New cage for young chameleon, suggestions and comments?

[Paco]

Hey, well im new to chameleons i just got my first one, its a veiled 13 weeks old he seems to be alright, kinda lazy sometimes but i think he'll be fine =) i really like him. Anyways i got some pics of his new cage and id like to see what u guys have to say about it and maybe some suggestions =) lol he didnt seem to like the camera very much

 

[JaxyGirl]

Hi there, Welcome to the forum!!! You're probably not going to like some of the changes that you're going to need to make in order to take care of you're new baby. But the best thing would be to fill out the " Ask For Help" form below and then we can help with your setup which definitely needs some changes.
Natalie

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.

 

[josh payette]

I would go with more vines for him to hide in. I read somewhere that a waterfall could grow bad bacteria in it, so I would go with a mister instead. Other than that I would say you're on your way.

 

[Paco]

ok kool, yea thats what i was going to do, put more vines in it but the pet store was out of stock for the small ones, umm yea i also read that about the waterfalls but i havnt found a misting sistem so at the moment im misting him with a spray bottle 3 times a day and cleaning the fall twice a week, i havnt seen him drink much water tho, also do you really want me to fill all that out? lol i can if u want me 2

 

[JaxyGirl]

ok kool, yea thats what i was going to do, put more vines in it but the pet store was out of stock for the small ones, umm yea i also read that about the waterfalls but i havnt found a misting sistem so at the moment im misting him with a spray bottle 3 times a day and cleaning the fall twice a week, i havnt seen him drink much water tho, also do you really want me to fill all that out? lol i can if u want me 2

This form helps us to know exactly what your setup is including lighting, heating etc. I noticed that you said your cham is Lazy...that's not a good thing..he should be very active. So if you fill out this form we might be able to solve some problems with your cham before they start.

 

[Paco]

Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Veiled, male, 13 weeks old, its been with me for a week B)
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? twice so far once on my bed and once i tok him outside for him to get some sun he seemed to enjoy it he climed on top of my head
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? im feeding him crikets the small ones wich i still think are to big :S they grow really fast! and some meal worms, i feed em lettuce. andi keep about 3-4 worms and 1-2 crikets in his bowl never running around in his cage.
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? i use reptocal calcium and vitamin d3 for all reptiles, i dust the crikets once every week only 2 at a time tho.
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? i spray his cage with a spray bottle 3 times a day and the waterfall wich quite frankly i havnt seem him drink. kinda worried but his poop seemed fine.
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? umm kinda dark brown, little bit of white at end (or beggining i havnt watched him poop but i found the droppings) and as far as i know he hasnt been i didnt ask to many questions when i bought him from the pet store (Big Al's)
* History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. umm nope not really, i watched him make a weird motion kinda like arching his back, contracting his stomach and kinda gagging with no sound though. i went to the store and the reptile "expert" said that its not likely for him to choke on his food so he wouldnt worry to much about it. i just like him to much and want him to be in the best conditions as possible =)


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 60" x 18"x 24" all screen
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Repti glo 2.0 uvb 13w, 50w sun glo daylight spot, 50w heat glo infrared heat lamp, sun glo and repti glo go on at 7:30 am and the sun glo goes off at 7:30pm the reptiglo goes off at 8pm the heat glo goes on at 10pm giving the cage some time to cool off al exoterra with reflector domes from zilla
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?temperature on the ground is around 70 and the top is about 85 during the day and 65-85 during the night exo terra thermometer i move the thermometer from the bottomb to, top of the waterfall to the top of the cage.
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? around 80 humidity with the exo terra hygrometer, i spray his cage with a spray bottle 3 times a day and the waterfall.
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? im using a live shefflera had a golden pothos but it died when i cut its roots when repotting
* 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? the cage is in my room, about 3 feet from the bed and 5 feet from the door, not near any fans and about 4 feet off the ground on top of my dresser.
* Location - Where are you geographically located? Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Well hope this helps you with your suggestions and us in his lifestyle and future =) thank you for the welcome and hope to keep in touch! =)

 

[Paco]

sorry its really long :S

 

[ChameleonRave]

great looking cage. Exo Terra? I am looking for one that size myself lol i would add more plants and vines also get rid of the waterfall. it can contain bacteria. also do you have a drip system? it would help! and substrate can cause impaction. I would take it out and put in reptilecarpet.

 

[Paco]

yea ima take the fall out when i find a drip sistem its just temporary, and ill be getting some golden thopos and onother shefflera soon =) oh and some small vines just need the store to get more stock thanks!

 

[ChameleonRave]

yea ima take the fall out when i find a drip sistem its just temporary, and ill be getting some golden thopos and onother shefflera soon =) oh and some small vines just need the store to get more stock thanks!

no problem! i am buying mine off of ebay this weekend. I love all Exo Terra products! its my main supplier for my cham right now. but upgrading soon! i want the waterfall but i heard about the bacteria lol

 

[lisa h]

great looking cage. Exo Terra? I am looking for one that size myself lol i would add more plants and vines also get rid of the waterfall. it can contain bacteria. also do you have a drip system? it would help! and substrate can cause impaction. I would take it out and put in reptilecarpet.

The reptile carpet holds bacteria just as well as the waterfall. Get rid of it and leave the bottom bare (and clean it regularly), or put down paper towel and change often.

 

[ChameleonRave]

The reptile carpet holds bacteria just as well as the waterfall. Get rid of it and leave the bottom bare (and clean it regularly), or put down paper towel and change often.

oh wow! i didn't know that! D: thanks for letting me know i will use paper towels since the bottom is 3" deep it would be easier than disassembling the entire cage but i like the hard way of doing things

 

[Paco]

yea it looks nice but if u wanna keep it u gunna need to wash it.. a lot! :S ur cham will poop in it -.- and also the thing i have in bottomb is really really thin i was told its very hard for em to eat it and even if so its easy to digest, plus his food is in a bowl so... and gl gettn it

 

[lisa h]

When I was setting up for my first cham I went out and bought the carpet and the water fall, and some other junk. Then I found these forums and returned the carpet, and the waterfall, and most of the other junk and started all over again. I think I spent about $600 and returned $400 or $500 of it. Live and learn!!

 

[ChameleonRave]

yea it looks nice but if u wanna keep it u gunna need to wash it.. a lot! :S ur cham will poop in it -.- and also the thing i have in bottomb is really really thin i was told its very hard for em to eat it and even if so its easy to digest, plus his food is in a bowl so... and gl gettn it

thats what sucks! D: i would wash it alot anyway

 

[ChameleonRave]

When I was setting up for my first cham I went out and bought the carpet and the water fall, and some other junk. Then I found these forums and returned the carpet, and the waterfall, and most of the other junk and started all over again. I think I spent about $600 and returned $400 or $500 of it. Live and learn!!

trial and error I love redecorating my chams cage

 

[Paco]

wow well, ive spent like 400$ so far and 70$ on the fall now i think its useless im returning it tomorrow lol umm other than that i think everything its been worth it =) gunna look more for a drip sistem now P

 

[Paco]

trial and error I love redecorating my chams cage

i doubt he does.. lol

 

[ChameleonRave]

i doubt he does.. lol

idk? lol i usually put him out to free range so hes happy

 

[lisa h]

wow well, ive spent like 400$ so far and 70$ on the fall now i think its useless im returning it tomorrow lol umm other than that i think everything its been worth it =) gunna look more for a drip sistem now P

I just have "The Little Dripper" sitting on top of mine. Probably overpriced for what it is, but I'd rather buy one than make something. It's one of the few things I kept LOL