New to chameleons

[Shaddowxxi]

Hello everyone, i've been thinking about getting a chameleon for a few years now and I think i'm finally ready. I have a few snakes and some lizards, and i've gotten pretty used to humidity requirements with my crested gecko and red tail boa.

I've got two things i'm currently struggling with.
1. I'm interested in either a jackson or veiled, and i'm leaning toward the jackson because the heating requirements don't seem to be as intense. Thoughts, opinions, and first hand experience on the differences between the two are appreciated. (I've acquired a veiled/yemen)
2. The setup I have is using a compact top with 1 uvb 5.0 compact fluorescent and 1 60 watt daytime heat bulb (this gets the basking spot to about 85 when i haven't just misted, then it drops to 80ish). My main concern is that since it isn't a UVB tube light i'm not getting enough overlap into the basking area. Has anyone used these exo terra compact tops?(This top can't support the wattage for heat bulbs, replaced with a second uvb)

Am I just driving myself crazy and overthinking everything? Thanks for any help haha
Also, if pictures would help let me know. I just don't have any right now.

Edit: Live plant recommendations would be fantastic as well. Preferably things I can pick up at say a wal-mart or other chain store. I think i've seen people say hibiscus is good? I have one already so that would be great if I could use it.

Edit 2: After looking at the compact top I realized it only supports up to 26 watts so it can't do heat bulbs. I've replaced the heat bulb with a second UVB bulb and added a 100 watt heat lamp. I also picked up a baby veiled chameleon, because they were on sale and there seems to be a lot more information out there about them compared to jackson's. I'm running a dripper and will be spraying several times a day with a pressure sprayer. I've got a hot spot running at 105 farenheit

 

[Cait0420]

Hi and welcome! Hibiscus ficus schefflera and pothos are good plants

 

[Shaddowxxi]

Hi and welcome! Hibiscus ficus schefflera and pothos are good plants

Hello, and thank you ^^

Pothos is promising, I've had it before.

 

[dacrazycanadian]

How big of a cage are you using? I use a 5.0 uvb tube without any problem. I put it going across the front of my cage facing backwards, so as to cover as much area as possible.

I also use the hibiscus, except I had to resurrect it from the grave do to lack of lighting indoors.

 

[Shaddowxxi]

How big of a cage are you using? I use a 5.0 uvb tube without any problem. I put it going across the front of my cage facing backwards, so as to cover as much area as possible.

I also use the hibiscus, except I had to resurrect it from the grave do to lack of lighting indoors.

I actually just updated xD
I'm using CFLs, not the strip lights. But i found out the canopy can't support over 26 watts so i've replaced the heat bulb with a second CFL which should certainly be enough.
It is the small reptibreeze. 16x16x20 tall

 

[Shaddowxxi]

PICTURE TIME

This is my baby suspect male.

Ambient temp/humidity

Basking spot

I know most people think substrate is the devil but I have to have it for humidity reason at the moment. I'm planning on cup feeding to combat impacting though I don't think any of that would fit in his mouth anyway.

He's moved around some and as you can see he isn't an angry color anymore so I'm assuming those are both good things

Edit: it may also be worth mentioning that just a couple inches away from that 90 degree spot it drops to 85.
90 is the ABSOLUTE HOTTEST spot he has access to now

 

[dacrazycanadian]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

All the basics you need are on that link above. I don't know if you had a typo in your second edit but his basking spot at 105 is way too hot, stick around 85 instead (90-95 when he's an adult).

 

[Shaddowxxi]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

All the basics you need are on that link above. I don't know if you had a typo in your second edit but his basking spot at 105 is way too hot, stick around 85 instead (90-95 when he's an adult).

It wasn't a typo, I had an encounter with a bad care sheet. It's been fixed as of a few hours ago. New basking spot hits 90 at the very hottest point.

 

[oblgobl]

Sounds as though he's settling in nicely!
If your having problems with humidity I'd recomend covering the sides of the screen with something (wood pannels, shower curtain, pond liner, polystiring even cling film). I think you are taking a risk with the substrate to be honest especially the particular one your using as those wood bits look quite sharp. You can never 100% guarantee that crickets will stay in the cup and they could easily hide in the substrate in the bottom.

 

[Gargamel]

If you live in hot Climate like Florida you don't need heat lamps..

 

[Shaddowxxi]

Closed Thread

This chameleon had to be returned due to health reasons (yes there was a whole health clinic thread for him and its what was recommended to me)

I'll be starting a thread for the replacement they gave me.