New Chameleon Owner

[Chameleon-Scotland]

Hello All

Very soon I will be collecting my Yemen/veiled chameleon. I'm not new to reptiles have owned a bearded dragon with my girlfriend for the last 8-9 years and also a leopard gecko for a while but ended up with a fatal infection due to bad bugs(so I was told by the vet) so had a craving for a while to fill the hole and have now decided to go for a chameleon.

It will be housed to start with in an exo terra 45x45x45 screen top with loads of plants including a couple of live ones exo terra dual canopy 5% uv bulbs 60 watt heat lamp and a home made dripper system (kinda works) it's substrate at the moment is repti soil topped with a thick layer of course bark have a combi meter in the cool side and I'm possibly picking up another for the basking side just to make sure.

If you think I've missed anything don't hesitate to suggest. I have being researching for about 2-3 months on do's and dont's but sometimes we miss things hopefully soon will have a picture of the chameleon but for now you can have a pic of an empty Viv

 

[laurie]

Hello, welcome! Getting your first chameleon is always exciting- I almost remember back that far! Several people will jump in about your substrate, not to worry! We have a much different way than those of you on the other side of the pond. I know a lot of keepers in England use substrate.
I am also a proud owner of a male veiled. First veiled I have owned in years, but Pickle is beautiful, happy in his new world, and I love him to bits, just like you will. I will be waiting to see pictures!

 

[KuangDaoChameleon101]

Nice vivarium you've got there your veiled will be very happy in there and like laurie said it doesn't matter about the substrate i use some myself.

 

[Chameleon-Scotland]

Thanks guys thought I may get some stick for the substrate as I know a lot of people worry about impacting the only reasons I have chose to use it as it adds a natural look to the Viv it also helps with my humidity a little as I'm struggling a little with that at the moment but I will see how it goes I am hoping for a male and have requested one so here's hoping and I am dying to collect it it's looking like some time around the 20th of September which feels ages away

 

[laurie]

It only seems faaaaaar away! Soon you will have a little one to love!

 

[Chameleon-Scotland]

Yeah the weeks are dragging hahaha

 

[KuangDaoChameleon101]

Haha yea have fun when you get him and good luck

 

[jamest0o0]

The reptisoil is fine, the stuff to worry about would be the bark. How large is that, can he eat it?

 

[Chameleon-Scotland]

It's smallest is about 1 inch x 1 inch but most of it is bigger than that

 

[jamest0o0]

Personally I would remove that, a chameleon isn't going to be able to digest it. And it will cause a blockage or choking.

 

[Chameleon-Scotland]

I've probably removed about 95% of the small stuff and only left the really large stuff I do agree thought in removing it but might leave it till he's bigger as right now I have no idea what size he is

 

[jamest0o0]

Yeah I'd say you're fine as long as it's not in that choking/blockage size range. Personally I would like the soil with some leaf litter. So the poop will be in direct contact with the soil bacteria/custodians that break it down.

 

[Chameleon-Scotland]

Soon I'm going to have a jungle in my living room