My new velid chameleon

[Gaby_011]

So I am new with chameleons and just want to know how I’m doing with my cage, lighghing etc. My baby chameleon is 2 months old it’s eating about 3 1/4 inch crickets a day. The enclosure is 18x18x36. He does not let me handle him. I have a 75 w basking light and a 10.0 uv light. I have a dripper on top of the cage. The only thing that worries me is that sometimes he scratches one of his eyes into branches or tries to touch it or pull at it. Lastly I don’t know if it’s the thermometer but I cant seem to put the temperature higher than 75-80.

 

[renzo0684]

Fill this in good detail so we can help you with the care of your chameleon and help you with your enclosure... there are a few things you mentioned that need to be addressed but it will be easier to address everything at once

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.

 

[Gaby_011]

• Your Chameleon - Velid chameleon , male, 2 months, 2 days under my care.
• Handling - have never handled him.
• Feeding - Free range, 3 crickets or more if he wants to. Mornings I feed him. With carrots and veggies
• Supplements - Exo terra, multivitamin, calcium(used daily) and calcium with d3
• Watering: misting and dripper. 3-4 times a day less than 20 or 30 sec. No I have not seen him drinking.
• Fecal Description - Brown with white. Never rested for parasites.
• History - none, just got him.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - screen 18x18x36.
• Lighting - zoo med 75w basking spot lamp and 5.0 zoo med uvb light(sorry it’s not 10.0). Leave them on 10 hours and then turn them off during the night.
• Temperature - 75-80 day, night 65 with a sticker like thermometer. (Also is plan to change it)
• Humidity - unknown, yet to buy a hygrometer. The ones that I have seen have bad reviews.
• Plants - I just have one in the bottom. I don’t remember the name, but did my reaserch and it was not dangerous for him. I plan to get more live plants.
• Placement - it’s placed in my room about 4 feet base to the top.
• Location- New Jersey

Current problem: he seems to have stopped scratching his eye but still worries me.

 

[renzo0684]

Thanks for filling that out.
1. Feeding needs to be at least 10 per day. I am all about cup feeding the crickets because it really let's me keep count. I free range horn worms.
2. Dust daily with the multivitamin and once a month with the d3.
4. You need to mist 2-3 times a day for at least 3 minutes a piece. Chameleons need to be stimulated into drinking.
5. For a veiled you'll want to switch to a 10.0 as soon as you can. 5.0 is good but 10.0 is better.
6. You'll want to get a infrared thermometer to keep better track of the temps. The chameleon needs a basking spot that's around 85 and then it's drops to around 70. At night it can drop below 70.
7. Get a humidity gauge they are like 3 dollars at pet co
8. Other than the food this is the next most important thing to change. Get more live plants! It will help with drinking and keeping thr humidity up. If you want to see my enclosures let me know.

 

[Gaby_011]

Wow, thank you! I would like to see your enclosures. Also I tried to feed him more crickets but I think he was full, should I give him crickets more than once a day?

 

[renzo0684]

Wow, thank you! I would like to see your enclosures. Also I tried to feed him more crickets but I think he was full, should I give him crickets more than once a day?

I never feed full meals more than once. I get up turn the lights on. Mist then get the feeders in each cup and place the cups in each enclosure... right before I leave I will place a few horn worms in random places for them to hunt.

 

[renzo0684]

These are my enclosures. The smaller one is what you have. I have a medium umbrella plant in there with horizontal sticks. The bigger ones are custom built

 

[Gaby_011]

Ok, thank you! Last question, when can I begin to handle him, not to play or anything with him, just to get him used to me?

 

[renzo0684]

Ok, thank you! Last question, when can I begin to handle him, not to play or anything with him, just to get him used to me?

Start now so he gets used to you. The more you handle him the more he'll trust you. Just make sure he's not getting stressed when you handle him. And don't worry veileds can be a little touchy. My first veiled hated getting picked up. But once he came put he was ok

 

[Gaby_011]

Ok thank you so much for your help!

 

[Kristen99]

Look into ordering some fruit flys when my dude was small he loved them.

 

[kinyonga]

At that age you should be feeding it as many insects as it will eat in about two minutes per feeding...it's growing!

I've kept chameleons for over 30 years and I have supplemented this way for most of that time...
Phosphorus-free calcium powder at almost every feeding, phosphorus-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month and a vitamin powder twice a month.
I've also used a long linear Repti-sun 5.0 UVB light for many of those years and my veiled females generally live to be 7 years old and the makes even longer as one example. I use dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, escarole, carrots, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, squash, zucchini, etc and a small amount of berries, melon, pears, apple etc to feed/gutload the insects with. This doesn't mean it's the only way to keep chameleons but since it works I've never changes it.