Heating Basket

[XitlalliSobero]

Hello, I recently got a veiled chameleon so im new to this. What’s the correct bulb for the heating basket. I currently have a 60 watts on it but im not sure if its enough hear for him because he’s always near it and his colors are dark. Thanks

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Welcome to the forum.

Heating basket ‽
If you mean the basking light,
Best bulbs for basking lights are (in order of preference):

1. Household incandescent bulb (not LED)
2. Incandescent flood light (not LED and not spot light)
3. Halogen flood light (not spot light)

Getting proper basking temperature is always a matter of trial & error as to wattage.
A good target temp for a male veiled is around 80-85F
https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/

What are you measuring the temperature with?

Dark colors can mean he's cold and trying to warm up, but they can have other meanings as well.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=chameleon+what+do+dark+colors+mean?
https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/1726337/?q=dark+colors&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

The Chameleon Husbandry Program is an excellent resource.

 

[Lindasjackson]

How old is your veiled Cham?

 

[Beman]

Hi there can you post a picture of your entire enclosure lights down so we can make sure they gave you the correct items at the store? Temp depends on age. But if you have the incorrect UVB lighting this can also impact the colors they show.

 

[XitlalliSobero]

How old is your veiled Cham?

I have Bo

Hi there can you post a picture of your entire enclosure lights down so we can make sure they gave you the correct items at the store? Temp depends on age. But if you have the incorrect UVB lighting this can also impact the colors they show.

Hi there can you post a picture of your entire enclosure lights down so we can make sure they gave you the correct items at the store? Temp depends on age. But if you have the incorrect UVB lighting this can also impact the colors they show.

 

[XitlalliSobero]

How old is your veiled Cham?

I have no idea, it was given to me can you tell how old he is with this picture

 

[kinyonga]

Sadly, it looks like he may have MBD. Can you post some photos so we can see all of him from the side...especially his arms. It can be corrected.

You need to change the basking light to a white light that puts the basking area at 80F. You can use a regular white incandescent household bulb...not LED...of a wattage that makes the basking temperature 80F.

What supplements are you dusting the insects with? How often with each? We're looking for phosphorus, calcium, D3 and the type of vitamin A in them.

 

[kinyonga]

To correct MBD you need to give the chameleon liquid calcium as well as make sure the supplements are corrected and the right UVB light is used. Once the bones are strong again you can drop the liquid calcium and keep proper supplements and UVB also make sure you feed/gutload the insects properly. You will likely need to get the liquid calcium from the vet.

Proper supplementing...phos free calcium at all feedings lightly at all feedings but one a week. On the one day alternate between a phos free calcium/D3 powder lightly and a vitamin powder with no D3 but with a prEformed source of vitamin A lightly.