Introducing Bob!

[Allan]

Hi.
Firstly, I'm so glad this forum exists and I read it before, during and after my Veiled purchase

Picked up my first Veiled Cham yesterday (Had a beardy i inherited from my brother and always wanted a python but as the wife said a python comes with a divorce so after much deliberating I bit the bullet and purchased my Cham)
12 week old male named Bob..... Blame the wife and daughter, I voted for YOLO the Yemen and got overruled.... Probably for the best

I'm mesmerized by him and my are they such cute sleepers!!

He's settling in really well (A reptibreeze 46x46x92cm mesh enclosure containing live plant, branches and fake vine).
He's active during the day, basking (has a full range from 20c upto 35c via 100w basking spot lamp plus 38cm 10.0 UVB flourescent light), having a good roam around the enclosure.
He's eaten 6 medium locust today, dusted in calcium (4 initially but he devoured those immediately so I gave him a couple more and he left one for just over 2 hours before consuming)

I've seen him drinking the droplets (I'm spraying through the mesh as to not disturb him in his first days and won't be handling him until at least mid week). My misting/spraying is via a hand sprayer at the moment but will invest in an automated system next month, i've been advised automated is good but for younger chams by hand is better until they're a little older???

One of my biggest worries though is with the cold winters and nights we can get in the UK which really started from November and last until end of February, so a few months away. Our house can drop to about 8C at night as that's what we have our thermostat set to and was debating upping it to 10c, it won't bother us but i'm sure Bob will be happier

 

[Allan]

Couple of pics of my setup and one of Bob.

I am thinking of adding a shower curtain/plastic screen on the back and right mesh walls when I install a misting system. This will aide the humidity and keep the water inside the enclosure.

 

[Rogue]

Welcome to the forums! I am also a new Cham parent. I could be wrong, but after much reading and research I would think the auto mister would be better for your new little one. My understanding is that an auto mister is a much finer mist than a hand mister and a bit less scary for them. It might seem less "aggressive" watering. I would love to see a picture of your wee one if he isn't too bothered by pictures!
Side note, depending on his personality, I would personally wait at least a week to attempt to handle him. Maybe a little extra time to trust you and get acclimated to his new home, sights, and smells.

 

[Rogue]

Couple of pics of my setup and one of Bob.

I am thinking of adding a shower curtain/plastic screen on the back and right mesh walls when I install a misting system. This will aide the humidity and keep the water inside the enclosure.

He is adorable! What a cutie, almost smiling for the camera What kind of bulb are you using?

 

[Allan]

Hi. Yes certainly waiting to handle him. He already retreats slightly when I add the locusts to his enclosure (although as soon as he notices them and turns around to feed) so i think i'll wait until next weekend.

I'll do some more research on a misting system, thanks for the advice.

For heat i'm using a ProRep 100w basking spot lamp , for the UV a ReptiGlo 38cm (15inch) 10.0 UVB stip tube.
For the photo, none, my mobile phone lol .

If anyone has any advice on the winter temps for the UK it'd be greatly received. I think he'll be fine but want to be 120% sure.

Thanks.

 

[Allan]

Sleeping Bob

 

[jajeanpierre]

Hi. Yes certainly waiting to handle him. He already retreats slightly when I add the locusts to his enclosure (although as soon as he notices them and turns around to feed) so i think i'll wait until next weekend.

I'll do some more research on a misting system, thanks for the advice.

For heat i'm using a ProRep 100w basking spot lamp , for the UV a ReptiGlo 38cm (15inch) 10.0 UVB stip tube.
For the photo, none, my mobile phone lol .

If anyone has any advice on the winter temps for the UK it'd be greatly received. I think he'll be fine but want to be 120% sure.

Thanks.

I think 8C is just a bit on the cold side for a veiled. They can survive, but I'm not sure they are happy at that low a temperature. I had a big old male veiled outside when it unexpectedly went down to those temps. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and checked the temperature and brought him insude. He was so cold he was unable to move--he couldn't even grasp onto a branch. I put him in a box and propped him up against the branches. He was fine the next morning.

Are you serious that your house drops that low at night? 8C is really cold! If you really meant 8C and not 18C, I would add a ceramic heater. They produce radiant heat but no light. They screw into a light socket, and you can get different wattage. I use them for my bearded dragon.

 

[Allan]

I live in sunny old England where it rains 6 days of the week and clouds over on the 7th day lol. So yes I did mean 8c indoors but that's dead of night January and February winter temps.
Bob will be kept indoors at all times.

To be honest, I think it's more like 10c at its lowest. 8c is the lowest our thermostat is set to allow before the heating will kick in during the night and it has never done that to my knowledge.
We have the heating off from around 9pm until 6am.

A second low wattage ceramic bulb for the night heating is a good idea and I can put that on a timer to kick in shortly after the day time heating goes off. What Wattage would you advise? 25w or 50w?

I'd be really interested to hear from other UK Cham owners to see what they do. I did read another thread on here from October 2016 and a couple of people said they don't do anything and their Veileds have been fine.

I do have a decent central heating system, new boiler, wireless controlled mobile thermostat etc etc so I have already upped the minimum allowed temperature in the house to 10c.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I would not worry until it dipped below 10C as long as he can get properly warm in the day. I would start with a 60w ceramic bulb. You will probably want to enclose the cage if he is in a screen cage to try to keep the heat and humidity in. Most chameleons are kept in conditions that are not nearly humid enough.

 

[Allan]

Thats great. Thank you.
He's doing well today. Didnt shy away when i sprayed or put his locusts in. Even let me hand feed him one (left the others so he can hunt)

 

[Twitchet]

Hi there, I'm in the U.K too, down in the south so not quite the colder temps you get.
Welcome to the forums, Sooo much info - it's great!
congratulations on your veiled, I have one now and he's a real star,

This house doesn't usually drop below a balmy 12c in the winter, its draughty too but my veiled will be living in a custom made shed so he's be considerably more comfortable in the winter than me
My panther lives indoors, I actually opted for an adapted wooden viv as I knew in the cold months I would have struggle with temps on a mesh cage, the wood viv helps with my temp s and humidity and with a tray at base for catching water it works quite well.
I did use a waterproof heat mat once for him as a bit of background warmth but as suggested a ceramic sounds very good.

Good luck with him, he looks very nice.

 

[Allan]

Thanks. I'm in south of west midlands, i maybe being a little paranoid on the winter temps but just want to ensure he has the best life.
Fun filled day for me, searching for his poops and urates. Not as easy as it seems with a little guy
Found his urates which are white so thats a good sign

 

[Rogue]

That's awesome! White urates are great! I have actually saved a thread which is wonderful at showing different types of poops and urates to determine what is going on with their little bodies that is helpful In case you haven't seen it, here is the link: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/poop-101.120171/

 

[Allan]

Yes, it's a relief knowing he's in good health.
Invested in a digital thermometer today with a lead to measure temps in a specific area. He's been favoring a large leaf or having a good lie down on the fake vine to bask (the vine is his preferred spot as he heads there first and last thing of day).
His highest basking point hovers at around 94F (34/35c), the vine is a little lower then he has various other spots he migrates to.
When at the top of the plant on its highest leaf he did mouth gape today which he hasn't done before but only for a couple of minutes. He moved on about 10 minutes later.

Also set up a Zoo Med Little Dripper today to give him more opportunity to drink rather than just when I mist. Need to move it though, made a noob error and the pipe isn't low enough from the container as it's on the roof (container outside, pipe suspended from inside) of the cage. so the drip isn't as frequent or constant as i'd prefer (like 1 drip every 7 or 10 of 15 seconds..... I know how to have fun, spend 10 minutes timing your drips ).
I'll move it to to right hand screen and have it stick out of the fake leaves, run down that into a catch tray. He can choose the leaf droplets or direct from the tube as suits him.

 

[Rogue]

Yes, it's a relief knowing he's in good health.
Invested in a digital thermometer today with a lead to measure temps in a specific area. He's been favoring a large leaf or having a good lie down on the fake vine to bask (the vine is his preferred spot as he heads there first and last thing of day).
His highest basking point hovers at around 94F (34/35c), the vine is a little lower then he has various other spots he migrates to.
When at the top of the plant on its highest leaf he did mouth gape today which he hasn't done before but only for a couple of minutes. He moved on about 10 minutes later.

Also set up a Zoo Med Little Dripper today to give him more opportunity to drink rather than just when I mist. Need to move it though, made a noob error and the pipe isn't low enough from the container as it's on the roof (container outside, pipe suspended from inside) of the cage. so the drip isn't as frequent or constant as i'd prefer (like 1 drip every 7 or 10 of 15 seconds..... I know how to have fun, spend 10 minutes timing your drips ).
I'll move it to to right hand screen and have it stick out of the fake leaves, run down that into a catch tray. He can choose the leaf droplets or direct from the tube as suits him.

I wouldn't recommend having the droplets collect in a tray as any standing water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. As long as you have a great, fine mister, it shouldn't be necessary to catch the water drops into any container. Also, he is not likely to drink straight from a water bowl/ catcher.

 

[Allan]

I am thinking short term (like 2 maybe 3 weeks top). Next month I'm certainly going to purchase a misting system (MistKing i'm being told and read are like the AAA+ of systems).

 

[Rogue]

I am thinking short term (like 2 maybe 3 weeks top). Next month I'm certainly going to purchase a misting system (MistKing i'm being told and read are like the AAA+ of systems).

I wouldn't even do it at all. All it takes is a day for bacteria to grow, unless you are meticulous about cleaning that container at least once a day until you get the mister.

 

[Allan]

I'll stick with the manual misting and the dripper onto the live plant for now then. As he grows in size and confidence i'm guessing he'll start making ventures to the base, so good point on the standing water, thank you.

I'm going to get the Mistking starter kit for sure so that should help.

 

[Allan]

Good day for Bob. Munched his locusts in record time (still one evading him so will wait until I give him more)

Nice healthy poop and urates. urates were even a little wet so.

 

[Rogue]

Good day for Bob. Munched his locusts in record time (still one evading him so will wait until I give him more)

Nice healthy poop and urates. urates were even a little wet so.

That's great! Healthy looking poo Go Bob!