New chameleon

J

jpm995

Avid Member
Hello, i've had chameleons in the past but just got a new one. It's a Senegal from Backwater Reptiles had for 2 days. Reason i got a Senegal is i wanted a smaller sized chameleon. He's free ranging in a greenhouse but i also have anoles and a flying gecko and was afraid a Veiled or Panther would eat them. Wanted a Carpet but their hard to find or a Jackson but the greenhouse get too hot. If he's healthy is it necessary to do fecal checks? Posting pics would appreciate comments on if he looks ok. Not sure if he's eating a i can't find him during the
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day. Have plenty of crickets and silkworms crawling around just haven't seen him eat.
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Thanks guys i was thinking i should have put him in a cage for a few weeks but i was so excited when he arrived i just sprayed him with water and turned him loose. I almost didn't get him the first one they sent me was doa and i was afraid it would happen again.
 
Hi and congrats. I would definitely get a fecal and keep a close eye on him until you know he’s ok. Backwater doesn’t have the best of reputations. I love that he’s got such a beautiful and large area to live, but I am curious about how he’s getting uvb. Does your greenhouse have a screen roof? Uvb does not pass thru glass or most solid substances.
 
MissSkittles said:
Hi and congrats. I would definitely get a fecal and keep a close eye on him until you know he’s ok. Backwater doesn’t have the best of reputations. I love that he’s got such a beautiful and large area to live, but I am curious about how he’s getting uvb. Does your greenhouse have a screen roof? Uvb does not pass thru glass or most solid substances.
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I can say some times Backwaters does not keep the animal in stock. They will seek perhaps their distributors or perhaps other business to get the animal for you.
 
MissSkittles said:
Hi and congrats. I would definitely get a fecal and keep a close eye on him until you know he’s ok. Backwater doesn’t have the best of reputations. I love that he’s got such a beautiful and large area to live, but I am curious about how he’s getting uvb. Does your greenhouse have a screen roof? Uvb does not pass thru glass or most solid substances.
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For the summer i plan on taking him outside for uvb breaks. Not sure where i can put a light in GH as i can't even find him in the daytime. So far he stayes in one area when he sleeps. This could be a problem. Would love to hear from someone that keeps chams in a greenhouse.
 
One thing [well many really] i don't understand is how does the uvb get past the glass in the uvb bulb?
 
jpm995 said:
One thing [well many really] i don't understand is how does the uvb get past the glass in the uvb bulb?
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No idea on that, but you really do need to provide a linear T5 6% or 5.0 uvb light with a branch or other area to sit and bask about 8-9” below the light. Your little one will hopefully find it and realize that special light makes him feel good. I would put a feeding station, like a full throttle type, with some active bugs like crickets, at the same location to help attract him there. Without uvb and supplements, he will develop painful mbd and pass away eventually.
 
well i got one of those credit card uvb checkers that turn purple under uvb. As a test i checked the sun directly, yes it turned prurple. Then brought in the greenhouse and held near the roof glass [with a 40% shade cloth]. Purple again! Guess i won't need a uvb light.
 
jpm995 said:
well i got one of those credit card uvb checkers that turn purple under uvb. As a test i checked the sun directly, yes it turned prurple. Then brought in the greenhouse and held near the roof glass [with a 40% shade cloth]. Purple again! Guess i won't need a uvb light.
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Those cards don’t work very well, they will turn purple even if there isn’t UVB present or even just a 0.001 ray of UVB lol. You will most likely end up needing a UVB bulb just to be safe.
 
I hate to tell you this but UVB does not penetrate glass. You will most definitely need a UVB light in this set up. The cards are highly inaccurate. The only way to actually get a real reading is with a solarmeter 6.5.

Per fecal check question. Due to where you got this cham from I would highly recommend getting a fecal test.
 
Beman said:
I hate to tell you this but UVB does not penetrate glass. You will most definitely need a UVB light in this set up. The cards are highly inaccurate. The only way to actually get a real reading is with a solarmeter 6.5.

Per fecal check question. Due to where you got this cham from I would highly recommend getting a fecal test.
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Than how does uvb pass through a glass bulb?
 
Beman said:
My understanding is it is a specific type of glass they use for the uvb bulbs. But glass used for windows is different and does not allow UVB to pass through it.
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I realize the cards aren't an exact measurement but if i hold it up in a normal lit room it doesn't turn purple but under the greenhouse glass it does. And even now at 7:30pm holding it up in the greenhouse it doesn't turn purple but when the suns out it does. I think some uvb passes through single pane glass if the suns out. Remember the suns uvb is probably thousand of times stronger than lamps provide.
 
jpm995 said:
I realize the cards aren't an exact measurement but if i hold it up in a normal lit room it doesn't turn purple but under the greenhouse glass it does. And even now at 7:30pm holding it up in the greenhouse it doesn't turn purple but when the suns out it does. I think some uvb passes through single pane glass if the suns out. Remember the suns uvb is probably thousand of times stronger than lamps provide.
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I have a solarmeter 6.5 and have measured the uv index of the unobstructed and direct sunlight in my Florida backyard. I get readings around 6.8 to 7.4. The ideal range for my chameleons is around 3.0, which I achieve with an Arcadia ProT5 fixture with an Arcadia 6% uvb bulb and with about 8-9” distance between my basking branch and the uvb light. I know nothing about the cards other than they are not reliable for determining uvb for chameleons. You’ll need to provide a true, reliable and adequate source of uvb for your chameleon and technically your other reptiles in the greenhouse, or they will not fare well and that just isn’t fair to do to any captive animal. It’s awesome that you have given them the freedom to roam in your greenhouse, but you need to be able to meet their needs.
 
MissSkittles said:
I have a solarmeter 6.5 and have measured the uv index of the unobstructed and direct sunlight in my Florida backyard. I get readings around 6.8 to 7.4. The ideal range for my chameleons is around 3.0, which I achieve with an Arcadia ProT5 fixture with an Arcadia 6% uvb bulb and with about 8-9” distance between my basking branch and the uvb light. I know nothing about the cards other than they are not reliable for determining uvb for chameleons. You’ll need to provide a true, reliable and adequate source of uvb for your chameleon and technically your other reptiles in the greenhouse, or they will not fare well and that just isn’t fair to do to any captive animal. It’s awesome that you have given them the freedom to roam in your greenhouse, but you need to be able to meet their needs.
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Since you have an accurate meter could you take a single pane of glass and test it outside with the meter under it? The meters over $200 i don't want to spend that much for a single test.
 
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