dinomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
I am an “old time” chameleon keeper from 20 years ago with the expected disappointing results based on the prevailing husbandry. I just got a new guy, wanting to create the best conditions possible so would appreciate a review of current husbandry. I have a few questions/concerns listed at the bottom, but I know you need this information in order to comment, so here goes:
◦ Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Domestic bred Male veiled High White Pied sold as “adult”-not sure exact age. Bought from LLL Reptile and had since Dec. 23rd. He weighed around 60 grams when I got him and is now 122.
◦ Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
I had planned on never; however, when I redid his enclosure I had to move him then. I found out that he is quite willing to step onto a stick, no rocking, hissing, coloring up. I put him in an outdoor enclosure for sun and may plan to do this weekly since he really enjoyed basking based on tilting to catch the sun as it moved. But handling would just be to transport.
◦ Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Every other day the equivalent of 5 bugs. For example, two sub-adult dubias I consider a serving. That is primary food but also BSFL and flies, hornworms, rarely a waxworm. I throw in a cricket here and there (always have them on hand for my waxy monkey frogs). Feed in AM as soon as he is basking. Gutload is Repashy gutload, with oranges, carrots, squash, zucchini, other vegetables.
◦ Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Every meal is Arcadia Pro-earth A with Repashy Calcium Plus LoD every other week.
◦ Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Using Exoterra Monsoon just before lights on and lights off. I run at least three minutes, if he is showing interest in drinking I leave on 5-6 minutes or as long as he is drinking. (yes he will do if I am watching from a distance)
◦ Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Well formed, solid feces and pure white urates like cream cheese consistency. Will get fecal within next 2 weeks.
◦ History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
I have left him alone except minimal cage maintenance to settle down and acclimate. I put his bugs in a small brown dish which he has come to recognize. Yesterday I noticed him eyeballing the dish when I approached, and I was thrilled that he decided to eat out of it from my hand. (the first week I had him he would not eat or drink in front of me at all).
Cage Info:
◦ Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Dragon Strand Combo cage 24 x 24 x 48.
◦ Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Schedule 7-7. Arcadia Jungle Dawn UVA, Arcadia 6% UVB, plain bulb 75 watt for basking. I have measured the UVB with a meter and it is right at 3.
◦ Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking is 82, down to 72 daytime near the bottom. Lowest night is around 65. Measured with temp gun as well as two digital thermo/hygrometers one at top and one midway.
◦ Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Humidity 25-40 during the day, 65-85 at night (this depends partly on ambient humidity which fluctuates here a lot). Maintain with the mister and also a fogger goes on for 15 mins. 5 times during the night. Lots of plants also. I think as they grow and fill out it will be easier to maintain a higher humidity at night. It will be a constant battle here as we get winter Santa Ana winds and humidity drops as low as 10%.
◦ Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Nepenthes, polka dot plant (3 in rotation, because he chows them down), pothos, bromeliad, maidenhair fern, and have wandering jew ordered (who knew the plant everyone’s grandma used to have would get hard to find??) If a little sparse on plants, it will fill in in short order. Little soil is exposed; on some of them there is tenacious (i.e. well-rooted) live sphagnum that I don’t believe would come up if accidentally hit with a tongue. There are a couple of fake vines with a few tiny silk leaves; I am not too concerned about those as he is well habituated to eating his polka dot plant.
◦ 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?
TV room; the side facing the sofa is one of the solid sides so he can’t see us. If we watch TV in there at night it is with all lights off except the light from the hermit crab enclosure which he should be used to. Top of cage is 6 feet up. No vents anywhere near him.
◦ Location - Where are you geographically located? Orange CA
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about
Wondering if his weight seems appropriate; approximate age estimate, white spots on arm part of his shed? Do bones look straight/any signs of MBD. Also his non-white color is pretty dull (he just shed), will his color develop more as he grows?
◦ Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Domestic bred Male veiled High White Pied sold as “adult”-not sure exact age. Bought from LLL Reptile and had since Dec. 23rd. He weighed around 60 grams when I got him and is now 122.
◦ Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
I had planned on never; however, when I redid his enclosure I had to move him then. I found out that he is quite willing to step onto a stick, no rocking, hissing, coloring up. I put him in an outdoor enclosure for sun and may plan to do this weekly since he really enjoyed basking based on tilting to catch the sun as it moved. But handling would just be to transport.
◦ Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Every other day the equivalent of 5 bugs. For example, two sub-adult dubias I consider a serving. That is primary food but also BSFL and flies, hornworms, rarely a waxworm. I throw in a cricket here and there (always have them on hand for my waxy monkey frogs). Feed in AM as soon as he is basking. Gutload is Repashy gutload, with oranges, carrots, squash, zucchini, other vegetables.
◦ Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Every meal is Arcadia Pro-earth A with Repashy Calcium Plus LoD every other week.
◦ Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Using Exoterra Monsoon just before lights on and lights off. I run at least three minutes, if he is showing interest in drinking I leave on 5-6 minutes or as long as he is drinking. (yes he will do if I am watching from a distance)
◦ Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Well formed, solid feces and pure white urates like cream cheese consistency. Will get fecal within next 2 weeks.
◦ History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
I have left him alone except minimal cage maintenance to settle down and acclimate. I put his bugs in a small brown dish which he has come to recognize. Yesterday I noticed him eyeballing the dish when I approached, and I was thrilled that he decided to eat out of it from my hand. (the first week I had him he would not eat or drink in front of me at all).
Cage Info:
◦ Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Dragon Strand Combo cage 24 x 24 x 48.
◦ Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Schedule 7-7. Arcadia Jungle Dawn UVA, Arcadia 6% UVB, plain bulb 75 watt for basking. I have measured the UVB with a meter and it is right at 3.
◦ Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking is 82, down to 72 daytime near the bottom. Lowest night is around 65. Measured with temp gun as well as two digital thermo/hygrometers one at top and one midway.
◦ Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Humidity 25-40 during the day, 65-85 at night (this depends partly on ambient humidity which fluctuates here a lot). Maintain with the mister and also a fogger goes on for 15 mins. 5 times during the night. Lots of plants also. I think as they grow and fill out it will be easier to maintain a higher humidity at night. It will be a constant battle here as we get winter Santa Ana winds and humidity drops as low as 10%.
◦ Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Nepenthes, polka dot plant (3 in rotation, because he chows them down), pothos, bromeliad, maidenhair fern, and have wandering jew ordered (who knew the plant everyone’s grandma used to have would get hard to find??) If a little sparse on plants, it will fill in in short order. Little soil is exposed; on some of them there is tenacious (i.e. well-rooted) live sphagnum that I don’t believe would come up if accidentally hit with a tongue. There are a couple of fake vines with a few tiny silk leaves; I am not too concerned about those as he is well habituated to eating his polka dot plant.
◦ 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?
TV room; the side facing the sofa is one of the solid sides so he can’t see us. If we watch TV in there at night it is with all lights off except the light from the hermit crab enclosure which he should be used to. Top of cage is 6 feet up. No vents anywhere near him.
◦ Location - Where are you geographically located? Orange CA
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about
Wondering if his weight seems appropriate; approximate age estimate, white spots on arm part of his shed? Do bones look straight/any signs of MBD. Also his non-white color is pretty dull (he just shed), will his color develop more as he grows?
OR I might see if I can find one with a larger reservoir, I know it is going to become tedious to refill this one as much as needed.
