Meet Greg

[ReysLizards]

This is Greg, my veiled chameleon from pet co. I have two chameleon questions for you guys. How do I tell Greg’s gender? And is the dry patch under Greg’s armpit normal? These are a collection of all our photos

 

[NashansCamos]

He looks like a male. Males are bigger, have bigger casques, have a tarsal spur on their back legs, and have brighter colors than females

 

[NashansCamos]

Can you pls fill out the husbandry form so we can make sure he's healthy and happy☺

 

[NashansCamos]

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.

 

[ReysLizards]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon (Yemen), unsure, about 4 months but that’s a guess. How long has it been in your care? 2 months
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Daily because I want them to be more okay with handling
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? He eats black flies, occasion meal worms and gutloaded crickets with collard greens carrots and calcium supplements (no d12)
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Fluckers liquid vitamins. They eat in the evening about 20-30 insects
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  they have a monsoon misting machine that goes off for a minutes every hour for 10 hours a day. And yes they drink from it.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites
  never tested for parasites but, solid brown poo and the top is white
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
  I bought them at pet co

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions
  screen cage that’s tall, probably 3-4ft tall and almost 2 ft wide.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  not sure of the brand but has a long UVB light that’s 1ft long across the top. And has a separate dome heat lamp on the top of their cage.
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  basking spot is 95-100 the lowest point is about 85. I use a thermometer that I have attached with Velcro next to the basking soot
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  Monsoon misting machine. 60-80% and I have a humidity gage built in my thermometer.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  no live plants, but they have vines and fake plants.
  •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?
  Bedroom dormer on a book shelf with no window.
• Location - Where are you geographically located?
  pcb Florida

 

[NashansCamos]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon (Yemen), unsure, about 4 months but that’s a guess. How long has it been in your care? 2 months
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Daily because I want them to be more okay with handling
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? He eats black flies, occasion meal worms and gutloaded crickets with collard greens carrots and calcium supplements (no d12)
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Fluckers liquid vitamins. They eat in the evening about 20-30 insects
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  they have a monsoon misting machine that goes off for a minutes every hour for 10 hours a day. And yes they drink from it.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites
  never tested for parasites but, solid brown poo and the top is white
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
  I bought them at pet co

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions
  screen cage that’s tall, probably 3-4ft tall and almost 2 ft wide.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  not sure of the brand but has a long UVB light that’s 1ft long across the top. And has a separate dome heat lamp on the top of their cage.
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  basking spot is 95-100 the lowest point is about 85. I use a thermometer that I have attached with Velcro next to the basking soot
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  Monsoon misting machine. 60-80% and I have a humidity gage built in my thermometer.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  no live plants, but they have vines and fake plants.
  •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?
  Bedroom dormer on a book shelf with no window.
• Location - Where are you geographically located?
  pcb Florida

My feedback is in red.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon (Yemen), unsure, about 4 months but that’s a guess. How long has it been in your care? 2 months Looks about 4 months
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Daily because I want them to be more okay with handling Don't stress him with handling too often. If he's not opening his mouth or turning colors then it's fine.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? He eats black flies, occasion meal worms and gutloaded crickets with collard greens carrots and calcium supplements (no d12) What are these black flies? are they bsf or fruit flies? You don't need to gutload crickets with calcium, just collard greens and carrots etc. you need to dust it with them.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Fluckers liquid vitamins. They eat in the evening about 20-30 insects No liquid vitamins. He needs calci dust (no d3) 6 days a week. gently dust the feeders with the dust. Also, 2 times a month, he needs calcium dust with d3. Get that asap as it's vital for bone growth and he could get mbd.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  they have a monsoon misting machine that goes off for a minutes every hour for 10 hours a day. And yes they drink from it. Does that include the night?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites Get him tested
  never tested for parasites but, solid brown poo and the top is white
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
  I bought them at pet co

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions
  screen cage that’s tall, probably 3-4ft tall and almost 2 ft wide.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  not sure of the brand but has a long UVB light that’s 1ft long across the top. And has a separate dome heat lamp on the top of their cage. More details. What's the brand? what % of uvi does it give? read the box
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  basking spot is 95-100 the lowest point is about 85. I use a thermometer that I have attached with Velcro next to the basking soot Whoah 95-100 TOO HOT!! the basking spot should not get any higher than 85 ever. just use a normal incandescant house bulb for heating. Most reptile heating lamps are too hot.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  Monsoon misting machine. 60-80% and I have a humidity gage built in my thermometer.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  no live plants, but they have vines and fake plants. Veileds NEED live plants! they sometimes take bites out of their plants and if he bit a plastic plant that would NOT be good
  •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?
  Bedroom dormer on a book shelf with no window.
• Location - Where are you geographically located?
  pcb Florida

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Greg? Is there an anecdote behind that?

I was considering renaming my beardie, "Bob" cuz he's been on a tear lately...
Climb the tower—bob (his head), come down from the tower—bob, run around the enclosure—bob, claw at the window—bob, take a dump—bob.... etc., etc.

 

[ReysLizards]

My feedback is in red.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon (Yemen), unsure, about 4 months but that’s a guess. How long has it been in your care? 2 months Looks about 4 months
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Daily because I want them to be more okay with handling Don't stress him with handling too often. If he's not opening his mouth or turning colors then it's fine.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? He eats black flies, occasion meal worms and gutloaded crickets with collard greens carrots and calcium supplements (no d12) What are these black flies? are they bsf or fruit flies? You don't need to gutload crickets with calcium, just collard greens and carrots etc. you need to dust it with them.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Fluckers liquid vitamins. They eat in the evening about 20-30 insects No liquid vitamins. He needs calci dust (no d3) 6 days a week. gently dust the feeders with the dust. Also, 2 times a month, he needs calcium dust with d3. Get that asap as it's vital for bone growth and he could get mbd.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  they have a monsoon misting machine that goes off for a minutes every hour for 10 hours a day. And yes they drink from it. Does that include the night?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites Get him tested
  never tested for parasites but, solid brown poo and the top is white
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
  I bought them at pet co

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions
  screen cage that’s tall, probably 3-4ft tall and almost 2 ft wide.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  not sure of the brand but has a long UVB light that’s 1ft long across the top. And has a separate dome heat lamp on the top of their cage. More details. What's the brand? what % of uvi does it give? read the box
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  basking spot is 95-100 the lowest point is about 85. I use a thermometer that I have attached with Velcro next to the basking soot Whoah 95-100 TOO HOT!! the basking spot should not get any higher than 85 ever. just use a normal incandescant house bulb for heating. Most reptile heating lamps are too hot.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  Monsoon misting machine. 60-80% and I have a humidity gage built in my thermometer.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  no live plants, but they have vines and fake plants. Veileds NEED live plants! they sometimes take bites out of their plants and if he bit a plastic plant that would NOT be good
  •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?
  Bedroom dormer on a book shelf with no window.
• Location - Where are you geographically located?
  pcb Florida

Bsf flies and I just ordered him a hibiscus plants and a ficus tree. The attachments are his lamps

 

[NashansCamos]

Have you bought the supplements yet?


@Beman I've never seen this uvb before?

 

[Beman]

Bsf flies and I just ordered him a hibiscus plants and a ficus tree. The attachments are his lamps

Have you bought the supplements yet?


@Beman I've never seen this uvb before?

So the linear one you got is a T8 fixture and bulb. You need a T5HO instead with a 5.0 bulb for it. Then you would place the highest basking branch about 9 inches below the fixture sitting on the top of the cage to ensure the correct UVI level for UVB.

The other bulb you got is a Mercury vapor bulb and should not be used on a cage. These bulbs are only used on free range set ups or very large enclosures with the use of a Solarmeter 6.5 to ensure the cham is not over exposed to a UVI level that is dangerous. They produce high UVI levels and heat. Too hot and it will kill the cham too much UVI and you can have multiple issues including skin cancer. For the bulb you use for heat you only want a regular incandescent household bulb like 60 watts. Make sure it is not an LED bulb as they produce very little heat.

 

[ReysLizards]

Yes I already had both supplements(the powders) . Is it okay to put the liquid calcium in his water? That’s what I’ve been doing with his misting machine. Can I get those light bulbs at target?

 

[Beman]

Yes I already had both supplements(the powders) . Is it okay to put the liquid calcium in his water? That’s what I’ve been doing with his misting machine. Can I get those light bulbs at target?

So the liquid supplements are incorrect. And you should not be putting any supplements in the water.
You want this to lightly dust feeders with at all feedings https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Reptile-Calcium-without/dp/B000UJPHL8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DB1BXO5I50RD&dchild=1&keywords=reptile+calcium+without+d3&qid=1595703921&refinements=p_85:2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=repticalcium+without+,aps,226&sr=8-1

Then two times a month ONLY you will dust with this one. Reptivite WITH D3 version Which is a multivitamin and calcium with D3. Say on the 1st and 15th of the month. https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Reptivite-Vitamin-2-Ounce/dp/B0002AQB6A/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GNXS1A2JFPPM&dchild=1&keywords=reptivite+with+d3&qid=1595704009&refinements=p_85:2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=reptivate,aps,236&sr=8-1

Any incandescent household bulb that emits a white color and is 60 watts that does not say LED will work for heat. All lights should only be on for 12 hours then total darkness for 12 hours at night.

This is the T5HO fixture with the 5.0 bulb you need for the UVB lighting. You would use the 5.0 bulb NOT the 10.0. You may be able to find it cheaper other places. https://www.amazon.com/Reptisun-260...ywords=reptisun+5.0+t5&qid=1595704102&sr=8-19

You want to gutload your feeders with a variety of veg and fruit each day. Use this image for what to buy. I am including the feeder image as well below.

Accurate info and Product links for things I like:

https://chameleonacademy.com/

https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/NeptunetheChameleon?sub_confirmation=1

www.dragonstrand.com

https://tkchameleons.com/collections/accessories/products/shooting-gallery

 

[ReysLizards]

Should I feed him the flies as larvae? I’ve been waiting until they turn into flies. Also I will definitely pick up new lighting for him. Thank you so much for your helpful advice

 

[NashansCamos]

Should I feed him the flies as larvae? I’ve been waiting until they turn into flies. Also I will definitely pick up new lighting for him. Thank you so much for your helpful advice

My cham eats both. Both larvae and flies are fine

 

[Beman]

Should I feed him the flies as larvae? I’ve been waiting until they turn into flies. Also I will definitely pick up new lighting for him. Thank you so much for your helpful advice

As larvae they have a higher calcium ratio. I assume you are talking about Black Soldier Flies. These are great in both larvae and fly state. As flies it gives them something to hunt that does not move too quickly. Also allows them to fully exercise their tongues. Crickets are good too. The image I gave you will give you your options for feeders. Mealworms are less then ideal because they have a high chitin ration which makes them harder to digest and they are relatively low in nutritional value.

Make sure you swap out that Mercury Vapor bulb asap for the incandescent. Besides the UVI being too high I am very concerned about prolonged exposure to the temps your getting. They are far to high. Really 80 is all they need at basking.

This link will give you complete and total guidance with correct husbandry info for the entire set up for your little one too.

https://chameleonacademy.com/

You do have a Male by the way.

 

[ReysLizards]

Good, I thought Greg was a she but I couldn’t tell. But yes he’s only had the light for a few days because his old one broke (it was a blue bulb from pet co) but I’m going to pick some new ones up tomorrow and definitely switch it ASAP.
Side note: is that same bulb bad for bearded dragons? He has the same bulb.

 

[Beman]

Good, I thought Greg was a she but I couldn’t tell. But yes he’s only had the light for a few days because his old one broke (it was a blue bulb from pet co) but I’m going to pick some new ones up tomorrow and definitely switch it ASAP.
Side note: is that same bulb bad for bearded dragons? He has the same bulb.

Beardies typically are kept under T5HO as well I believe. But this it outside my area of expertise. With them they need the higher heat but the UVI levels should still be closely watched. Over exposure to UVI that is too high is like when you get a burn and repeatedly go outside for more sun... Burn on top of burn on top of burn.
We have this forum for other pets... you might post there if you have questions on your bearded dragon https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/other-reptiles-and-pets.38/
You can also use the forum search function to pull up prior threads.

 

[ReysLizards]

Greg? Is there an anecdote behind that?

I was considering renaming my beardie, "Bob" cuz he's been on a tear lately...
Climb the tower—bob (his head), come down from the tower—bob, run around the enclosure—bob, claw at the window—bob, take a dump—bob.... etc., etc.

His names Greg and his brother my breaded dragon is rodrick like diary of a whimpy kid lol

 

[AmandaS]

beardies also use a t5 light bar. They will need a 10.0 as opposed to the 5.0 for chameleons. They also need the same basic vitamin schedule as chameleons. I do calcium with no d3 every day for 6 days, and on the 7th i do a multivitamin or a calcium with d3 (switch them each week) and on monday and thursday i also provide a probiotic powder. This is important for beardies. And the beardie should be at 100 degrees. I made a thread when i was first getting my beardie, if you use the search bar you can look up beardies.

 

[AmandaS]

Also, i only skimmed through, but I noticed,you said,you water,your,chameleon every hour??? Thats too much. You should be misting 2-3 times a day for around 2-3 FULL MINUTES each time.