Meet Tweety!

[lyanlynn]

I think you'll do just fine. I agree about the female Jackson's and that she was in poor shape when you received her. The positive outcome is that you found Chameleon Forums and began posting for help. People here are offering advice and I hope you don't take offense to how it's delivered. Sometimes people have a hard time understanding how they come across and they are just going with their feelings. It's just that "newbies" and sick reptiles are an uneasy combination. Ultimately we all just want you to enjoy the chameleon for a long time and wish her a long life in good health.

The issue brought up regarding visibility of/by other reptiles (chameleons and otherwise) is pretty important. Sometimes I use barriers between the cages made from twin-walled plastic. You can use just about anything really. Some of my cages have the barriers inside. I experiment with different methods.

You should post your list of feeders, gutload, supplements, lighting, cage furnishings (plants, perches, etc.) and see if members here can help you tweak it to perfection. Keep up the progress and don't be afraid to ask questions or post pictures.

I've got to get the supplements, but thus far she's eaten a mealworm, several phoenix worms, and some crickets. That's pretty much all I have, unless you count vegetables such as carrots, some grapes, and squash baby food and carrot baby food.

 

[dodolah]

it's fine for her to eat her own shed.
if possible, stop handling her so much.
as others have said, you need a top for the cage and also some real plants.

i know you said you have bought her a ficus. can you post a pic of the whole enclosure with the ficus in it?
I want to see how big is the tree in relation to the cage.

 

[lyanlynn]

I think that is a screen cage, am I correct? Very nice. Could use some more foliage, either real plant or plastic (not silk). Good luck with Tweety.

It's definitely screen. I'm afraid to add anything else because she's so small.

 

[lyanlynn]

it's fine for her to eat her own shed.
if possible, stop handling her so much.
as others have said, you need a top for the cage and also some real plants.

i know you said you have bought her a ficus. can you post a pic of the whole enclosure with the ficus in it?
I want to see hos big is the tree in relation to the cage.

I tried to take pics of it in there, and the pothos, but the fake vines pretty much cover them from my view. It's actually pretty small, maybe a foot high or so with pot. The pothos is even smaller. It's the $3.50 plant at walmart. So, she's got real plants in there, but so far she's preferring to climb on the vines.

 

[dodolah]

It's definitely screen. I'm afraid to add anything else because she's so small.

I don't see the relation between her size with the fear of adding more foliage.
The more hiding place she has, the "happier" she gets.
So, I ditto Bocajan's advise.

and please read the raisingkitty blog for proper husbandry method.

 

[lyanlynn]

I think that cage is quite large for the size of the cham... is she able to eat? and i that the same cage you made for grabby? if so...... it doesn't look like you built a lid for it yet. Your cham is small and will explore... if she makes it out of there you may never find her. so please put a lid on the top. You also need to have a branch that gets within 6-8" of the basking and UVB lamp so she can bask and get the UVB. The UVB lamp is only good for about 8-10" tops for any helpful rays of UV. If she isn't within that range the lamp is useless.

Hope you have better luck around this time. and please, don't introduce your beardie to her, they are NOT play mates

Nope, no lid yet. She can't climb on the wood...I've watched her. She has a vine that goes up to the basking lamp and both lights are right next to each other. And, she hasn't met Licky as in them being in each others' cages. She is definitely happy as is. She's stays a non-stressed color and definitely watches me with precaution.

 

[dodolah]

I tried to take pics of it in there, and the pothos, but the fake vines pretty much cover them from my view. It's actually pretty small, maybe a foot high or so with pot. The pothos is even smaller. It's the $3.50 plant at walmart. So, she's got real plants in there, but so far she's preferring to climb on the vines.

the reason she "prefer" the vines, imo, is because of the height relationship.
Chameleon instinctively always go to the highest spot possible to feel secure.
So, if possible, if you are on your way to target, wal mart, home depot, lowes, or local nursery, get the appropriate size ficus in relation to your cage.

hope that helps

 

[lyanlynn]

I bought some repti-cal with D3 today and some Zoomed without D3. Those are what the petshop had. I also bought a 75w basking bulb to replace the 60w regular bulb. It needed to be warmer. My family and I are going to dinner later and then to Walmart, so I'll check out what humidifiers they have other than the vaporizer. If the vaporizer isn't in or directly beside her enclosure, can't I still use it? My plan, if I couldn't rig it up to have the hose going insider her enclosure, was to just set it in front of what she's setting on, directly on the floor. The steam would travel up and it would cool as it travels in the air. Even with misting often, it's not humid enough in there at all. I'll get another vine if we go to Walmart also. It would be nice for her to have more than one perching option toward the top. She does like the screen though!

 

[dodolah]

I bought some repti-cal with D3 today and some Zoomed without D3. Those are what the petshop had. I also bought a 75w basking bulb to replace the 60w regular bulb. It needed to be warmer. My family and I are going to dinner later and then to Walmart, so I'll check out what humidifiers they have other than the vaporizer. If the vaporizer isn't in or directly beside her enclosure, can't I still use it? My plan, if I couldn't rig it up to have the hose going insider her enclosure, was to just set it in front of what she's setting on, directly on the floor. The steam would travel up and it would cool as it travels in the air. Even with misting often, it's not humid enough in there at all. I'll get another vine if we go to Walmart also. It would be nice for her to have more than one perching option toward the top. She does like the screen though!

The reason why the humidity isn't enough is because of the lack of real plants.
If you add live plants inside (appropriate with the cage size), you will see a boost in humidity.

Consider getting the live plants more than a humidifier.
Humidifier is a nice addition. Not a necessity.
Live plants is a necessity, imho.

 

[lyanlynn]

The reason why the humidity isn't enough is because of the lack of real plants.
If you add live plants inside (appropriate with the cage size), you will see a boost in humidity.

Consider getting the live plants more than a humidifier.
Humidifier is a nice addition. Not a necessity.
Live plants is a necessity, imho.

I had higher humidity without live plants when I had Grabby. I haven't seen any plans that would be small enough to fit in her cage. I'm going to have to go with a humidifier.

 

[BocaJan]

I was just at Petsmart today and saw screened lids. They were for aquariums but will work for you, just measure your cage to get something that will work. You can also just buy some screening and clip it to the top with binder clips. I use them for everything! LOL Once you have that done I think people will smile a little more about your enclosure.

 

[lyanlynn]

I was just at Petsmart today and saw screened lids. They were for aquariums but will work for you, just measure your cage to get something that will work. You can also just buy some screening and clip it to the top with binder clips. I use them for everything! LOL Once you have that done I think people will smile a little more about your enclosure.

I never thought about those clips! I totally have screening. I made the enclosure myself. Wow, that would totally work, and I could still use the sides to hold the lights without them being directly on the screening AND I don't have to use the staple gun to hold it in place! Yay! I'll have to go get some of those asap. I bought her another plant today. I can't remember the name, but it has really large leaves. I also got a humidifier and sat it next to her cage.

Here's a link. I think this looks like the one I bought, but the Walmart website didn't have it listed in their products.

http://www.relion.com/coughcold/humidifiers-product-40.htm

http://www.relion.com/content/cough_and_cold_products/humidifiers/images/CoolMistHumidifier.jpg

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Take the humidifier back, it's a waste of money in my opinion.
Trying to figure out where you got the idea you needed a humidifier ???
No basking bulb for a baby that small either.
Have you read any of the information I have directed you to?

-Brad

 

[blackbetty]

I actually thought the same thing, that I needed a humidifier. i saw a thread on here about fitting PVC piping into one and therefore, assumed that it was needed. i didnt buy one, I just added more plants, but initially I thought it was something necessary.. so maybe thats why she thought that? I agree, READ BRADS SITE.. its under his signature.. Its all the info you need.and what isnt there can be answered here. This site rocks.

 

[lyanlynn]

Take the humidifier back, it's a waste of money in my opinion.
Trying to figure out where you got the idea you needed a humidifier ???
No basking bulb for a baby that small either.
Have you read any of the information I have directed you to?

-Brad

I read all the stuff sent to me, but it gets really cold in my sisters house. She needs the bulb to stay as warm as she wants. She doesn't spend tons of time under it, but if she gets cold she goes and sits for a spell. And, the humidity stays below 40 unless I've just sprayed her enclosure. It's still below 40 with the humidifier, but I don't see a need to take it back.