Hello guys im new to this site and i just purchased my first chameleon ever on Saturday. His name is camilo and hes a 4month old veiled. I just need some helpful tips. Ive down my research but i still feel like somethings missin idk why. He has fake plants and everything to climb on. Molch on the floor of cage. Both uvb and heat lamp that are turned on during the day and off at night. I spray his cage like 4 times a day. Feed him twice a day(crickets). Is there anything i am missing to make my lil guy feel at home and healthy. O and give him his calcium and vitamin d twice a week. Any advice ????
New to this site ... Some help pleaseee :)
- Thread starter Camilo
- Start date
Ninkylou
New Member
Welcome!!
Welcome to the forums. I would recommend reading the Care Sheets for Veiled Chameleons from the Care Resources Link here on the site. They will help you to understand the needs of your new pet for enclosures, light, heat, supplements & food. Pretty much forget everything they told you at the pet store because they are usually wrong (sadly), but you will get everything you need here.
You have come to the right place to learn, I would suggest searching the forums rather than asking for really general information. If you have any specific questions ask in a post. We love to see pics, I think placing a pic of your enclosure and have people offer suggestions is a good idea too.
There is a ton of information and some things can get confusing, so ask for clarification if you find something that is confusing, there are some people on here with years and years of experience who just love to share their knowledge.
Welcome to the forums. I would recommend reading the Care Sheets for Veiled Chameleons from the Care Resources Link here on the site. They will help you to understand the needs of your new pet for enclosures, light, heat, supplements & food. Pretty much forget everything they told you at the pet store because they are usually wrong (sadly), but you will get everything you need here.
You have come to the right place to learn, I would suggest searching the forums rather than asking for really general information. If you have any specific questions ask in a post. We love to see pics, I think placing a pic of your enclosure and have people offer suggestions is a good idea too.
There is a ton of information and some things can get confusing, so ask for clarification if you find something that is confusing, there are some people on here with years and years of experience who just love to share their knowledge.
Big Gulp
Established Member
It's best to either have nothing on the bottom of the cage, or paper towel.
What are you keeping the cham in? What size is the enclosure?
Pretty much anything you wanna know can be found here.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/
Hey thanks that was very useful i went ahead and posted a pcture of my enclosure. Lmk what you thinkIt's best to either have nothing on the bottom of the cage, or paper towel.
What are you keeping the cham in? What size is the enclosure?
Pretty much anything you wanna know can be found here.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/
Juliaf3
Established Member
Well best decision you made was getting on here. Figure out how to post pictures and these veiled owners will have your set up perfected ASAP. Congrats on new Cham and welcome to the forums! Water is crucial. Couple important things I can think of off the top of my head that are beginner mistakes. you have to have a drip system. Also, I don't know about the feeding twice a day deal. Probably fine just don't feed after about 1 or so. You want to give your Cham time to digest the food. Gut load is crucial, more so the supplementation of calcium without D3 everyday, calcium with D3 like twice a month, and a multi vitamin twice a month
pigglett79
Avid Member
The pictures are on his profile.
You should go to the enclosure threads to get some ideas. He will be happier with more plant cover and lots more branches and vines, especially horizontal pathways. You want multi level so he can thermo regulate as well.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-2-post-your-pics-94781/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-49688/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/
You should go to the enclosure threads to get some ideas. He will be happier with more plant cover and lots more branches and vines, especially horizontal pathways. You want multi level so he can thermo regulate as well.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-2-post-your-pics-94781/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-49688/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/
Juliaf3
Established Member
Also- just jumping the gun here- no matter what kind of enclosure you have, find a size appropriate live plant. It helps with humidity. I don't think it's an absolute must,
I just think it's good to have one in there. For many reason other then just humidity. My go to plants are a schefflera and pothos. I'll quit responding now and give you time to post some pictures!
I just think it's good to have one in there. For many reason other then just humidity. My go to plants are a schefflera and pothos. I'll quit responding now and give you time to post some pictures!
Juliaf3
Established Member
Thanks for the help finding the pictures- I agree with you, I do not own a veiled, but I agree, definitely needs branches. I now for sure think you need a live plant for humidity. Reptibreeze can be tricky getting humidity right, live plants will help a ton! Also, what a pretty Cham! Congrats!
symphonica
New Member
Make sure you're gutloading and supplementing to avoid the lethal Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
Crickets (and any other feeder) have no nutritional value unless you gutload them. This means to feed the crickets nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, like collard greens. Throw some collard greens in with your crickets for about 24 hours before you feed the crickets to your cham.
Crickets should be dusted with supplements every day:
Calcium (with NO D3) should be given every day.
Multi-vitamins should be given twice a week.
D3 should be given every day.
I usually just throw some crickets and supplement powder into a plastic bag and shake it up to make sure all crickets are evenly dusted.
Another major problem is dehydration.
Make sure proper humidity levels are being maintained. However, too moist and your cham will end up with a respiratory infection (also can be lethal).
Remember, chams only drink water droplets that run off of things (leaves, vines, etc).
Your cham should be taken to the vet on an annual basis for a wellness exam and tests:
X-rays to detect early signs of MBD.
Bloodwork to test organ function.
Fecal exam to test for parasites.
Crickets (and any other feeder) have no nutritional value unless you gutload them. This means to feed the crickets nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, like collard greens. Throw some collard greens in with your crickets for about 24 hours before you feed the crickets to your cham.
Crickets should be dusted with supplements every day:
Calcium (with NO D3) should be given every day.
Multi-vitamins should be given twice a week.
D3 should be given every day.
I usually just throw some crickets and supplement powder into a plastic bag and shake it up to make sure all crickets are evenly dusted.
Another major problem is dehydration.
Make sure proper humidity levels are being maintained. However, too moist and your cham will end up with a respiratory infection (also can be lethal).
Remember, chams only drink water droplets that run off of things (leaves, vines, etc).
Your cham should be taken to the vet on an annual basis for a wellness exam and tests:
X-rays to detect early signs of MBD.
Bloodwork to test organ function.
Fecal exam to test for parasites.
pics not showing up... put these tags around the direct img url
Hey i put the picture on my album. I'm not sure how to post it on the thread
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Oh i see i had no idea about any of this. That was definitely helpful. All they told me to feed my crickets was some orange-cube.. That's not enough nutrients ??
symphonica
New Member
See the paper clip icon at the top? Click that, upload a photo from your computer, and then go back to the paper clip and click on the uploaded photo you want to add. If you're successful, it should say in your post.
If you've uploaded the photo online, to like photobucket for example, click on the icon with the mountain and moon and put the photo's URL in there. To get the photo's URL, right click the image and you should see "Copy Image Address." Select that and paste it.
If you've uploaded the photo online, to like photobucket for example, click on the icon with the mountain and moon and put the photo's URL in there. To get the photo's URL, right click the image and you should see "Copy Image Address." Select that and paste it.
symphonica
New Member
The orange cubes will not do you much good. Good for hydration, if anything. They're designed to keep the crickets alive, and not as a gut load. Repashy's Bug Burger is a good formula if you wanted something commercial, but here are some of the best things to feed them for gut loading:
Collard greens
Dandelion leaves
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Escarole lettuce
Alfalfa sprouts
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Carrots
Mango
Papaya
Oranges
Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Pumpkin seeds
Avoid:
Spinach
Broccoli
These have acids that will interfere with calcium absorption.
Lettuce and cabbage is just water with not much nutrients.
And the obvious - organic would be better, and wash to get rid of possible toxins (pesticides, etc.)
Collard greens
Dandelion leaves
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Escarole lettuce
Alfalfa sprouts
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Carrots
Mango
Papaya
Oranges
Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Pumpkin seeds
Avoid:
Spinach
Broccoli
These have acids that will interfere with calcium absorption.
Lettuce and cabbage is just water with not much nutrients.
And the obvious - organic would be better, and wash to get rid of possible toxins (pesticides, etc.)
symphonica
New Member
Here you go:
And you'll want a lot more plants/vines in that cage. You basically want it so that the cham can get to every spot in the cage by walking across the plants: up, down, right, left, diagonal... They're pretty good about going up higher when they feel they need more heat, and going down low when they are too hot/want shade, but you have to make that option available to them.
And you'll want a lot more plants/vines in that cage. You basically want it so that the cham can get to every spot in the cage by walking across the plants: up, down, right, left, diagonal... They're pretty good about going up higher when they feel they need more heat, and going down low when they are too hot/want shade, but you have to make that option available to them.
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