branches, I will take a picture of my cage now after this post! I might take him for a checkup because I am afraid he won’t eat. He only ate two crickets yesterday. I have silkworms, crickets, and dubias but he only eats crickets. (He doesn’t seem very interested in silkworms) I would love to take more pictures but he seems stressed whenever someone walks in his room so it might be awhile

 

[lecaméléon]

Here is my enclosure as of now!

 

[Beman]

Here is my enclosure as of now!

Ok you want to hook in small branches back and forth in there. that baby is tiny and will need more pathways. You can pull those pothos vines in the back up and weave them through the branches as well. This will create drinking surfaces and pathways.

 

[lecaméléon]

Ok you want to hook in small branches back and forth in there. that baby is tiny and will need more pathways. You can pull those pothos vines in the back up and weave them through the branches as well. This will create drinking surfaces and pathways.

Ok will do!

 

[Raymond1412]

Thank you! I already have added some branches, I will take a picture of my cage now after this post! I might take him for a checkup because I am afraid he won’t eat. He only ate two crickets yesterday. I have silkworms, crickets, and dubias but he only eats crickets. (He doesn’t seem very interested in silkworms) I would love to take more pictures but he seems stressed whenever someone walks in his room so it might be awhile

It's normal for a baby to only eat a few bugs. As for the silkworms, I would maybe wait until he is a bit bigger. For the dubias, I recommend feeding more than one at a time so they move around a bit more.

 

[Beman]

Thank you! I already have added some branches, I will take a picture of my cage now after this post! I might take him for a checkup because I am afraid he won’t eat. He only ate two crickets yesterday. I have silkworms, crickets, and dubias but he only eats crickets. (He doesn’t seem very interested in silkworms) I would love to take more pictures but he seems stressed whenever someone walks in his room so it might be awhile

New feeders that they are not used to you have to continue to work in. This can be harder with things like silkworms and hornworms. Especially hornworms as they grow extremely fast. With silks always by size small these you can control the growth rate but only giving them food every other day to every two days. Remember very small feeders for crickets and dubia. Should be no larger than 1/4 inch.

Depending on how you are feeding will make a difference as well. Frams uses the feeders that attach to the screen. So they are used to this method. You want to load up the feeder with like 2 dozen crickets and work in some of the others. He will target the new with the crickets he knows. placement of the feeder matters as well. Needs to be somewhere he can see into.

 

[lecaméléon]

It's normal for a baby to only eat a few bugs. As for the silkworms, I would maybe wait until he is a bit bigger. For the dubias, I recommend feeding more than one at a time so they move around a bit more.

thank goodness! I heard on the chameleon academy podcast that little veiled chameleons eat a lot and I was worried since he only ate a couple crickets

New feeders that they are not used to you have to continue to work in. This can be harder with things like silkworms and hornworms. Especially hornworms as they grow extremely fast. With silks always by size small these you can control the growth rate but only giving them food every other day to every two days. Remember very small feeders for crickets and dubia. Should be no larger than 1/4 inch.

Depending on how you are feeding will make a difference as well. Frams uses the feeders that attach to the screen. So they are used to this method. You want to load up the feeder with like 2 dozen crickets and work in some of the others. He will target the new with the crickets he knows. placement of the feeder matters as well. Needs to be somewhere he can see into.

I have a bowl that attached to the screen, ( I think it was for birds?) He can see the dubas and the silkworms but just turns away. I will try to get the feeder from Frams so he is more familiar with that.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

I didn't read all the post. Make sure you have Veiled safe plants. Veiled Chams love to munch on their plants. They love to eat Pothos and Money Tree leaves. Grasshoppers are a favorite/ healthy food source for picky eaters. You can order them at Feedmychameleon.com or Khai Phan on Facebook. I love your Cham

 

[Raymond1412]

thank goodness! I heard on the chameleon academy podcast that little veiled chameleons eat a lot and I was worried since he only ate a couple crickets

I have a bowl that attached to the screen, ( I think it was for birds?) He can see the dubas and the silkworms but just turns away. I will try to get the feeder from Frams so he is more familiar with that.

If you feed your chameleon daily, I wouldn't be worried if he is only eating a few crickets. Maybe consider trying soldier fly larvae because they squirm around a lot, are easy to feed off, and are pretty small. What are you currently feeding off your bugs in? It might help to have a clear low-rim dish since you have a baby.

 

[Beman]

thank goodness! I heard on the chameleon academy podcast that little veiled chameleons eat a lot and I was worried since he only ate a couple crickets

I have a bowl that attached to the screen, ( I think it was for birds?) He can see the dubas and the silkworms but just turns away. I will try to get the feeder from Frams so he is more familiar with that.

So I would go back to how he was being fed. And I would mostly feed all very small crickets. It is going to take time working in new feeders. But babies this young should be taking down anywhere from 2-3 dozen feeders every day.

 

[lecaméléon]

GOOD NEWS! I recently bought a bunch of small crickets his size. Yesterday I gutloaded them and today, he ate all of them! I put like 15 and he ate all but three and then gave up to bask! I am finally happy that he is eating well! I will see if he wants anymore later but for now, hooray!