Help

[kinyonga]

I know your concern was the bumps on the feet....but it's good that we check your husbandry.

What do you gutload/feed the crickets with?
It's good to use a wider assortment of insects but crickets make a good staple because they are usually readily and easy to gutload.

What supplements do you use and how often for each. Be specific because we're looking at attaining a balance of nutrients.

What UVB light is he getting? It's important for calcium metabolism.
Is the cage near a window or away from wIndows?

Do you have plants in the cage? Substrate?

 

[Aj5846]

His cage is far away from any windows
I have 2 mini dome lamp fixtures
I have a 5.0 uvb
I use herptivite calcium everytime I feed crickets, feed him twice a day
75watt basking bulb from exoterra
I have fake plants but I recently started feeding him greens as a part of his diet

 

[kinyonga]

Herptivite is a vitamin powder...I recommend you only use it twice a month dusted lightly on the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon. I recommend a phos free calcium powder with D3 to be used the same way.....and at every other feeding, dust with a phos free calcium powder.

Crickets, locusts, super worms, roaches can be fed/Gutloaded with a wide assortment of greens, veggies and a little bit of fruit....I use dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, escarole, carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet peppers, apple, pear, berries etc.

 

[Aj5846]

Ok thanks, so get a d3.and is the 5.0 uvb enough?

 

[kinyonga]

For years now I've used Herptivite twice a month, RepCal phos free calcium powder at most feedings and RepCal phos free calcium with D3 twice a month.

 

[Aj5846]

Do I dust the crickets every feeding? I've been doing that and I want to make sure that's ok

 

[NashansCamos]

he looks a piebald... i could be wrong

 

[Brodybreaux25]

he looks a piebald... i could be wrong

No.

 

[The Wild One]

he could just be chill and blending in with the branches and backround

 

[Aj5846]

What do you think about this setup?

 

[Gingero]

What do you think about this setup?

I'd make the suggested changes:

- Remove the substrate at the bottom. Bare bottom is recommended and totally fine.
- Switch to linear UVB. This is a good read as to why and what bulb to get: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/lighting/
- Add some live plants . Pothos, ficus, and hibiscus are popular.
- Remove the bowls at the bottom. Still water can be a prime location for bacteria.

Hope this helps.

 

[Aj5846]

The only reason I have substrate in the bottom is because alot of water tends to flood underneath the cage, any suggestions to help that?

 

[Syreptyon]

The only reason I have substrate in the bottom is because alot of water tends to flood underneath the cage, any suggestions to help that?

Gotta make a drainage system or go bioactive (use the search bar for either of these - there have been many threads about it). Plain ol' substrate is a big risk of impaction and bacterial growth

 

[Gingero]

The only reason I have substrate in the bottom is because alot of water tends to flood underneath the cage, any suggestions to help that?

Gotta make a drainage system or go bioactive (use the search bar for either of these - there have been many threads about it). Plain ol' substrate is a big risk of impaction and bacterial growth

In addition to adding a drainage system (hole in the bottom and bucket to catch the water), adding in the live plants I suggested can also help soak up water.

 

[AnamCara]

Looks like you got some great advice!

 

[Highway61]

I usually wake up at 6am, if I turn it on at that time should I turn off the light at 6pm?

Get something like this, you won't regret it.

 

[The Wild One]

Use a digital timer for everything, it’s a lot less stress if you wake up late,

 

[Aj5846]

Ok, thank you

 

[Aj5846]

I have a big problem, I have the bark substrate at the bottom and I haven't taken it out yet and today my chameleon was shedding and it fell to the floor, I tried taking all the skin out but he went to the bottom and went to go eat it and he ended up eating a piece of bark

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I have a big problem, I have the bark substrate at the bottom and I haven't taken it out yet and today my chameleon was shedding and it fell to the floor, I tried taking all the skin out but he went to the bottom and went to go eat it and he ended up eating a piece of bark

Yes you do. How big of a piece? Actually size is irrelevant, you’ve got to monitor him closely now. If he goes down hill it’s going to be fast.

Get rid of the damn bark.