I got a F.Verrucosus!

[LilBlue]

I am very excited! Last night I picked up a male furcifer verrucosus. Not very common in Canada.

He is 8 months old. The owner didn't know if he was CB or WC, but I know what store he came from so I can ask them. Being a baby when bought makes me think he is captive bred, or at least captive hatched, which is a rare find.

I have done lots of reading on google and all my books. But the info varies greatly.

My main concern is the basking temperature. I've read between 80-90F...that's why I need to clarify here lol.

He is set up in an all mesh terrarium, 36" x 18" x 18"(He will get a mansion soon as I am gearing up to make PVC enclosures). 2 - 24" Exxo Terra repti glo 5.0(I wanted zoo med, couldn't find em). 60W basking bulb.

The basking temp right now is 80-81F(I'd rather be on the low side than high).
When I went to put him in his new home I just set the Rubbermaid in the bottom with vines in it for him to climb out, and of course he was a god awful yellow stress colour, but went back to normal colours when he climbed out. He hung out on the side of the cage all night, between the plants. I misted him for about 6-7 min last night(didn't want to water to heavily because of lights out soon), didn't see him drink. Turned off all the lights, room temp is 72-74F.

So I would really like to know the correct temps, and any other info or tips from people who have experience with Giant Spiny chams would be much appreciated. I think I'm going through "first time cham owner" syndrome

 

[LilBlue]

The first pic is my terrarium I set up for him. The other 4 pics are his mugshots from the add. His name is Spike.

I will take new pics when he is all settled in

 

[kplatvoet]

I don't know anything on the species care but congrats- he's very handsome -
They are one of my favorite as far as looks and I've read they are quite mellow -

 

[Chase]

He looks great. If I had to guess, he is most likely what you suggested: Captive Hatched

Here is a caresheet I wrote about them when I worked with them: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chase/388-furcifer-verrucosus-care-sheet.html

I had the temperatures dropping to 70-73 when the lights turned off with no problems. Don't be worried if you don't see him drink, they're very timid.

Chase

 

[LilBlue]

Thanks kplatvoet - I really like their scale patterns

Chase - thank you for the link, that helped out a lot! I'm going to change his basking bulb to one a bit bigger. My temp guns range from 80-83F, I think he needs to be a tad warmer.

After his first night he was still hanging on the side of the cage, but after I got home from work he had found a branch and is hiding under the plant in the front top left corner. Now we are on day two and this morning he is still in the same spot. I hope he is moving around...I think he is happy with his new home. His last terrarium was pretty bare, the large sticks in the old cage only reached half way up and there was one plant. His colour is what I would consider normal for a male giant spiny - mostly brown, mottled white, with a bit of green on the belly while resting.

 

[Chase]

Sounds like a typical verrucosus, in the plant. Mine would dive for the plant if they even saw me come into the room.

Chase

 

[LilBlue]

Phew! Thanks Chase, that really does make me feel better! I'm so used to my panthers coming to the front of their cage when they see the mister bottle. I feel like such a noob with this guy lol.

I just need to relax. Chams know what to do. My biggest worry was his drinking, as you can see from the pic he was given water through a mister bottle, and I was worried he didn't know how to drink any other way. But I guess it's just like giving them a water dish, they'll drink from it out of desperation. I'm confident he is licking the leaves when I'm not around.

 

[Chase]

Phew! Thanks Chase, that really does make me feel better! I'm so used to my panthers coming to the front of their cage when they see the mister bottle. I feel like such a noob with this guy lol.

I just need to relax. Chams know what to do. My biggest worry was his drinking, as you can see from the pic he was given water through a mister bottle, and I was worried he didn't know how to drink any other way. But I guess it's just like giving them a water dish, they'll drink from it out of desperation. I'm confident he is licking the leaves when I'm not around.

Give him some time, and he'll come around. Once they get used to you they are very fun to watch!

Chase

 

[Michaelduty]

some help

I don't usually chime in very often but since I have for a while and still do work with them I would like to give my two cents. I find with mine that they only like a spot light when they are saturated. They tend to stay at the bottom of the cage when the humidity is low and they are not hydrated. When you spray them spray for a long time. I use a misting system and a spray bottle for total saturation. I keep them in the same room as Deremensis and find them to be comfortable there in that low temperature range. Also thay come to the front of my cages for worms which they eat from my hand. Mabey I have been lucky but I don't believe that they are that timid. Again most important thing to me is long watering put yours on a branch and start spaying he will not drink for a couple minutes so give him time.