New Cham owner. Need advice

[Sbroome17]

I have a baby veiled Cham. I've created him a little spot until I finish building his cage. He appears to have grown a good bit in the week i have had him. He seems to be healthy and happy. I just don't catch him eating much. He seems like he eats plenty, I feed him a mixture of crickets, waxworms, hornworms and I've tried strawberries and mustard greens. I haven't seen him actually eat anything yet, but I believe he is eating because he seems fat. I keep a constant resource of food for him available. He basks a lot, and mist him constantly throughout the day. I've had him a week and he had already shed. I don't handle him much because he is timid. He seems happy, but I've only ever had an iguana and I just want to be sure I'm doing everything right. He stays green mostly, but at times he turns brown. Does he appear normal? Is brown a natural color or is it just a sign of distress? Do they sometimes wonder in the bottom of the enclosures? I read they are mostly climbers, but at times I will find him in the cage bottom.

 

[RoyBomb "Flex"]

View attachment 179877 View attachment 179878 View attachment 179879 View attachment 179877 View attachment 179878 I have a baby veiled Cham. I've created him a little spot until I finish building his cage. He appears to have grown a good bit in the week i have had him. He seems to be healthy and happy. I just don't catch him eating much. He seems like he eats plenty, I feed him a mixture of crickets, waxworms, hornworms and I've tried strawberries and mustard greens. I haven't seen him actually eat anything yet, but I believe he is eating because he seems fat. I keep a constant resource of food for him available. He basks a lot, and mist him constantly throughout the day. I've had him a week and he had already shed. I don't handle him much because he is timid. He seems happy, but I've only ever had an iguana and I just want to be sure I'm doing everything right. He stays green mostly, but at times he turns brown. Does he appear normal? Is brown a natural color or is it just a sign of distress? Do they sometimes wonder in the bottom of the enclosures? I read they are mostly climbers, but at times I will find him in the cage bottom.

He sounds and looks good. From what I can tell. My little guy did all the same things when I first got him. He's just getting acquainted with his new home. Also search "how to ask for help" in the search engine. You will get much better input as you can give better info. Good luck

 

[Sbroome17]

Thank you for your reply!! I think I am just a little nervous with a baby cham. I'm afraid I will not recognize signs of distress. But he seems to be a happy little guy!

 

[Sbroome17]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, male, approximately 3 months old. I have had him a week
• Handling - very little. Once a day for a few minutes. trying to build up trust.
• Feeding - feeding him crickets, waxworms, hornworms. I try to feed him as much as he will eat. I free range and I have tried strawberries and mustard greens. I gut load with both.
• Supplements - Calcium powder supplements every other cricket.
• Watering - I pour water in the bottom of the enclosure to water the live plants and mist several times a day. I have seen him drinking off of leaves.
• Fecal Description - BM looks normal. Typical reptile BM white and black stools. He has never been tested before.
• History - I ordered him from FLCHAMS website.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - At the moment he is in a Tupperware enclosure with real plants and a reptile light. I am in the process of building him a cage.
• Lighting - ZooMed 45 watt light. I leave it on while im at work, along with natural sunlight from the window, and turn it off around 8 pm for him to sleep.
• Temperature - Temp ranges from 80 - 85 degrees during the day and around 70-73 at night.
• Humidity - I don't measure humidity, but keep it very humid in his cage.
• Plants - All plants in his cage are non toxic. Pothos, asparagus fern, ect.
• Placement - Cage is near a window, no vents over the top.
• Location - Northwest Georgia.

Current Problem - I don't have any actual problems, just a few minor concerns. He doesn't like to eat while we watch. I believe he is eating well because he is kinda fat. I don't see him eat anything, and because I free range his food it is hard to see what is eaten and isn't. I have put a few horn worms in his cage and he doesn't seem interested. Sometimes he is brown for no particular reason. I read that color change is a sign of stress. I don't handle him much, just a few minutes at a time to try and build trust. He seems to be getting better with being handled. I have found him in the bottom of the cage walking around. My husband thinks it is because he is hunting for the bugs I put in his cage. I started with a 45 watt light because he is so tiny. I tried a 75 watt and he got way to hot. I hope he is getting enough light. His new cage will be 42 inches tall, 18 inches deep, and 18 wide. My husband made it, we just have to finish with the bottom part of the cage.

 

[laurie]

My first question is the gravel in the bottom of his enclosure, you do know he can eat that? He will eat anything that fits in his mouth. Remember he is a baby and you need to protect him, from himself.

Next is he needs UVB light. UVB does not penetrate glass, so he is getting no UVB. He can get very sick from that. MBD can be the result.

What size horn worms do you offer him? At his age almost any horn worm is too big. They grow very fast, and have a very tough grip, it will be very easy for him to strain or damage his tongue form a horn worm.

I will check back with you on your progress. Congrats on your new baby!

 

[Sbroome17]

Omg I didnt even think about that!!! thank you so much for your advice I will take that out asap! (in my defense, it was my husbands idea!)
Also, what light bulb do you recommend I use? the one I bought from the pet store says UVA light. The top of his enclosure is just a screen.

Those hornworms are growing too fast. They were small enough for him when I ordered them, but they took like 6 days to get to me, and they keep growing. They are too big. I also got him some waxworms. They do not seem to be growing as fast. His belly looked big when I went home for lunch earlier, so he has to be eating some of the food I put in his cage.

Thank you so much for your advice!!!

 

[Graves923]

Reptisun UVB 5.0 bulbs are most commonly suggested. Arcadia is another good brand. You need a UVB specific bulb along with a basking bulb. I use a 75w house bulb to get the basking spot temps where they should.

 

[kinyonga]

One more comment...I dust all the insects before feeding them to the chameleons with a phosphorous-free calcium powder at almost every feeding. The 4 feedings a month I don't use calcium I dust twice with a phosphorous-free calcium/D3 powder and twice with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene prOformed sources of vitamin A. The calcium is to help balance the poor ratio of phosphorous to calcium found in most feeder insects. The D3 is to ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it and leaving it to produce the restof the D3 from its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to the UVB light won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it at will. The prOformed vitamin A will not build up in the system like prEformed vitamin A can and thus leaves it up to you to decide if/when your chameleon needs prEformed vitamin A.

Sunlight through glass will not provide UVB.
Temperature plays a part in digestion and thus in nutrient absorption so it's important that the basking temperature is in the right range...low 80's F for babies and low to mid 80's for older ones.