JerAllen
New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male veiled aka Chamaeleo calyptratus, about 2 years old.
Handling - Daily. He immediately comes onto my hand when I open the cage (he knows he's about to eat heehee) and for trips outdoors.
Feeding - 8-12 insect a day depending on size. 10 crickets, 12 mealworms, 8 discoid roaches or 8 superworms. Superworms and mealworms are gutloaded with calcium water gel and carrots. Crickets and roaches are gutloaded with water gel, carrots, dog food, and left over veggies from the humans.
Supplements - Feeders are dusted with calcium daily and with D3 every week or so.
Watering - Dripper and 2 misting sessions a day, soaking branches and plants. He HATES being misted even if the water doesn't touch him. The bucket that catches the drip run off helps with humidity. I see him drink ever morning. He isn't shy.
Fecal Description - Large brown feces, stiff but moist. Extra smelly. White/ cream colored urine.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - DIY screen cage. 48"X30"X30".
Lighting - 18" 5.0 UVB by zoomed and a 100w basking lamp. On at 9am, off at 9pm.
Temperature - Thermometers show 72 near cage bottom, 82 at the opposite side of the heat source, and 95 under basking area. The cage is in sunroom so the temps under the basking light fluctuate throughout the day. I know that the hottest it gets is 102 and the coolest is 89.
Humidity - Unsure of exact measurements. There is a humidifier in the room since this room is used for other reptiles that keeps it at 40% even out of the enclosure. I assume the drip bucket under the cage and misting does the trick.
Plants - 1 fake plant near basking area, a large pothos and a hibiscus.
Placement - A sun room aka "The snake room" dubbed by my family. There are many windows and no air vents. There is a ceiling fan that is left on. The only disturbances during the day is the dog being left out by my other.
Location - Central Florida.
Current Problem:
About three weeks ago I built my cham the current cage he is in now. I acquired a female and it was only right that he got a bigger cage and she inherit his old one. Well, ever since the transition he has been displaying stress colors while in his enclosure. I knew that a change like this is something he may have to become accustomed to, but after the first few weeks I became concerned and now here I am. A typical day starts with Merlin, the cham, being up when I get up for work. I turn his lights on, mist his cage, and fill his dripper. I treat the female the exact same. He looks a bit drab, but still colorful. He usually is this way before he warms up. (Now I know its because he's absorbing heat after reading many posts on this forum trying to figure the little man out). When I come home from work he is mud brown. like sloppy wet mud. When he is fed he becomes excited, crawls onto my arm for food and colors up nicely. He is this way when he explores the house as well. Within seconds of being back in his cage, back to brown. Then once he is asleep he is himself again. At first I thought he might be cold, or even too hot, but the temps are the same as before. When he is cold he seems more grey, not so brown. I thought maybe he felt exposed, not even coverage, so I moved his plants around ever few days and nothing really helped. He mostly avoids the plants unless to eat them. Also, I take him outside and he reallllly likes that. He becomes so active and so handsomely colored. Am I missing something?
Attached are some photos taken today. His enclosure, him unhappy in his enclosure, him during feeding, and him during a trip outdoors. Any and all input would be appreciated. It's so frustrating to think that he is unhappy and I can't help him. Thank you!!
Your Chameleon - Male veiled aka Chamaeleo calyptratus, about 2 years old.
Handling - Daily. He immediately comes onto my hand when I open the cage (he knows he's about to eat heehee) and for trips outdoors.
Feeding - 8-12 insect a day depending on size. 10 crickets, 12 mealworms, 8 discoid roaches or 8 superworms. Superworms and mealworms are gutloaded with calcium water gel and carrots. Crickets and roaches are gutloaded with water gel, carrots, dog food, and left over veggies from the humans.
Supplements - Feeders are dusted with calcium daily and with D3 every week or so.
Watering - Dripper and 2 misting sessions a day, soaking branches and plants. He HATES being misted even if the water doesn't touch him. The bucket that catches the drip run off helps with humidity. I see him drink ever morning. He isn't shy.
Fecal Description - Large brown feces, stiff but moist. Extra smelly. White/ cream colored urine.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - DIY screen cage. 48"X30"X30".
Lighting - 18" 5.0 UVB by zoomed and a 100w basking lamp. On at 9am, off at 9pm.
Temperature - Thermometers show 72 near cage bottom, 82 at the opposite side of the heat source, and 95 under basking area. The cage is in sunroom so the temps under the basking light fluctuate throughout the day. I know that the hottest it gets is 102 and the coolest is 89.
Humidity - Unsure of exact measurements. There is a humidifier in the room since this room is used for other reptiles that keeps it at 40% even out of the enclosure. I assume the drip bucket under the cage and misting does the trick.
Plants - 1 fake plant near basking area, a large pothos and a hibiscus.
Placement - A sun room aka "The snake room" dubbed by my family. There are many windows and no air vents. There is a ceiling fan that is left on. The only disturbances during the day is the dog being left out by my other.
Location - Central Florida.
Current Problem:
About three weeks ago I built my cham the current cage he is in now. I acquired a female and it was only right that he got a bigger cage and she inherit his old one. Well, ever since the transition he has been displaying stress colors while in his enclosure. I knew that a change like this is something he may have to become accustomed to, but after the first few weeks I became concerned and now here I am. A typical day starts with Merlin, the cham, being up when I get up for work. I turn his lights on, mist his cage, and fill his dripper. I treat the female the exact same. He looks a bit drab, but still colorful. He usually is this way before he warms up. (Now I know its because he's absorbing heat after reading many posts on this forum trying to figure the little man out). When I come home from work he is mud brown. like sloppy wet mud. When he is fed he becomes excited, crawls onto my arm for food and colors up nicely. He is this way when he explores the house as well. Within seconds of being back in his cage, back to brown. Then once he is asleep he is himself again. At first I thought he might be cold, or even too hot, but the temps are the same as before. When he is cold he seems more grey, not so brown. I thought maybe he felt exposed, not even coverage, so I moved his plants around ever few days and nothing really helped. He mostly avoids the plants unless to eat them. Also, I take him outside and he reallllly likes that. He becomes so active and so handsomely colored. Am I missing something?
Attached are some photos taken today. His enclosure, him unhappy in his enclosure, him during feeding, and him during a trip outdoors. Any and all input would be appreciated. It's so frustrating to think that he is unhappy and I can't help him. Thank you!!
