Lighting and heat

[Lonelyowl7]

Ya ficus can grow very large, just trim it when its starts getting very big. Any plant will get very big if cared for properly over time.

So ficus is a tree it grows up, so I put that on the floor and then hanging from the top or back a Pothos, about 8 inches from the screen, pothos grows up a tad and then droops down and all around the branches and stuff. Its a vine and pretty much unkillable .

Healthy poop is brown, and healthy urates are white (likely attached to the poop). If urates are yellow they are dehydrated, if they are orange they are very dehydrated (Plus other things possible I think).

Here is a great poop thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/poop-101.120171/

Thank you so much for helping me.

Do you know of a mister under 50 bucks or is it all close to 100?

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Any plant you get, you can keep trimmed. I highly recommend pothos since it serves as water deliverer, humidity raiser, pathway system, and shelter very easily and they are usually cheap.

What kind of UVB bulb do you have? Is it the long tube or the compact/spiral kind?

It is not the long tube kind. It came in the reptibreeze chameleon kit. It is a 5.0 uvb bulb. Im not home right now so i cant look right now. It is a tube in a u shape only a couple inches long.

 

[KLowery88]

It is not the long tube kind. It came in the reptibreeze chameleon kit. It is a 5.0 uvb bulb. Im not home right now so i cant look right now. It is a tube in a u shape only a couple inches long.

Ah okay, I know the one you're talking about. Those aren't really good at all. I'd recommend switching to one of the tube fixtures and bulbs, the T8 or T5 size. More light/UVB might do a fair bit of help in stimulating his activity and appetite.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Ya ficus can grow very large, just trim it when its starts getting very big. Any plant will get very big if cared for properly over time.

So ficus is a tree it grows up, so I put that on the floor and then hanging from the top or back a Pothos, about 8 inches from the screen, pothos grows up a tad and then droops down and all around the branches and stuff. Its a vine and pretty much unkillable .

Healthy poop is brown, and healthy urates are white (likely attached to the poop). If urates are yellow they are dehydrated, if they are orange they are very dehydrated (Plus other things possible I think).

Here is a great poop thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/poop-101.120171/

Ah okay, I know the one you're talking about. Those aren't really good at all. I'd recommend switching to one of the tube fixtures and bulbs, the T8 or T5 size. More light/UVB might do a fair bit of help in stimulating his activity and appetite.

Do you know how much those cost i spent most of my money of the other stuff

 

[KLowery88]

Do you know how much those cost i spent most of my money of the other stuff

It can vary quite a lot, but it's a pretty important part of keeping your little guy healthy. You could go with something like a Reptisun bulb in a single bulb fixture sized for your cage, which might come out to maybe $50. I would also go with a stronger bulb, like a 10.0 over the 5.0. You'll want to make sure he has plenty of places to get out of the light if he wants.

If you want to save up, you can look at places like www.lightyourreptiles.com, which have better fixtures/bulbs. My Veiled grew up under their quad fixture with an Arcadia 12% bulb.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

It can vary quite a lot, but it's a pretty important part of keeping your little guy healthy. You could go with something like a Reptisun bulb in a single bulb fixture sized for your cage, which might come out to maybe $50. I would also go with a stronger bulb, like a 10.0 over the 5.0. You'll want to make sure he has plenty of places to get out of the light if he wants.

If you want to save up, you can look at places like www.lightyourreptiles.com, which have better fixtures/bulbs. My Veiled grew up under their quad fixture with an Arcadia 12% bulb.

What should i be feeding it? I have been putting crickets in the cage but idk if its been eating them. I dont see any of them but idk if they are escaping some how i dont think they are.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

What should i be feeding it? I have been putting crickets in the cage but idk if its been eating them. I dont see any of them but idk if they are escaping some how i dont think they are.

Should i feed it meal worms instead of crickets. I think that is what it had at the pet store, but im not sure.

 

[KLowery88]

Should i feed it meal worms instead of crickets. I think that is what it had at the pet store, but im not sure.

Mealworms aren't the best, I would stick to crickets. Does he eat out of a cup? That's the easiest way to keep track of them. If you search the forums for feeder cups, people have come up with some pretty creative designs.

Proper gutloading and supplements are really important. I feed my crickets, roaches, and superworms a bunch of veggies and a dry blend like Cricket Crack. You want healthy feeders going into your chameleon. You can also look into buying other feeders online: black soldier fly larvae (high in calcium, very good feeders), silkworms, hornworms, that sort of thing.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Mealworms aren't the best, I would stick to crickets. Does he eat out of a cup? That's the easiest way to keep track of them. If you search the forums for feeder cups, people have come up with some pretty creative designs.

Proper gutloading and supplements are really important. I feed my crickets, roaches, and superworms a bunch of veggies and a dry blend like Cricket Crack. You want healthy feeders going into your chameleon. You can also look into buying other feeders online: black soldier fly larvae (high in calcium, very good feeders), silkworms, hornworms, that sort of thing.

I just put the crickets in the cage and let them roam. Is that not a good idea?

 

[KLowery88]

I just put the crickets in the cage and let them roam. Is that not a good idea?

If he's eating them, then that's fine. You just want to be careful he isn't being nibbled by any leftover at night.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

If he's eating them, then that's fine. You just want to be careful he isn't being nibbled by any leftover at night.

Well i just put one in a cup and slowly put over to him and it took like a minute or 2 and then he/she took it. So during the night i should make sure there are none in the cage? I still dont know what if he/she really isnt drinking what am i supposed to do then?

 

[KLowery88]

Well i just put one in a cup and slowly put over to him and it took like a minute or 2 and then he/she took it. So during the night i should make sure there are none in the cage? I still dont know what if he/she really isnt drinking what am i supposed to do then?

I would try to remove them if you can, yeah. Then from now on you can just put them in a cup in the cage.

Telling if they're drinking is a bit harder. Usually you have to infer from the state of their urates, the white chalky bit that is usually passed with their poop. White means that the chameleon is hydrated.

I would recommend trying to get a misting system as soon as you can. They're really important in letting the chameleon regulate its water intake, and the actual mist lets them keep their eyes clean.

Until you get that, you can try using the shower method, where you put the chameleon in the shower on a plant and aim the spray at the wall to bounce back and fall in the chameleon. Just be careful with this since he's so small.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

I would try to remove them if you can, yeah. Then from now on you can just put them in a cup in the cage.

Telling if they're drinking is a bit harder. Usually you have to infer from the state of their urates, the white chalky bit that is usually passed with their poop. White means that the chameleon is hydrated.

I would recommend trying to get a misting system as soon as you can. They're really important in letting the chameleon regulate its water intake, and the actual mist lets them keep their eyes clean.

Until you get that, you can try using the shower method, where you put the chameleon in the shower on a plant and aim the spray at the wall to bounce back and fall in the chameleon. Just be careful with this since he's so small.

Im hoping to get enough money for a misting system this weekend. My parents dont really see the need for one (im in high school) so its kinda anyoing when i know i need one but theyre like o no it can wait.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Im hoping to get enough money for a misting system this weekend. My parents dont really see the need for one (im in high school) so its kinda anyoing when i know i need one but theyre like o no it can wait.

Would you recommend any mist system (preferably on the less money side but good quality). I know the reptirain thing. Is the repti fogger good it is only 45 bucks.

 

[KLowery88]

Im hoping to get enough money for a misting system this weekend. My parents dont really see the need for one (im in high school) so its kinda anyoing when i know i need one but theyre like o no it can wait.

Would you recommend any mist system (preferably on the less money side but good quality). I know the reptirain thing. Is the repti fogger good it is only 45 bucks.

I have a Mistking, which is a bit up there in price, but the best you can get and will last years. There's also the Climist in that price range.

Not as good, but also not as expensive is the Monsoon, which I think some people have okay success with. There's a lot of people that say it craps out on them though.

Before you get a misting system, make sure you have a way for the water to drain though. You don't want all that water going everywhere lol.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

I have a Mistking, which is a bit up there in price, but the best you can get and will last years. There's also the Climist in that price range.

Not as good, but also not as expensive is the Monsoon, which I think some people have okay success with. There's a lot of people that say it craps out on them though.

Before you get a misting system, make sure you have a way for the water to drain though. You don't want all that water going everywhere lol.

Jee when i was researching about getting one everyone was saying its so hard but i was like i put crickets in mist a could times a day and im fine but no. Im sorry im being so needy. How would i drain it?

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Jee when i was researching about getting one everyone was saying its so hard but i was like i put crickets in mist a could times a day and im fine but no. Im sorry im being so needy. How would i drain it?

Oh man the mistking is "a bit up there in price" there is no way i can get that.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

Oh man the mistking is "a bit up there in price" there is no way i can get that.

Never mind i thought it said 1100 dollars. It said 141.

 

[KLowery88]

Jee when i was researching about getting one everyone was saying its so hard but i was like i put crickets in mist a could times a day and im fine but no. Im sorry im being so needy. How would i drain it?

It's alright, at least you're asking questions and accepting advice. Chameleons are definitely not cheap pets if you set them up right.

Draining is really something that has to be tailored to each cage and space, so I can't really advise a general solution. Many people use things like trays and then siphon the water out. I have my cage on top of a utility sink with a built in drain.

Never mind i thought it said 1100 dollars. It said 141.

Haha yeah that would be too much even for me! The starter kit is what I have, and while it takes a bit to set up, it'll last a long time.

 

[Lonelyowl7]

It's alright, at least you're asking questions and accepting advice. Chameleons are definitely not cheap pets if you set them up right.

Draining is really something that has to be tailored to each cage and space, so I can't really advise a general solution. Many people use things like trays and then siphon the water out. I have my cage on top of a utility sink with a built in drain.



Haha yeah that would be too much even for me! The starter kit is what I have, and while it takes a bit to set up, it'll last a long time.

Right know for my dripper i just have a bowl thing with some screen over it. I dont think that would work w/ a mist system. And i think i will probably end up getting a repti rain because i saved up a bunch of money then spent it on it and now i have 10 bucks