Love my Cham, But Low On Money. Need Help

[Echo.27]

Hi, I love my 8-month-old and I've had him for roughly a month and a half. I have him in a medium size 360 screen cage with 2 fake plants decorating the top and bottom, a live plant (Parlor Palm), a large stick connecting the fake plants to the ground, and a newspaper lined the bottom. I have a UVB lamp resting atop the cage and a heat lamp that is occasionally turned on. I mist his cage every morning by hand for 2 minutes and again when I get home from school and after whenever it looks dry. I reeealllyyy want him to be happy and live a long time, but I'm kinda strapped for money. Does anyone know where I can get cheap but good quality humidifiers, plants, and supplies for my little dude? Much appreciated!

 

[JacksJill]

Lowes and sometimes home depot put wilted plants on mark down for less then half price. I get them home water them and so far they do fine. Sometimes Crags List has used supplies listed cheap. You will have to clean and bleach them before you use them.

 

[Remkon]

First of all it sucks that you are 'strapped for money' but nearly every website/caresheet about reptiles will tell you this is an expensive hobby and you should consider your financial situation before you purchase your animal. What if he needs a vet? That can become expensive!

Now to try and help...
A humidifier is a good way to keep humidity up but in my opinion is not a replacement for misting. If you are in the US wallmart or target should have em for around 25$-30$ (i've been told). If that's to much and you are creative you can build one with a supersonic humidifier (from ebay) a container for water and a small pc fan.

Another way to help keep humidity up is to use life plants.
You can also cover a side or two in shower curtain.

 

[Echo.27]

First of all it sucks that you are 'strapped for money' but nearly every website/caresheet about reptiles will tell you this is an expensive hobby and you should consider your financial situation before you purchase your animal. What if he needs a vet? That can become expensive!

Now to try and help...
A humidifier is a good way to keep humidity up but in my opinion is not a replacement for misting. If you are in the US wallmart or target should have em for around 25$-30$ (i've been told). If that's to much and you are creative you can build one with a supersonic humidifier (from ebay) a container for water and a small pc fan.

Another way to help keep humidity up is to use life plants.
You can also cover a side or two in shower curtain.

I should rephrase it, I do have some money but not enough to buy those full kits and "must have" items. Thank you!!

 

[Mtnlaurel]

Start hanging out at whatever goodwill has housing stuff. We have a habitat for humanity store that sells old household stuff. Also, post on facebook yard sale pages. Wanted: humidifier. Wanted: house plants. Watch your local craigslist for reptile supplies then call and wheel & deal. Never underestimate a good trade.

You can make a dripper from an old soda bottle with a pinprick. Use a spray bottle to mist your cages.

Take cuttings from pothos and spider plants and root your own.

Put aside at least $50 for a vet check up and don't touch it. Add to it when you can - it will definitely cost more.

Feeders are expensive. I can't see a way around that.

 

[Echo.27]

Start hanging out at whatever goodwill has housing stuff. We have a habitat for humanity store that sells old household stuff. Also, post on facebook yard sale pages. Wanted: humidifier. Wanted: house plants. Watch your local craigslist for reptile supplies then call and wheel & deal. Never underestimate a good trade.

You can make a dripper from an old soda bottle with a pinprick. Use a spray bottle to mist your cages.

Take cuttings from pothos and spider plants and root your own.

Put aside at least $50 for a vet check up and don't touch it. Add to it when you can - it will definitely cost more.

Feeders are expensive. I can't see a way around that.

Thank you soooo muchh, this is some great advice

 

[Andee]

Branches are easy to get if you need more, get them from outside and just give a Good scrub. Preferably clip from the tree and don't clip any that show disease or bug infestation. Good types of trees are oak and I think elm? Though you might want to look up elm for sure. If you want to save money on feeders buy from the classifieds or bulk buy online and start your own colonies. Superworms are really easy to start with a colony, as are certain roaches. Crickets I buy once in a while, I raise my own silkworms and stick insects, also isopods. I spend about 20 dollars at most on feeders every month.

 

[Andee]

The great thing is if you are regularly saving money with feeders and save money on decor you can put that money in a vet fund.

 

[kelly_girl199]

I should rephrase it, I do have some money but not enough to buy those full kits and "must have" items. Thank you!!

I bought a humidifier off someone listing it on either Varage Sale(it's an app) or Letgo(also an app) for 10$ be a new. Went to Home Depot and got a PVC fitting and a washer machine hose for 10$. Hooks right up to my cage. You can get a little dripper of Amazon with shipping for 8$ I believe(they are wonderful) and a hanging basket of pothos are 10$ at lowes. You can also get small Bromeleiads at Lowes for 8$ a piece. Use organic soil to repot. You can get couple of pots to seperate them into for like 2$ each. You can get a small bag of organic dirt for about 5$. Pothos are great bc they don't have leaves falling off like ever and can handle a lot of water. You Cana also pick up a hand pressure sprayer for about 7-8$ which makes things much easier than a. Regular spray bottle. Another thing I did was take two shower curtain liners and cut them perfectly to fit three sides.then I got glued them to the inside frame of the cage and also used neodymium magnets in each corner to secure it and keep it up. I have a pan that the curtain goes into at the bottom. But that really helps up the humidity.

 

[kelly_girl199]

Btw super worms are really cheap and they Love carrots and kale. I feed my guy 1-2 a day. Sometimes I skip days so he isn't eating it every single day. You can make feeders much healthier for him by fur loading. Keeping some roaches In a bin is also a great alternative to keep feeder cost down. They breed quick and you will constantly have a supply.

 

[Graves923]

Something no one mentioned yet is that you have " a heat lamp that is occasionally turned on."

You should be turning that on with the UVB light and have them on a 10-12 hour cycle. As long as the basking spot is around 6 inches below the bulb and the the temp at that spot is in the low to mid 80s F you chameleon will be good. They need the basking spot available to them to use whenever they feel the need to warm up.

 

[Echo.27]

Something no one mentioned yet is that you have " a heat lamp that is occasionally turned on."

You should be turning that on with the UVB light and have them on a 10-12 hour cycle. As long as the basking spot is around 6 inches below the bulb and the temp at that spot is in the low to mid 80s F you chameleon will be good. They need the basking spot available to them to use whenever they feel the need to warm up.

I just recently bought a brand new basking light for him and have it hanging roughly 8 inches above his enclosure. thank you, cause I didn't know he could be on all day. Oh he started shedding yesterday and when I woke up he still is, is this normal? The first time he shed was a month ago and it took 4 hours. I keep his cage wet and recently made a dripper for when I'm away but I haven't seen him drinking or eating lately so I'm wondering if he's ok. Please can i get some feed back! Thank you!

 

[Andee]

As they get older shedding will take longer and they won't usually do full body sheds.

 

[Echo.27]

As they get older shedding will take longer and they won't usually do full body sheds.

I know that but he's only 8 months old. I checked on him this morning and he's still shedding and it's been 4 days since he started so I'm worried.

 

[Andee]

If he's still getting pieces to come off regularly and it still flexible I honestly wouldn't worry. If you feel the need to put him in the shower. 8 months is around teenager age so it sound right that everything starts to go wonky.

 

[kelly_girl199]

I know that but he's only 8 months old. I checked on him this morning and he's still shedding and it's been 4 days since he started so I'm worried.

Last time time it took mine 3 days. And really pieces started flaking before that. Don't worry. It can take up to a week, sometimes more. Like Andee said, as long as it's still flaking and flexible you are perfectly fine. Don't over think things

 

[Echo.27]

If he's still getting pieces to come off regularly and it still flexible I honestly wouldn't worry. If you feel the need to put him in the shower. 8 months is around teenager age so it sounds right that everything starts to go wonky.

Ok, that's great, Thank you soo much, I worry about him too much. He's flaking off pieces and is moving so I think he'll be alright

 

[All usernames were taken]

I got some vines from the dollar store and scrubbed them down really well and used a reptile safe cleaner. Also ebay and target can have cheap humidifiers. I got mine for $10 at target. That was black Friday though.

If the shedding doesn't work out naturally try warm misting and a warm bath. Make sure the shed isn't left by the tail area. It may stop circulation. I hope this helps you and good luck

 

[Peachypink]

I got some vines from the dollar store and scrubbed them down really well and used a reptile safe cleaner. Also ebay and target can have cheap humidifiers. I got mine for $10 at target. That was black Friday though.

If the shedding doesn't work out naturally try warm misting and a warm bath. Make sure the shed isn't left by the tail area. It may stop circulation. I hope this helps you and good luck

A warm shower is better for them than a bath. While baths are great for reptiles like bearded dragons, Chams do not do well in sitting water, it is not natural for them and they could very easily aspirate.

To shower them, you put them on a sturdy plant in the shower and direct the spray towards the wall so that a fine mist bounces off the wall and onto the plant. Make it nice and warm and 20-30 minutes. Always supervise.

 

[All usernames were taken]

A warm shower is better for them than a bath. While baths are great for reptiles like bearded dragons, Chams do not do well in sitting water, it is not natural for them and they could very easily aspirate.

To shower them, you put them on a sturdy plant in the shower and direct the spray towards the wall so that a fine mist bounces off the wall and onto the plant. Make it nice and warm and 20-30 minutes. Always supervise.

Never knew that, thanks for the tip