Heat Lamp outside of Enclosure/Roaming

[killua1995]

So ive had my Male Cham for around 2 months now, i dont know his age when i got him but i think around like 2-3 months, so hes atleast 5-6 months old now if anyone could elaborate on that from the pictures below.
I have also read on here that they really like to roam around and look for Females when they get in their teen age.
I dont know if i got really lucky with his personality but he comes out everyday pretty much since 2 weeks after i got him, he climbs everywhere on to me or my dad and loves running around in the living room.
His favorite spot which he sits on everyday for like atleast 2-3 hours is on a UVB Lamp in the Living room from where he can go roam the entire Room and he does that alot.
Now im thinking since hes out of his Cage this much without getting proper warmth from a Heat Lamp, should i maybe get one that sits over him on that Spot and do you guys think its normal that a Cham is this friendly and willing to come out or should look into if its maybe something that my Enclosure doesent provide him and thats why he wants to come out?

 

[elizaann2]

Lets look at your husbandry and make sure you have everything correct in his enclosure. If you do, its quite possible you have a friendly veiled.

Copy the form below and someone will review it for you

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with, and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long do you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high-traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

 

[killua1995]

• Your Chameleon - veiled Chameleon around 6 months old
• Handling - everyday it doesent get much more friendly than this animal
• Feeding - dubia roaches and superworms 2-3 times per week, i gutload the day before with some apples/carrots and greens
• Supplements - repti calcium without d3 every feeding and reptivite with d3 on the 1st and 15th of every month
• Watering - i use a pressured spray bottle and spray when he and i wake up at 6am and when he goes to sleep at 18pm for 2 minutes with warm water
• Fecal Description - normal colors id say, poop is brown/black with normal looking white end. he has not been to the vet.
• History -

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - selfmade wooden 2x2x4 glass front with grid below and grid as the roof for ventilation
• Lighting - Zoo Med Zoomed FS5-39e Repti Sun 5.0 T5 UVP/Exo Terra Reptile Dome with 75Watts White Bulb, they are both on from 6am till 18pm.
• Temperature - bottom of cage is 70 up to basking spot which is around 85 i use a Thermometer Gun
• Humidity - this might be my only concern, i live in germany where humidity doesent fall lower than 65%~ and ive got a wooden enclosure although with good ventilation, my humity levels are a bit high with it being 65 in the daytime and 80 at night.
• Plants - Pothos and Weeping Fig
• Placement - it sits on a 1 meter high table and the middle of the enclosure is around 1,50 off the floor
• Location - germany

 

[killua1995]

• Your Chameleon - veiled Chameleon around 6 months old
• Handling - everyday it doesent get much more friendly than this animal
• Feeding - dubia roaches and superworms 2-3 times per week, i gutload the day before with some apples/carrots and greens
• Supplements - repti calcium without d3 every feeding and reptivite with d3 on the 1st and 15th of every month
• Watering - i use a pressured spray bottle and spray when he and i wake up at 6am and when he goes to sleep at 18pm for 2 minutes with warm water
• Fecal Description - normal colors id say, poop is brown/black with normal looking white end. he has not been to the vet.
• History -

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - selfmade wooden 2x2x4 glass front with grid below and grid as the roof for ventilation
• Lighting - Zoo Med Zoomed FS5-39e Repti Sun 5.0 T5 UVP/Exo Terra Reptile Dome with 75Watts White Bulb, they are both on from 6am till 18pm.
• Temperature - bottom of cage is 70 up to basking spot which is around 85 i use a Thermometer Gun
• Humidity - this might be my only concern, i live in germany where humidity doesent fall lower than 65%~ and ive got a wooden enclosure although with good ventilation, my humity levels are a bit high with it being 65 in the daytime and 80 at night.
• Plants - Pothos and Weeping Fig
• Placement - it sits on a 1 meter high table and the middle of the enclosure is around 1,50 off the floor
• Location - germany

could someone review this for me pls?

 

[Beman]

could someone review this for me pls?

I will have time to go through this later today for you when I get back home. Unless someone else is able to review it before me. RIght off I see some corrections you should make but this would not impact him wanting to come out. Once a chameleon gets the feel for being free roam they rarely prefer their enclosure. But the key is setting up a free roam area so that it is safe. Veileds specifically will eat their plants so you have to be very cautious with what they have access to. Additionally you want to make sure all grip surfaces he can access are appropriate.

 

[killua1995]

Alright thank you very much Mr. Beman

 

[Beman]

Alright thank you very much Mr. Beman

Ms. I am a female keeper. Beman is my male chameleon. It is confusing and I probably should have thought more about my screen name. I will be home in a few hours and will go through everything.

 

[killua1995]

haha my bad x)

 

[Beman]

See my feedback in red bold.

• Your Chameleon - veiled Chameleon around 6 months old looks to be older at least 9 months based on his size and adult markings.
• Handling - everyday it doesent get much more friendly than this animal
• Feeding - dubia roaches and superworms 2-3 times per week, i gutload the day before with some apples/carrots and greens see image for gutloading.
• Supplements - repti calcium without d3 every feeding and reptivite with d3 on the 1st and 15th of every month This is perfect
• Watering - i use a pressured spray bottle and spray when he and i wake up at 6am and when he goes to sleep at 18pm for 2 minutes with warm water. No warm water you want room temp
• Fecal Description - normal colors id say, poop is brown/black with normal looking white end. he has not been to the vet.
• History -

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - selfmade wooden 2x2x4 glass front with grid below and grid as the roof for ventilation. Looks perfectly fine.
• Lighting - Zoo Med Zoomed FS5-39e Repti Sun 5.0 T5 UVP/Exo Terra Reptile Dome with 75Watts White Bulb, they are both on from 6am till 18pm.Good
• Temperature - bottom of cage is 70 up to basking spot which is around 85 i use a Thermometer Gun. Your temp gun may not be accurate this is going to measure the surface temp only. Basking for an adult male would be 80-85 max. Might get a temp gauge with a probe to hook in at the basking branch below the heat to ensure your temps are not hotter.
• Humidity - this might be my only concern, i live in germany where humidity doesent fall lower than 65%~ and ive got a wooden enclosure although with good ventilation, my humity levels are a bit high with it being 65 in the daytime and 80 at night. So it is a bit high for daytime but not horrible and it would seem he is out of the cage more than in so humidity in the room would be lower. Now for night you want to make sure you are getting a temp drop below 67F especially with your humidity sitting so high.
• Plants - Pothos and Weeping Fig
• Placement - it sits on a 1 meter high table and the middle of the enclosure is around 1,50 off the floor
• Location - germany

Your husbandry is basically on point just need a few tweaks but over all you have done a wonderful job.

So the biggest thing about chams that prefer to free roam is ensuring that they have the correct UVB. If he is not in the cage at least 3-4 hours a day and able to get UVB then this is where you risk him developing MBD. @Sonny13 has set up some free roam areas and does them with lighting although his live there instead of the cage. But he might be able to show you some examples.

Then there is making sure his free roam area is safe. This should be a priority just because they get into everything. Like a toddler.

Males at his age like to know their area. And he is at an age where this would be common. Now since he has been given the advantage of staying outside of his cage he will prefer this and expect it. So not abnormal at all.

Now as for his personality just keep in mind they can change as they mature. This happened with my male about the time he hit 15 months old. Now he has never gotten super aggressive with me because he has only ever known me but I have learned his attitudes and know when he is defensive and when he is calm. So just watch him as he matures as the personality can shift a bit.

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[Sonny13]

I got several chams permanently living free range, this how I set it up https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/free-range-inspiration.2464/

If your is sitting free range for 1 or 2 hour a day, that won't be a problem, my free range boys sometimes exit the free range and will sit somewhere without lights. If longer I would recommend hanging a UVB light above his favorite spot. I will check if i can find more pictures.

 

[killua1995]

I got several chams permanently living free range, this how I set it up https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/free-range-inspiration.2464/

If your is sitting free range for 1 or 2 hour a day, that won't be a problem, my free range boys sometimes exit the free range and will sit somewhere without lights. If longer I would recommend hanging a UVB light above his favorite spot. I will check if i can find more pictures

i see u have a barrier so he cant get anywhete else, ive had my cham let himself just fall off the edge of something that was like 50cm high, did you ever experience that or do i have a suicidal cham?

 

[Sonny13]

i see u have a barrier so he cant get anywhete else, ive had my cham let himself just fall off the edge of something that was like 50cm high, did you ever experience that or do i have a suicidal cham?

The barrier is more to keep the cleanup crew inside, because I already have seen it doesn't work for the cham. To be honest 95% of the time they stay in their safe free range zone, however during mating season they expand their territory and will leave the free range to explore everything! And they will find a way to leave it, even with death drop.

 

[killua1995]

alright thanks, good to know

 

[killua1995]

The barrier is more to keep the cleanup crew inside, because I already have seen it doesn't work for the cham. To be honest 95% of the time they stay in their safe free range zone, however during mating season they expand their territory and will leave the free range to explore everything! And they will find a way to leave it, even with death drop.

also i have a t5 ho reptisun that sits a lil over the terrarium but doesent go through mesh, should the distance be higher than 10 inches?

 

[Sonny13]

alright thanks, good to know

You're welcome, if you have more questions, just let me know

 

[Sonny13]

Then there is making sure his free roam area is safe. This should be a priority just because they get into everything. Like a toddler.

This I forgot to mention and is something you always need to keep in mind, because they'll climb everything and not everything solid enough for them and cause major harm to them.

also i have a t5 ho reptisun that sits a lil over the terrarium but doesent go through mesh, should the distance be higher than 10 inches?

Beman is our UVB specialist, especially with distances

 

[Beman]

also i have a t5 ho reptisun that sits a lil over the terrarium but doesent go through mesh, should the distance be higher than 10 inches?

Can you give me more details like which bulb strength you are using. What do you mean doesn't go through mesh?

 

[killua1995]

Can you give me more details like which bulb strength you are using. What do you mean doesn't go through mesh?

zoo med reptisun t5 ho, now when i build the cage i left a gap in the mesh which the tube sits between so the light does not go through anything which makes it stronger. the distance to the branch he sits on is roughly 8 inches.

 

[Beman]

zoo med reptisun t5 ho, now when i build the cage i left a gap in the mesh which the tube sits between so the light does not go through anything which makes it stronger. the distance to the branch he sits on is roughly 8 inches.

What is the bulb strength? Without an aluminum screen barrier in between 8 inches would be too close for even a 5.0 uvb bulb.

 

[killua1995]

im using this one in 60cm 24 watts