Introducing Loki the Cham

[Loki the cham]

Hi all, I'd like to introduce my veiled chameleon Loki, he has been in my care for about 2 months now as my first chameleon, he seems to be doing well, originally he was never handled other than when taken out to show customers in the shop which must have been quite stressful as he was stored high in the corner away from any passers by, and only a hand reaching in to feed him and get him out, I could have chosen a more tame cham but seeing him as he was, I chose to give him a home, he is still very wary and shy but hey he's a chameleon lol, I do not handle him as he is still accustoming himself and I'm trying to build up to that part, but he is handfeeding nearly every day, also not sure of his age but I'm guessing he is not far off 8 months old now, what are your thoughts? Hopefully I'm doing things the right way but open to any advise, thank you.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Glad to hear your open to suggestions could you answer these questions so we can ensure he is getting a solid start in his forever home?


Chameleon Info:

◦ Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

◦ Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

◦ Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

◦ Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

◦ Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your 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?

◦ Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

◦ Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

◦ 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?

◦ 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?

◦ Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


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Please Note:

1 The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.

2 Photos can be very helpful.

 

[Loki the cham]

Sure no problem,
Chameleon Info:

◦ Your Chameleon -Male yemen veiled chameleon, in my care for roughly 2 months, unsure of accurate age, but just over 7 months old as an estimate

◦ Handling - do not handle, but check boundaries in what he is willing to tolerate on occasions, building up to handling if possible

◦ Feeding - Fed every morning, each day varies, Crickets as main, and a couple locusts or dubia roaches, occasionally calci worms and less often a couple mealworm or a wax worm, main staple dusted everyday with calci dust made by vetark, alternate nutribal with d3 and arkvits with no d3 every sunday

◦ Supplements - Vetark calci dust
Vetark nutribal
Vetark armpits

◦ Watering - hand mist each morning 30 min after lights come on, and again after work usually about 4pm, reptirain system on through the day every 3 hours for 30 seconds

◦ Fecal Description - Black faces very moist, white urate, occasional yellow dots, usually firm but sometimes a little runny

◦ History - bought from a pet shop, that had him for just over 3 months,


Cage Info:

◦ Cage Type - Komodo glass reptile habitat with screened top 45 x 60 x 90 tall

◦ Lighting - 25w Uvb100 10.0 lamp in centre, 60w basking lamp in top left corner, set on timers 12hr, on at 7am off at 7pm

◦ Temperature - average 70 around the vivarium up to 95 at basking spot,

◦ Humidity - can go up to 80, average 60-70 around vivarium, 40-50 at basking spot, here in the UK, humidity is in abundance

◦ Plants - no live plants, various fake foilage

◦ Placement - at end of living room, no windows or vents near, patio doors opened on occasions or warm days for ventilation

◦ Location - Uk


Current Problem - No current problem persae, just open to any improvements or advise

 

[Syreptyon]

He looks big to me! I would guess he's closer 10 months-old to a year, but it's hard to tell with the scale of the pictures. Overall, it seems like you're off to a good start! Here are a couple husbandry comments:

(1) I would stop offering mealworms, even as just an occasional treat. They are difficult to digest, offer no nutritional value, and can cause impaction. Not worth the risk.

(2) I worry that your cage is actually on the small side. 90 cm is pretty short for a large chameleon, it is recommended to use no shorter than 48" (~120 cm)

(3) It looks to me that the UVB light you're using is a compact (CFL) model. If so, it would be important to switch that up with a linear model of UVB

(4) Adding live plants would be a very good thing for both you and your chameleon

(5) If I were you, I would remove those little woven rope things. They aren't sturdy enough for chameleons to walk on and they can get their nails stuck in them and ripped out

 

[Wowbango]

(5) If I were you, I would remove those little woven rope things. They aren't sturdy enough for chameleons to walk on and they can get their nails stuck in them and ripped out

Those are "Reptile hammocks" which are of no use to a Chameleon since they will not lay in it (like say a bearded dragon would). Toss it. I second everything @Syreptyon stated in his comment. Especially about the mealworms. A lot of local places won't stock anything other than mealworms and crickets, but dont' let this be the reason to pick them up. There are plenty of other places online from which you can get decently priced feeders. Try Superworms, Silkworms, hornworms, various types of roaches etc.

 

[Loki the cham]

Ok thanks, some good advise, as his vivarium size, I was thinking of getting a bigger enclosure for him, he has grown quite a bit in the last couple months, so due for a change, the basking hammocks were from a previous pet, I knew he wouldn't use it, more as a feature than anything but never thought about him snagging his nails, good point, I'll be taking them out, hes kind of made a bed under the one on the right lol he will be gutted to lose his roof altho I've never seen him walk up on that one,
As I live in uk it's hard to get a variety of insects we can buy, the only other option is moria worms but they look to big for him to eat lol sorry I forgot to mention I also feed him collard greens which he loves, insects are gutloaded with bug grub and certain fruit and veg.
I'm not sure the make of the lamps but was recommended by the shop owner i will invest in a light first before building up his new home, that way I can switch it sooner for him, aswel as live plants I may consider placing one or two in his new home, I've seen some great set ups here, and some great ideas, will see what I can come up with in due time.
Thank you for the advise
It'll be a great help with his new setup

 

[Syreptyon]

Good luck with everything! He's a really beautiful boy and you're well on the right track

 

[Loki the cham]

Thank you that's very kind and always good to hear, he is looking very beautiful, his colours are developing really well ive removed both basking hammocks, he isnt to happy its been disturbed but hopfully he will get used to it, just need to add a few more vines in their place, and now going to invest in a light, does any one have any recommendations? The new vivarium will still haft to be glass with screen top rather than screen as our climate can make it difficult to keep temps up in winter.