hello, can I get some answers from those in the know

[Meganne]

first ...THANKS FOR BEING HERE!
Hi
My son has always wanted a chameleon...and they are very cool creatures. Now that he is a teen and spending his own money we, by chance, came apon one that seemed healthy and a decent price.
We both have been doing a lot of reading as it is understood there is a good learning curve to the care of these animals.

1.the first thing we did was make a temp cage while shopping and making decisions on a pernamant one. I will post a picture.
then we bought a screened framed cage. it is really nice but I have a question. In the wire mesh cage my son made the chameleon was generaly a light color. in the new dark mesh cage he stays very dark. I know the try to blend ...however some advice we have been given is that the color black stresses them out...true??? because the mesh of the store bought cage is dark!

2. we were told to leave the light on 24/7....that seems un-natural, don't they need a night time?

3. this chameleon is eating from my sons fingers! very fun!! about 7 crickets a day. to much, not enough, or just right?

4. understood to be young, but how young is it? guessed at around 4 months. we have been searching and think it is a Graceful Chameleon if wrong what do we have??

5.does any one know what sex it is and how do you tell?

thank you, thank you ...I know this is long winded but there are so many quetions I can't find answers to! and I bet I will come up with more

 

[Meganne]

oops! forgot to upload the pictures
this includes a picture of the temporary cage

 

[Monties1982]

First off, don't leave the light on 24/7. Leave the lights on about 12 hours a day. Also it would be helpful if you could describe the enclosure as far as size, type of lights you are using, etc. Pictures would help a lot too of both the chameleon and the enclosure.

 

[Monties1982]

Never mind about the pictures

 

[PedroANDAshley]

Here's a very helpful link.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
Be sure to read ALL of it.
It also looks like you only have one lamp.
Is that a UVB or a normal house hold bulb?

If you would fill out this form
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

We would love to help refine you husbandry c:

 

[Champeleons]

i am not an expert at all, my 1st chams will be coming in a month, but i read a lot of posts on here, so since everyone has writing cramps, i'll say a couple things, is it soft wire on your cage, cause if not, he'll hurt his nails, 2nd, u need a branch closer to the heat lamp, poor guy looks like he is hanging on for dear life while trying to stay warm. I also didnt notice if u have thermometers or humidity gauges, very important to monitor those!

 

[Meganne]

ok, 12 hours makes more sense, I knew that didn't sound right!
thanks.


Pedro and Ashley, I will get that filled out asap!

you all are fast!

 

[Champeleons]

Here's a very helpful link.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
Be sure to read ALL of it.
It also looks like you only have one lamp.
Is that a UVB or a normal house hold bulb?

If you would fill out this form
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

We would love to help refine you husbandry c:

& what she said, he'll die without a UVB light

 

[Leahryan]

enclosure

make sure you supplement your cham correctly 6 feedings a week with calcium without d3 and cal with d3 twice a month, and a vitamin supplement once a month like herpative. make sure you get a UVB light source for him besides the heat lamp. Im not sure of the species but i am pretty sure the sex of the cham is female. feed her different things like superworms and roaches amongst other things provided on this site. plenty of foliage and climbing/ hiding material is good, along with a a misting system or dripper with a couple hand mists a day. dont forget to gut load those cricks with nice veggies

 

[Monties1982]

& what she said, he'll die without a UVB light

Natural unfiltered sunlight will work too. Not through glass as virtually all window glass blocks UV light.

 

[Meganne]

i am not an expert at all, my 1st chams will be coming in a month, but i read a lot of posts on here, so since everyone has writing cramps, i'll say a couple things, is it soft wire on your cage, cause if not, he'll hurt his nails, 2nd, u need a branch closer to the heat lamp, poor guy looks like he is hanging on for dear life while trying to stay warm. I also didnt notice if u have thermometers or humidity gauges, very important to monitor those!

Hi
we did put a stick up there when we realized that is were he/she wanted to be...still it liked being on the side.
no matter...it is now in a soft mesh/screened cage, that one was temporary only.

no gauges, but the house is at 78` and it is misted very time someone walks by

thanks for all the good advice!

 

[Meganne]

make sure you supplement your cham correctly 6 feedings a week with calcium without d3 and cal with d3 twice a month, and a vitamin supplement once a month like herpative. make sure you get a UVB light source for him besides the heat lamp. Im not sure of the species but i am pretty sure the sex of the cham is female. feed her different things like superworms and roaches amongst other things provided on this site. plenty of foliage and climbing/ hiding material is good, along with a a misting system or dripper with a couple hand mists a day. dont forget to gut load those cricks with nice veggies

yes the crickets are dusted! and potatoes and apples feed to them.
the monthly vitamin sup sound like good advice.

the light is a full spectrum for reptiles. found out the hard way with a turtle many years ago that this is very important

thank you

 

[PedroANDAshley]

How often are you misting?
You said he's misted ever time some one walks by.
That may be too much.
If you over mist bacteria could form in the standing water and cause infections,ect,ect.
It's best to only mist 2-3 times a day.
never have the cage wet while they go to sleep, make sure it drys out first.

For example,
My husband brought me home a baby (he knows nothing about chameleons LOL!)
And the baby was constantly cleaning his eyes out. I asked him some question about
where he bought and how the enclosure looked and he said it was really wet and dirty.
Well I had to go to the vet (expensive :/) and get him some medicine because the bacteria from the standing water/dirty enclosure caused an infection behind his eyes.

Also, make sure you also feed the crickets collards and carrots potatoes are good but only for a water source for the crickets.

And the full specturm light im not so sure about this.
Alot of our experienced chameleon keepers/ breeders use the standard reptisun 5.0 liner bulb (NO compact UVB bulbs never ever, it WILL cause blindness) and a normal 50 watt house bulb for basking.
I beleive this to be the best lighting method
You really dont want to take any chances, your chameleon still looks young and shes got some growing to do.
With out the proper lighting chameleons get MBD and it's absolutely heart breaking to see one.
They have bent limbs, can't shoot their tongue out the right way, and fall off their branches.

 

[Trace]

You have a wild caught male Senegal Chameleon (Chamaeleo senegalensis). The reason I don't think it's a Graceful Chameleon (Chamaeleo gracilis) or Flapneck Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) is that he lacks the telltale white stripe that goes across the lower body as well as he has the rounded head/casque of a Senegal. If you can provide a few clear shots of his head (top and side views) we can tell for sure what he is. As I mentioned he is wild caught and thus is trickier to acclimate to a cage then a captive bred specimen. Provide him with plenty water to get him hydrated initially (he doesn't look too bad though) and bring him and a fresh poo sample to a vet for further direction concerning his health. In my experience they aren't fussy eaters and in general won't overeat. They like high humidity and lots of water to drink.

Here is an article on the Senegal's to get you started: http://chameleonnews.com/08FebFrancis.html
And one on wild caught animals: http://chameleonnews.com/04NovDescamps.html

Good luck.

 

[Julirs]

I agree that he looks pretty decent for a Senegal. However-they are notoriously wild caught and very difficult to acclimate. Even the most experienced have issues with them. I would get a screen cage-either 16X16X30 or better yet 18X18X36, get it well planted with some Pothos and Schefflera or Ficus to help keep up the humidity. We FL people are lucky-even inside with the air the humidity is in our favor. Get a linear flourescent UVB tube-Zoomed Reptisun 5.0, and put a 40 watt lightbulb in the clamp lamp in one corner of the cage with a vine or stick about 7" under the lamp. Mist him 4 X daily-getting the plants nice and drippy, then let the cage dry out between mistings. The UVB is very important-full spectrum won't cut it. Also make sure you have a digital thermometer-no cheap dial type thermometers, and make sure that vine under the 40W lighbulb gets your temps 80-85. Research supplements, get a fecal done as Trace suggested. Best of luck to you -these guys are tricky

 

[Meganne]

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
** we think it is a Graceful, please correct us if we are wrong! it has been a member of the family 4 days. believed to be quite young, hoping someone here can sex it for us.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
**at least a few times a day, but there is excitement of it being new

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
** so far about 7 crickets a day, dusted and gut fed potatoes and apples. this chameleon is very at ease with people and hand feeds!

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
**crickets dusted with Repti Calcium from Zoo Meds

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
misted 6 plus times a day by hand, misted until the plant is dripping. have not noticed the 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?
**screen cage, larger than the temporary one pictured earlier in the thread

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
12 hours of light, reptile ful spectrun light, threw out the box can not remember the brand.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
house ac set at 79-78`, cage in warmest room of the house

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?
**live plant, in the hibiscus family I think.

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?
**cage is on a book case, top of cage is head high. room has a ceiling fan, at night with light off we have been putting a towel over one side of the cage to block the draft.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
**florida

 

[Meganne]

How often are you misting?
You said he's misted ever time some one walks by.
That may be too much.
If you over mist bacteria could form in the standing water and cause infections,ect,ect.
It's best to only mist 2-3 times a day.
never have the cage wet while they go to sleep, make sure it drys out first.

For example,
My husband brought me home a baby (he knows nothing about chameleons LOL!)
And the baby was constantly cleaning his eyes out. I asked him some question about
where he bought and how the enclosure looked and he said it was really wet and dirty.
Well I had to go to the vet (expensive :/) and get him some medicine because the bacteria from the standing water/dirty enclosure caused an infection behind his eyes.

Also, make sure you also feed the crickets collards and carrots potatoes are good but only for a water source for the crickets.

And the full specturm light im not so sure about this.
Alot of our experienced chameleon keepers/ breeders use the standard reptisun 5.0 liner bulb (NO compact UVB bulbs never ever, it WILL cause blindness) and a normal 50 watt house bulb for basking.
I beleive this to be the best lighting method
You really dont want to take any chances, your chameleon still looks young and shes got some growing to do.
With out the proper lighting chameleons get MBD and it's absolutely heart breaking to see one.
They have bent limbs, can't shoot their tongue out the right way, and fall off their branches.

got it! thanks!
no the cage is not "wet" so to speak. that all makes a lot od sense

the light bulb is one we got from the pet shop for reptiles, full spetrum was my take on it...not sure but will double check this out!
the word "reptisun" looks familiar, perhaps I saw it on the box. the guy wa fair spacific of what I got but I WILL double check

 

[Julirs]

I would cut out the handling on this species almosst entirely-it will increase your chance of keeping it alive.

 

[Julirs]

If the bulb fits into a clamp lamp-it is a compact UVB-if possible I would try to return it for the linear tube type-you can get a fixture for the 18" or 24" size bulb at WalMart for under $10.00. The compact flourescents have been linked to eye issues and other problems. They are trying to fix them, but there is still alot of testing to be done.

 

[Meganne]

You have a wild caught male Senegal Chameleon (Chamaeleo senegalensis). The reason I don't think it's a Graceful Chameleon (Chamaeleo gracilis) or Flapneck Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) is that he lacks the telltale white stripe that goes across the lower body as well as he has the rounded head/casque of a Senegal. If you can provide a few clear shots of his head (top and side views) we can tell for sure what he is. As I mentioned he is wild caught and thus is trickier to acclimate to a cage then a captive bred specimen. Provide him with plenty water to get him hydrated initially (he doesn't look too bad though) and bring him and a fresh poo sample to a vet for further direction concerning his health. In my experience they aren't fussy eaters and in general won't overeat. They like high humidity and lots of water to drink.

Here is an article on the Senegal's to get you started: http://chameleonnews.com/08FebFrancis.html
And one on wild caught animals: http://chameleonnews.com/04NovDescamps.html

Good luck.

thank you.
but I don't like hearing he is wild caught, seen some nasty pictures of parasites, yuck!
he is very freindly and snatches cricket from my son's finger tips.
a few more pictures for you...