New To Chameleons

[Echo.27]

Hi, I'm new to the whole Chameleon world so I'm trying to do my best in caring for my little guy. I got him roughly a month ago on black Friday from LLLReptile, along with a fully open screen cage, a UVB lamp, and a purple heat lamp. He has a mix of fake and real plants along with a large climbing stick, and small rocks in the corners. I heard that they shouldn't have substrate so I just wrapped the base in paper towels. He had a little mishap in the beginning when he fell and irritated his eye, which he kept shut for a few days, but now he seems healthy. He's already shed once 2 weeks ago, and his poop looks ok. I handle him every day and so far he isn't stressed about it. I want him to be comfortable with people and not be mean. So far so Good. Anyway, I just wanted to know if there is anything else I need for am missing so I can care for him better.

His name is Arthur, and I believe he is roughly 7 to 8 months old

 

[Carlton]

He's a cutie! About your "purple heat lamp". Because chams are diurnal they tend to do better under more realistic brighter light. An ordinary household halogen bulb will provide heat, so the purple light may not be best...and will cost more anyway. No heat or lights at night unless your room gets colder than about 55 F. Are you tracking the temps and the humidity level in the cage? What sort of meters are you using? These are the most important gauges to have, so you want accurate ones.

 

[Echo.27]

I currently have one I'm using that measures both. (I used to own a boa constrictor), however, it's not very accurate so until I get some more money in ill have to do with that and just eyesight. I'm not able to keep it humid most of the time so once every 2 weeks I take him into the bathroom with me, run a very hot bath, and let him sit on a plant next to me as the room steams up. So far he seems to enjoy it. The purple heat lamp is a very low one that doesn't produce much heat, so I keep it on all the time and he stays occasionally under it. However, should I get him a basking light? When it's sunny out I open my blinds and set a plant on my windowsill with him in it. He seems to like looking out the window.

 

[PJK]

I currently have one I'm using that measures both. (I used to own a boa constrictor), however, it's not very accurate so until I get some more money in ill have to do with that and just eyesight. I'm not able to keep it humid most of the time so once every 2 weeks I take him into the bathroom with me, run a very hot bath, and let him sit on a plant next to me as the room steams up. So far he seems to enjoy it. The purple heat lamp is a very low one that doesn't produce much heat, so I keep it on all the time and he stays occasionally under it. However, should I get him a basking light? When it's sunny out I open my blinds and set a plant on my windowsill with him in it. He seems to like looking out the window.

I would absolutely get a basking light. He needs it. The purple light shouldn't be used. Just use a regular incandescent house bulb and make sure you turn it off at night. he needs darkness and a temp drop to really thrive so don't worry if it gets a little cooler, as long as its not below 50F you are fine for the night. You probably wont be sleeping if its 50 degrees in your bedroom. Humidity is also an issue. The bath idea is ok, but it would be better if you gave him a shower, just aim the showerhead at the wall and let it ricochet onto the plant. This will at least keep him relatively hydrated, but regular misting is also needed. It would be helpful if you posted a pic of your current setup, as I fear there may be more issues you may not even realize if you are using a colored light all the time, and giving him a bath every 2 weeks.

 

[Echo.27]

OK! thankyou I didn't know the purple lamp can be turned off at night.The bath thing is not consistent also my shower head cant be removed (hence the bath). I mist his cage every morning until plants(real and plastic) are dripping or for 2 minutes. His light is turned on at 8am and turned off at 8pm. I mist his cage again roughly between 2-4pm then a few squirts before bed. He practically tells me when it's bedtime cause he'll crawl into one spot hidden in the leaves.