New Baby Chameleon won't eat or drink

[Poveglia]

OK, so I'm a bit worried. Just purchased a beautiful new baby Veiled Chameleon. Handled him/her a few times (very sweet), and set up proper enclosure with dripper, lamps, etc.

I have yet to see the baby eat OR drink yet. I mist 2-3 times a day, and have the dripper constantly running.

Is this a stressful acclimation period, or should I be more concerned. I got him/her on Saturday evening. Arranged the cage and had it set up immediately. Today is Monday morning, and it is just sitting there. Looks dehydrated, tired, or very stressed...I cant tell.

Any help would be appreciated!

(I'm attaching pics of the enclosure and cham).

 

[Aivanac]

I would recommend filling out the care sheet with all your information. That seems to make it easier for people to help.

 

[Poveglia]

I would recommend filling out the care sheet with all your information. That seems to make it easier for people to help.

I spoke a little too soon...got the baby to eat one cricket this morning. I'm still concerned about the water intake. I'll fill out the care sheet. Thanks!

 

[Poveglia]

Sorry, I'm new to these forums. I see the caresheet under resources (have read it before), but I don't see something I can "fill out". Can you help?

 

[Angelwolf]

For one thing, he needs more cover! His cage needs a few large live plants. Think dense jungle. He probably feels exposed which will stress him out. He will actually starve himself to death if stressed enough over a period of time. And, yes. Please fill out the help form. It will make it much easier for all.

 

[Aivanac]

Totally meant to say help form

 

[Poveglia]

For one thing, he needs more cover! His cage needs a few large live plants. Think dense jungle. He probably feels exposed which will stress him out. He will actually starve himself to death if stressed enough over a period of time. And, yes. Please fill out the help form. It will make it much easier for all.

OK, thank you. I'll try to pick up a ficus tree or something today. Do you have any recommended plants? Also, I am still having trouble finding this care sheet.

 

[Angelwolf]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Copy, paste, and edit.

 

[Graves923]

The Help Form Aivanac is referring too if found in the health clinic section of the forums. (EDIT: Angelwolf beat me to it lol)

As far as seeing your cham drink, dont be surprised if you dont. Keep up the misting making sure to mist for atleast 2-3 minutes each time. Monitor its droppings for white urates. If they appears yellowish to orange then you know the cham is dehydrated and need to either get the cham in the shower for alittle bit or start increasing how often or how long you mist for.

 

[Poveglia]

OK, thanks a ton guys....buying some new plants today, and filling out the sheet right now!

 

[Angelwolf]

Pothos are great. They are an ivy, fast growing, and they love water. And my cham loves to eat them! Umbrella plants and hibiscus trees are very popular too. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the forums regarding safe plants and how to prepare them properly for your cham to live in.

 

[Angelwolf]

I dont like those chameleon starter kits you can buy at the pet store. They are too small for an adult cham, and they give you fake plants that are nowhere near sufficient! And they don't say anything about adding in more plants, live ones or not, and they just lack in so many ways! I wish they would stop selling them and make improvements. Or even a major overhaul of design.

 

[Poveglia]

I dont like those chameleon starter kits you can buy at the pet store. They are too small for an adult cham, and they give you fake plants that are nowhere near sufficient! And they don't say anything about adding in more plants, live ones or not, and they just lack in so many ways! I wish they would stop selling them and make improvements. Or even a major overhaul of design.

I agree with you! Definitely plan on upgrading once the baby grows more.

 

[jamest0o0]

^ agreed but if pet stores can get away with selling animals in terrible conditions, with sales people that have no clue what they're talking about, then the subpar kits aren't going anywhere :/

Anyway listen to these people they're great, glad to see you came here for help. At a glance i can at least say, ditch the water dish and mealworms. They drink from water on leaves, a few long misting sessions a day is necessary for humidity and hydration. mealworms can cause impaction and have very little nutrition.

 

[Angelwolf]

Agreed on the mealworms. Super worms are much better! And @jamest0o0 , I thought the same about the water dish, but i think it may be a catch basin for the OP's dripper. And the substrate mat is unnecessary. They can actually harbor bacteria, mold, and fungus. And they also provide places for the food to hide.

 

[Poveglia]

^ agreed but if pet stores can get away with selling animals in terrible conditions, with sales people that have no clue what they're talking about, then the subpar kits aren't going anywhere :/

Anyway listen to these people they're great, glad to see you came here for help. At a glance i can at least say, ditch the water dish and mealworms. They drink from water on leaves, a few long misting sessions a day is necessary for humidity and hydration. mealworms can cause impaction and have very little nutrition.

I only have the water dish in there to catch the water falling from my dripper. I empty it once it is full. I guess I can put a plant there instead.

 

[jamest0o0]

Ook i see, with the amount of water that goes into cham cages, might need a drainage system. There's a good sticky full of ideas for that. I agree on the mat, bare floor is more practical.

 

[Angelwolf]

Yup. They don't walk around on the floor often, so the "slippery plastic" doesn't have an impact. And they can still get a footing on it anyway.

 

[Angelwolf]

Dont throw It away, though. It could be useful for covering the exposed dirt in the plants you buy. Dont want him eating dirt.

 

[Poveglia]

Ugh, okay, so I am completely renovating his setup today. Getting a hibiscus and pothos plant now, somehow lifting the cage (perhaps with bricks), and building a small temporary drip pan/drainage system.

Also, everyone keeps talking about humidity, but I live in Florida, and veiled chameleons actually live here wild. I have a humidity guage by the cage, but the house remains at a constant proper humidity level naturally.

I'm also hanging a shower curtain behind the cage to prevent water on my floor/table and protect the electrical outlets.

Ok, major renovations lol.

Also, since I did mess up and buy the Zoo Med Chameleon Set......what cage do you recommend I upgrade to? Is there a commercial one, or are all yours custom made? I can do either.