New Cham owner, having a hard time hydrating.

[Ilike4hornedchams]

Just a pat on the back, since this is your once cham thus far (As far as I kno) way to go making a ultra cheap DIY enclosure! I'm actually really impressed. Creative.

 

[Julio619]

Just a pat on the back, since this is your once cham thus far (As far as I kno) way to go making a ultra cheap DIY enclosure! I'm actually really impressed. Creative.

Thank you I appreciate it! Some of the enclosures I've seen on here are amazing. Hoping to get there someday.

 

[Julio619]

Here's an update and finally a pic of his dropping and urate. Seems to be about 70% white and 30% orange with some clear yellowish liquid. Any opinions on how his hydration is going? I have seen him go up to the dripper now two days in a row, I'm just not sure if he drinks. He also goes down to his hibiscus and gardenia plants after I mist his enclosure, so I hope he is drinking then. His humidity is constant between 55 - 75%.

 

[KapitalJ]

I feel that the urate is a little too yellow / orange Here is a good read on the matter.

Spoiler: poop101

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/poop-101.120171/

Hope this is of some help.

Saw this button thing by other members... had to try it out... not sure if I did it right..?

 

[Julio619]

Update: Cage has been covered in folliage to prevent him from climbing the cage. Lots more vines and sticks added. A foot and a half Golden Pothos added to the bottom. Removed the Gardenia because as someone mentioned, it wasn't doin good in low light. He seems very healthy and happy, except when I draw his curtain at night he kinda freaks out n tries to climb to the top to try to escape. This causes him to spend the night clutched to the cage lid which is made of wire too. I am going to wait until he is sleeping tonight to draw his curtain instead of doing it right after lights out. Thanks to everyone for the help, and I am working on aquiring an armoir to convert into a nice big enclosure for him.

 

[Craigwyatt]

Lots of great advice put in your thread so far. I think if you listen to everyone you shouldn't have any problems. That's a really cool cage. Just add a bunch more greenery and I think your going to be in pretty good shape. And def 86 that mirror.

 

[Julio619]

Lots of great advice put in your thread so far. I think if you listen to everyone you shouldn't have any problems. That's a really cool cage. Just add a bunch more greenery and I think your going to be in pretty good shape. And def 86 that mirror.

Definitely, I'ma replace the current curtain for a waterproof tarp that will keep covering the mirror and allow me to mist without worrying about surroundings.

 

[Andee]

You've done an amazing job taking all the criticism and advice and changing things. How often are you misting and for how long?

 

[Julio619]

You've done an amazing job taking all the criticism and advice and changing things. How often are you misting and for how long?

Thank you, and I have been misting about every 3 or 4 hours. If he isn't basking when I mist, I mist him as well very lightly. I mist for about a minute or until all the plants inside are covered in large droplets of water. Reverse osmosis water out of a glass jug.

 

[Andee]

Try misting for 2 minutes or longer, often longer misting sessions will trigger them to drink.

 

[Julio619]

Try misting for 2 minutes or longer, often longer misting sessions will trigger them to drink.

I will do that, and I also leave a dripper on a very slow drip while I go to work during the day. Hoping that helps too.

 

[Andee]

It can sometimes. But some chams never learn to drink from a dripper. It's always better to mist for prolonged periods of time.

 

[Julio619]

Hey everyone. My veiled cham has been doin awesome, his enclosure is 100% improved, and he is drinking regularly out of the dripper. I just had a few questions.. It has been really hot for San Diego weather these past few days, and my room specialy, stays at around 90F during the day and most of the night. I know the chams need a drop in temp during the night to around 64F. Should I use a small A/C unit in the room at night, eventhough it will drop the moisture considerably? Also, my cham just finished shedding today, and his colors really came alive! The only thing that seemed strange, was a few minutes ago, he turned a dark color, with really bright white horizontal stripes and a few spots on his casque and face. Is this normal or related to the shed or maybe the high temp? He had never turned white and black like that before, but it seems after his shed, his colors are just going nuts. Thanks in advance!

 

[Andee]

No idea about the colors, definitely could be temp related. You could try cool ice packs on top of the cage through out the night. I have been doing the last few nights for my Jackson when it's been 108

 

[Julio619]

No idea about the colors, definitely could be temp related. You could try cool ice packs on top of the cage through out the night. I have been doing the last few nights for my Jackson when it's been 108

Sweet, I'll give it a shot!

 

[Julio619]

Edward G outside for a bit of sun in his Umbrella Plant.

 

[PJK]

You know I've got to give you props. He looked a little rough when you began the thread, but he's looking great these days. Well done, and kudos for not getting defensive with the criticism. Everyone thinks they've got all the answers, when in fact I am the one with all the answers. Also the cage looks great these days also.

 

[Julio619]

You know I've got to give you props. He looked a little rough when you began the thread, but he's looking great these days. Well done, and kudos for not getting defensive with the criticism. Everyone thinks they've got all the answers, when in fact I am the one with all the answers. Also the cage looks great these days also.

Thanks! I really appreciate the help I've been given and the critizism helps me grow as a cham owner. I recently purchased a 48x24x24 enclosure, and I'll be transfering him over soon. He will have more live plants, and a few more inches all around.

 

[Decadancin]

@PJK stole those answers from me ...

 

[Julio619]