Alicat93
New Member
Hi, I’ve only been a chameleon owner for a week now. I want to give her the best life I can and would like to know how I can improve that for her. I already know that she needs a bigger cage and I am planning to build her one!
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Piebald veiled chameleon, female, unsure of age maybe 2-3 months, I have had her for one week.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Handled her briefly the first few days while getting her cage set up. Have tried to leave her alone the past several days besides hand feeding a few times.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets - she will eat anywhere from 12-25/day, gut loaded with collards and carrots. Superworms - only eaten about 5 in a week bc I got a batch where most were already dead. Hornworms - she has eaten one a day, but I am worried they’ve gotten too big for her now so she hasn’t had any the past two days. Waxworms occasionally as a treat 1-2 every few days. Fruit flies - she has eaten a few that I have seen. Doesn’t seem to be interested in them.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? ZooMed ReptiCalcium without D3 daily, ZooMed Reptivite Reptile Vitamins once a week. Currently don’t have calcium with D3 (will get soon and do 1-2 times a month)
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I spray with a spray mister, 2-3 times per day for 2 minutes. I have not seen her drink.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Dark gray and jelly-like texture, pee was white. No never been tested.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I did get her from PetCo (I know, I know?)
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? The dreaded ZooMed Reptibreeze, Screen 16x16x30. I am planning on building her a much bigger one.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? UVB - Zilla Slimline 18” Tropical Fixture 25UVB T8 Florecent Bulb. Basking - using the double fixture that was included with the Zoomed Chameleon Kit, but using a ExoTerra Intense Basking Spot 100w bulb. I have heard I need a bulb for my plants, but not sure what. Lights on at 10am and lights off at 10pm
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Average daytime cage temp is 75-80°F. Basking spot is around 86°F
Lowest overnight temp? 72°F
How do you measure these temps? Gauge inside cage. Basking temp by thermometer as well.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels?
60-70%
How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I have a towel on the backside of cage to protect the wall from misting, she is in a room of her own with vent closed most of the way. I hand mist 2-3 times daily.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have two live plants - golden pathos and a bromeliad. Rest are fake plastic.
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? Room to herself, fan off, vent almost completely closed, little to no traffic. Top of cage is 5ft relative to floor. Cage is on a night stand.
Location - Where are you geographically located? South Georgia. Specially near Savannah, GA.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. I just want to make sure I do everything I can to keep her healthy and happy. Pictures of her and her cage.
Me holding her is from the day I brought her home and her cage was being set up.
Also, I just found her hanging from the top of her cage about 10 minutes after misting. I turned off her basking light so she wouldn’t get burned. Any ideas as to why she is doing this? This is the first time I’ve seen her do this.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Piebald veiled chameleon, female, unsure of age maybe 2-3 months, I have had her for one week.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Handled her briefly the first few days while getting her cage set up. Have tried to leave her alone the past several days besides hand feeding a few times.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets - she will eat anywhere from 12-25/day, gut loaded with collards and carrots. Superworms - only eaten about 5 in a week bc I got a batch where most were already dead. Hornworms - she has eaten one a day, but I am worried they’ve gotten too big for her now so she hasn’t had any the past two days. Waxworms occasionally as a treat 1-2 every few days. Fruit flies - she has eaten a few that I have seen. Doesn’t seem to be interested in them.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? ZooMed ReptiCalcium without D3 daily, ZooMed Reptivite Reptile Vitamins once a week. Currently don’t have calcium with D3 (will get soon and do 1-2 times a month)
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I spray with a spray mister, 2-3 times per day for 2 minutes. I have not seen her drink.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Dark gray and jelly-like texture, pee was white. No never been tested.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I did get her from PetCo (I know, I know?)
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? The dreaded ZooMed Reptibreeze, Screen 16x16x30. I am planning on building her a much bigger one.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? UVB - Zilla Slimline 18” Tropical Fixture 25UVB T8 Florecent Bulb. Basking - using the double fixture that was included with the Zoomed Chameleon Kit, but using a ExoTerra Intense Basking Spot 100w bulb. I have heard I need a bulb for my plants, but not sure what. Lights on at 10am and lights off at 10pm
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Average daytime cage temp is 75-80°F. Basking spot is around 86°F
Lowest overnight temp? 72°F
How do you measure these temps? Gauge inside cage. Basking temp by thermometer as well.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels?
60-70%
How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I have a towel on the backside of cage to protect the wall from misting, she is in a room of her own with vent closed most of the way. I hand mist 2-3 times daily.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have two live plants - golden pathos and a bromeliad. Rest are fake plastic.
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? Room to herself, fan off, vent almost completely closed, little to no traffic. Top of cage is 5ft relative to floor. Cage is on a night stand.
Location - Where are you geographically located? South Georgia. Specially near Savannah, GA.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. I just want to make sure I do everything I can to keep her healthy and happy. Pictures of her and her cage.
Me holding her is from the day I brought her home and her cage was being set up.
Also, I just found her hanging from the top of her cage about 10 minutes after misting. I turned off her basking light so she wouldn’t get burned. Any ideas as to why she is doing this? This is the first time I’ve seen her do this.
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although I'm not sure you mentioned her name. My pied is Gary 3 yrs and also have a classic veiled Benjamin, 4yrs. Bernie was my first, he's the icon. Just to let you know ahead, Gary's white lady-gloves all turned silky black color now-freaky, but Vet said OK. While I don't totally agree w her, as an RN I'm doing a watchful-waiting kind of thing on those gloves. Also his casque has turned around 1/3! My big concern is always about hydration/spraying. Drippers aren't always convenient, so I keep a bowl of freshwater in his screened enclosure (Reptibreeze--#1) and have fixed a clear air tube to the bottom of the 3" x 3" water bowl. The tube runs outside the cage to where excess tubing is curled up, than to a very LOW-power fish tank air pump which allows a consistent bubbling or disturbance of the water surface--both boys take water from this bubbling fountain. NOTE: Water needs changed every other day or so or immediately if ANY cricket/feeder/debris has fallen in. Also get 20' of tubing (Walmart) and every few water changes, cut the tube and pull up fresh tube from outside the cage feeding into the water bowl. Bacteria can be their mortal enemy.
