My Very 1st Chameleon!

[aaron9069]

I got my very first chameleon today! He is a male Veiled Chameleon

I got him from a local reptile shop, that honestly impressed me quite a bit. The sales associates were knowledgeable and friendly, and the chameleons were all in screen enclosures which were well lit and misted.

He looks very young but i forgot to ask how old he is (i will find out tomorrow) He is very active, he's already eaten about 8-10 crickets today (i lost count and he probably ate earlier in the day) and drinking water from my makeshift dripper.

I started him off in the Large Reptibreeze cage (18x18x36) with a large grapevine, fulkers pothos vines, a bendy vine and another large stick. I have a real golden pothos plant but i am waiting until i can repot it to put it in his cage.

His basking spot has been consistently at 90 degrees and humidity is about 55-60 %

here is a video of him eating his crickets
http://youtu.be/0flk5PFeWVw

the water sound is my gf washing dishes, not a waterfall
i will include pictures of him too!

Let me know what you think of him. OH i haven't thought of a name yet either

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your first chameleons. I think 90 is to warm for a baby and you need more vines and branches in the enclosure. Get that Pothos in there as soon as you can. I have a blog for new keepers linked below to help you keep that little man healthy and happy.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

More great info here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

 

[aaron9069]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your first chameleons. I think 90 is to warm for a baby and you need more vines and branches in the enclosure. Get that Pothos in there as soon as you can. I have a blog for new keepers linked below to help you keep that little man healthy and happy.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

More great info here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

How can i lower the temp of the basking spot? the vine is about 8-10 inches from the top of the cage and doesn't feel too hot to my hand at all. is the thermometer maybe misreading the temp?

 

[melble68]

raising the lamp up, or reducing the wattage of the bulb could possibly help.

 

[aaron9069]

Does this look better? I repotted half the pot with organic soil and it is hanging off of the brown vine and sitting on the grapewood.

 

[aaron9069]

I've decided on a name his name is hue, like color hue his full name is huey lewis, hahah

 

[jannb]

I like the name Hue.
The enclosure looks better but I'd still add a few more horizontal branches.
What are you using to measure the temps?

 

[Psychobunny]

What Jann said, some branches, like cut from a tree and cleaned, about 8'' from the basking light and another 8'' below the UV.

You can put them up in the cage with thumbtacks.

The upper 1/3 of your cage is too 'open', and he may feel exposed.
A fake vine with leaves would fill that space in very nicely.
Flukers makes my favorite vines, they have 3 different kinds, with the ivy having the smallest leaves.

Then you will need a good thermometer with a probe.
Tie the probe to the basking spot, and monitor the temp there for a few hours (or just leve it there).

You may need to experiment with different wattage bulbs to get the temp just right.

I use 40W for my montanes, and 60W for everyone else, but they are all adults.
Babies do not want high temps, and need plenty of space to explore, as they are very active when young (esp. veiled).

 

[aaron9069]

I like the name Hue.
The enclosure looks better but I'd still add a few more horizontal branches.
What are you using to measure the temps?

Its a zoomed one that you stick on the wall.

 

[aaron9069]

What Jann said, some branches, like cut from a tree and cleaned, about 8'' from the basking light and another 8'' below the UV.

You can put them up in the cage with thumbtacks.

The upper 1/3 of your cage is too 'open', and he may feel exposed.
A fake vine with leaves would fill that space in very nicely.
Flukers makes my favorite vines, they have 3 different kinds, with the ivy having the smallest leaves.

Then you will need a good thermometer with a probe.
Tie the probe to the basking spot, and monitor the temp there for a few hours (or just leve it there).

You may need to experiment with different wattage bulbs to get the temp just right.

I use 40W for my montanes, and 60W for everyone else, but they are all adults.
Babies do not want high temps, and need plenty of space to explore, as they are very active when young (esp. veiled).

I'm going to find a bunch of branches today and bake them. How long and at what temp should I do that?

 

[Decadancin]

Hi and welcome to the Forums!

Great advice so far. I agree with adding more to the top of the enclosure. It will help Hue spend time where he will feel most comfortable. Also helps him choose what temperature range he wants to be in (without having to climb up the screen). We are always here to help, and sounds like you have a good pet shop too! (that's rare!) Best of luck with your new boy, and can't wait to watch him grow up on the forums!!!

 

[aaron9069]

And the name hasn't really stuck with me yet. I'm still thinking. I like jäger because its the nane of a character in one of my favorite shows and it means hunter in german

 

[ibdragons]

Congratulations . And welcome to the forums