New Owner, Can't Tell if Cham is Hydrating

[EðlatheCham]

Hi,
I'm new to owning chameleons. I obtained a one month old veiled chameleon about a week ago, but I haven't really seen her drink. She's eaten crickets daily, I gutload them with different fruits and cricket crack. I spray her enclosure down 3-5 times a day to keep it somewhat humid, I have a dripper going until her light goes out at around 7:30. I was wondering if anyone has any input? Here are a few pictures of her.

- Nick

 

[MSMorgan]

E.,

Welcome to the site. Great shots of your little one. As a good rule of thumb, take a look at your cham's waste. It should have a brown section and a white one. The white section is called the urate (cham urine) and should be white. This will tell you if your cham is drinking enough/ you are providing enough water. If it is yellowish, orange, or has tinges of yellow, up your misting schedule, so that he/she has more opportunities to drink throughout the day. Most are "secretive" drinkers. I rarely see Luck drink at all, but he is well hydrated. IE: he must be drinking at some point during the day when I'm not watching. Do a search, lots of info here.

 

[EðlatheCham]

Thanks for your reply. I've been trying to monitor her fecal matter, and for the most part, it seems normal. I was thinking of giving her a few hornworms, would you recommend anything like that?

 

[Craigwyatt]

With your whole daily regiment and by the way your cham looks I would be shocked if he wasn't drinking. Sounds like you have a really good routine down. One thing you really need to change is the cage. You need to get rid of the glass cage ASAP and get a chameleon cage (all screen). As you know I'm sure chameleons in general really take specific husbandry. A screen cage is crucial to there over all health.
Keep up the good work!!

 

[EðlatheCham]

Yeah, I'm saving up to get a dragonstrand cage in about a week or so. The one I have her in at the moment is plastic/plexiglass with a screen on top, and one below the door as well. The guy I got her from let me have it for 30$, so I felt it was a good deal for now. Also, it helps keep it a little humid.

 

[MSMorgan]

Thanks for your reply. I've been trying to monitor her fecal matter, and for the most part, it seems normal. I was thinking of giving her a few hornworms, would you recommend anything like that?

Hornworms are a great treat for your little girl. Go for it.

 

[Haven27]

Beautiful baby! I have the same problem. I've only seen MoJo drink in front of me about twice. This past time I actually watched him pull the end of his dripper into his mouth while catching the drops. It was a treat to watch! He has pretty much always had a tidbit of yellow in his urate, even before I got him (as I watched him every time I went to the shop where I got him from) so until I get a mister, that seems to be his norm. Otherwise he eats and I know he drinks. Good luck with that little cutie!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Yeah, I'm saving up to get a dragonstrand cage in about a week or so. The one I have her in at the moment is plastic/plexiglass with a screen on top, and one below the door as well. The guy I got her from let me have it for 30$, so I felt it was a good deal for now. Also, it helps keep it a little humid.View attachment 157248

This is a GREAT cage! Who manufactured it?

It has a screen bottom, so there is a ton of air circulation--colder air enters the bottom and is pulled up by the hot air t hat is leaving the cage like a chimney.

Personally, I hate screen cages. They climb on the cages and end up getting hurt no matter how careful you are. Screen cages are over rated.

 

[ispeedonthe405]

I concur, plenty of airflow in that cage. As long as you provide enough airflow to keep the atmosphere fresh, and as long as you're removing any standing water from the bottom with some kind of drainage system, then it truly doesn't matter if the walls are made of screen or 6-meter thick concrete.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

With your whole daily regiment and by the way your cham looks I would be shocked if he wasn't drinking. Sounds like you have a really good routine down. One thing you really need to change is the cage. You need to get rid of the glass cage ASAP and get a chameleon cage (all screen). As you know I'm sure chameleons in general really take specific husbandry. A screen cage is crucial to there over all health.
Keep up the good work!!

You don't NEED screen cages. Many people use them that live in a really dry climate. They're very common in the U.K. or southern states like Texas and etc. Glass and screen are totally acceptable given they get airflow. It's fish aquariums and crap like that, that people need to avoid. I do second what @jajeanpierre said. It really does like look a nice cage. Who is the maker?

 

[EðlatheCham]

I will need to find out. I purchased it from the breeder I got my baby from at a little reptile expo near my house. It was an extra that he had brought just in case. I'll try to the info. Thanks for all the comments guys!

 

[Carlton]

One thing you really need to change is the cage. You need to get rid of the glass cage ASAP and get a chameleon cage (all screen). A screen cage is crucial to there over all health.

Not necessarily so, especially for such a tiny hatchling. Depending on the OP's house situation and local climate a part glass cage can work as well as an all screen one.

 

[EðlatheCham]

Yeah I live in southern California so the temp stays in the 70s all day and drops to around mid 60s at night.

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

Hi,
I'm new to owning chameleons. I obtained a one month old veiled chameleon about a week ago, but I haven't really seen her drink. She's eaten crickets daily, I gutload them with different fruits and cricket crack. I spray her enclosure down 3-5 times a day to keep it somewhat humid, I have a dripper going until her light goes out at around 7:30. I was wondering if anyone has any input? Here are a few pictures of her.

- NickView attachment 157241 View attachment 157242 View attachment 157243 View attachment 157244

View attachment 157240 View attachment 157241

I know personally that chameleons don't like to drink around their owners... i have walked in on him drinking water from the leaves multiple times but he stops when he sees me. Unless you can see any signs of dehydration it isn't really something to be worried about as they do absorb some moisture through their skin.

 

[EðlatheCham]

Here are some recent pictures of her.

 

[sebastianthechameleon]

Here are some recent pictures of her.View attachment 157669 View attachment 157670

She does look healthy. I recommend a dripper. The little/big drippers are amazing and so worth it, you can get them at most pet stores. I got one at a reptile store and my chameleon loves it. It always provides water in case they missed the misting. And she is beautiful. Good luck with everything <3

 

[TAW229]

I happen to see your post and your baby is just adorable. I am not expert but if your veiled chameleon is a female please look up egg laying and getting egg bound. I don't know if anyone mentioned this but you said you are new to chameleons. So was I and my first one was a female (although I was told it was a male). I read a ton but nothing on the egg laying part. Unfortunately, I had to have mine put down because she became very sick and vet thought she was egg bound. It was too late for mine but I have read about making a place for them to lay eggs even if you have no male or don't plan to bread them. She is too young right now and I honestly don't know the age they start egg laying. Someone else could probably provide advice or you might find information by googling it or in the care sheet section (which I think this site has). Sorry been a while since I've been on! Congratulations on your new baby!

 

[charlotteclaraschameleon]

She looks great! Eyes aren't sunken in (an obvious sign of dehydration), as another user said, keep an eye on her poops lol, a little bit of yellow in the urate is ok but if it's mostly yellow or orange, your baby needs more water I use an exo terra timed mister which works GREAT and i definitely reccomend to make your life easier (as long as you make sure it always has water in it, if it runs out of water and is still on then it can run out the motor, but having said that I only need to refill it around once every week and a half as it holds quite a bit of water) and then mist by hand for 2-3 min per day, and usually when I do this my chams smack their lips at the water sprayed at them, drinking it Until your cham gets used to you she'll probably do all her drinking and necessity activities on the sly If you ever see her basking or hanging out with her mouth open, she's too hot and could use a little water
Good luck, and we'll all be here if you need us !
xx

 

[EðlatheCham]

Thanks for talking the time to respond guys, it's much appreciated! I'll keep you guys updated with pictures every so often.

 

[Pixel]

I have a panther chameleon and I was wondering if I can leave the humidifier running during the day to keep the moisture up. If I leave it on it stays at 60% and I don't want it to drop lower. I also mist the cage and chameleon a few times a day.