new veiled chameleon owner

[rangocham89]

I became a chameleon owner on Tuesday, I got a male veiled chameleon who is 12 weeks old.
he is eating well and doing the normal stuff. I haven't seen him drink yet, got a dripper set up.
I'm wanting to put a few live plants in his cage, but don't know what ones are ok, and where to get them from.
I handled him yesterday, and he weren't a happy boy, how can I get him use to me?
and any other helpful tips would be great. Although the reptile shop I got him from have been amazing

 

[Boygeorge27]

Welcome to the group from boy George

 

[rangocham89]

Welcome to the group from boy George

thank you.

 

[Boygeorge27]

We have hibiscus, weeping fig and orchids in our viv got them from our local reptile shop

 

[rangocham89]

We have hibiscus, weeping fig and orchids in our viv got them from our local reptile shop

ill send the reptile shop to see if they can get anything. Any orchid?

 

[jamest0o0]

Hi welcome,

i like to recommend filling out the https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

I know nothing's wrong with him, but it's a good way to tweak anything that might be off for a new owner. So many experienced people here that can help with everything.

I don't keep veileds, but they are known for being a little grumpy. Some never settle down, but being new just give him space and patience for a week or two. Approach him slowly, work towards hand feeding, get him used to you being around but not in terrifying ways. For example, I do my online work next to my chams without directly bothering them. There is a chance that a cham will never warm up to handling, but many people do have success over time.

Also veileds like to eat plants in the cage, they may try to eat the plastic ones and can choke on them, so it's a good idea to keep only live for veileds. Not everyone does, but imo it is necessary for them to thrive. You can Google a bunch of safe-plant lists. Schefflera, dracaena, palms, and pothos are some of my favorites, but their are tons.

Goodluck!

 

[rangocham89]

Hi welcome,

i like to recommend filling out the https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

I know nothing's wrong with him, but it's a good way to tweak anything that might be off for a new owner. So many experienced people here that can help with everything.

I don't keep veileds, but they are known for being a little grumpy. Some never settle down, but being new just give him space and patience for a week or two. Approach him slowly, work towards hand feeding, get him used to you being around but not in terrifying ways. For example, I do my online work next to my chams without directly bothering them. There is a chance that a cham will never warm up to handling, but many people do have success over time.

Also veileds like to eat plants in the cage, they may try to eat the plastic ones and can choke on them, so it's a good idea to keep only live for veileds. Not everyone does, but imo it is necessary for them to thrive. You can Google a bunch of safe-plant lists. Schefflera, dracaena, palms, and pothos are some of my favorites, but their are tons.

Goodluck!

thank you for that, he is fine when I'm doing stuff in his enclosure until I want to handle him.

I'm going to change the plastic plants for live plants over time, as the plastic ones came with the set up.

he is in the lounge when I am most of the time when I'm not at work if I'm not here my bf is here

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Welcome @rangocham89 agreed with filling out the how to ask . It's not because your boy is sick it's just so other keepers can see how you are keeping your boy and advise .

Veileds are Notorious for eating plants . Plastic can be an issue with impaction . Changing them out will be wise . Potho's , Hibiscus , umbrella are all good . I personally like potho's they do very well in an enclosure. Orchids are gorgeous but I'm not to sure how they would do . They don't like much water .

Veileds can be a bit grumpy , hand feeding I find works well to gain trust . Leaving the door open when you are around works as well . It's all about trust just keep working with him on his terms .

We have a little girl veiled . She was great with being handled till her teens then she had a lot of aggression especially in her enclosure. That was her Territory and how dare anyone touch it . Once she layed her first clutch she got much better . She has her days . Some days she's sweet and come right on our hand for a ride to her favorite spots . Then there's days she is like god leave me alone I can do this my self and theirs a bite for you for trying lol . We leave it up to her what she wants .

 

[rangocham89]

Welcome @rangocham89 agreed with filling out the how to ask . It's not because your boy is sick it's just so other keepers can see how you are keeping your boy and advise .

Veileds are Notorious for eating plants . Plastic can be an issue with impaction . Changing them out will be wise . Potho's , Hibiscus , umbrella are all good . I personally like potho's they do very well in an enclosure. Orchids are gorgeous but I'm not to sure how they would do . They don't like much water .

Veileds can be a bit grumpy , hand feeding I find works well to gain trust . Leaving the door open when you are around works as well . It's all about trust just keep working with him on his terms .

We have a little girl veiled . She was great with being handled till her teens then she had a lot of aggression especially in her enclosure. That was her Territory and how dare anyone touch it . Once she layed her first clutch she got much better . She has her days . Some days she's sweet and come right on our hand for a ride to her favorite spots . Then there's days she is like god leave me alone I can do this my self and theirs a bite for you for trying lol . We leave it up to her what she wants .

do I just copy and paste the how to ask on here?

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

do I just copy and paste the how to ask on here?

Yes

 

[rangocham89]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, male, 12 weeks old, had him since the 6th june
• Handling - handled him once since I got him (yesterday)
• Feeding - medium locusts. But the ones I have brought online are bigger then the one that came with him, so only feeding him 6/7, they have got water gel and a jelly food pot in their tub. feeding him every morning
• Supplements - repti calcium without d3 use 3 times a week and reptivite with d3 use once a week
• Watering - got a dripper in place, and I have seen him drink from it today, got a spay bottle for misting, and was told to spray 2 times a day
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? formed, small log shaped, normal colour, unknow about being tested for parasites
• History - none

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - reptibreeze - screen 46cm x 46cm x 91cm
• Lighting -12 hours light, 100w basking lamp (heat, uv and light) make - arcadia.... in a reflective light dome
• Temperature was told didn't need to measure the temps
• Humidity - was told I didn't have to measure the humidity
• Plants - plastic atm but going to change them to live plants
• Placement -in the lounge, quiet spot but he can still see/hear us all the time, cage is on a coffee table atm, until I foind something better
• Location - I don't have a clue

 

[Remkon]

I handled him yesterday, and he weren't a happy boy, how can I get him use to me?

I'd say you're moving to fast... You've had him for 3 days and are handling him already, that's a very stressful experience to him.
Chameleons are prey animals and have a lot of predators in nature, they rely on blending in and staying unnoticed as their defense.
You moving in to his space, where he did not even get the time to settle in, and taking him out of, what should be, his safe zone compromises that.

You need to take things slow, just do your business cleaning the cage and feeding him but try to be as little as a threat as you can be.
Meaning:
Don't stare at him, but look past him.
Don't grab him but let him walk on you (gently push his rear to make him move forward while you keep the other hand in front of him below his head.
If he's in the way postpone your care and try again later...

Right now it's probably best to give him as much privacy as he can get, don't handle him, make sure he's not in a crowded place, let him get used to his new home for a week or so.

Keep in mind that however some chameleons will become very tolerable to handing most will not and some will even be aggressive.

 

[rangocham89]

ok thank you, as I have read so many different things about when to start handling them

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

ok thank you, as I have read so many different things about when to start handling them

I think it starts all in the beginning . That's my experience and I'm not overly experience . @Remkon is much more experienced than I and is one of my go to's .

Our little girl veiled (Frances) came from a pet store . She has had several health issues . Frances tolerate some days being handled . It's always on her terms . She's the boss of being handled .

Septiceye our little boy panther came from @Matt Vanilla Gorilla . Septiceye is 10 months has been handled since birth . Has no issues with handling , walking all over everyone thinks everyone's his personal tree , seeing people , visiting with people no problem . I can take him anywhere with 0 stress . Now that's my experience lol the 2 . They could not be more different .

Theirs many keepers on here that have had chameleon 25+ years @Matt Vanilla Gorilla , @Remkon , @Andee , @Nursemaia , @kinyonga . Sorry @Andee and @Remkon if I'm Aging you both lol . Point being their very experienced and have seen many many chameleons .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

The other thing I see is your supplementation schedule . Calcium without D3 should be every feeding . Your calcium with D3 should be only twice a month . Adding in a multivitamin opposite weeks twice a month is recommended .

 

[Andee]

I definitely have not been keeping chams for 25 years XD not even 5 yet, almost there though lmao. As far as taking him goes, slow down. If you haven't, give him full 2 weeks where you don't do anything but most and feed him and maybe just sit around him without talking or looking at him at all, and just read or do work etc. After those two weeks you can work on hand feeding and maybe transferring him using a stick so he feels less threatened and move him to a free range area to a free in the living room or something. Show him you aren't such a bad thing and that you come with good things.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I definitely have not been keeping chams for 25 years XD not even 5 yet, almost there though lmao. As far as taking him goes, slow down. If you haven't, give him full 2 weeks where you don't do anything but most and feed him and maybe just sit around him without talking or looking at him at all, and just read or do work etc. After those two weeks you can work on hand feeding and maybe transferring him using a stick so he feels less threatened and move him to a free range area to a free in the living room or something. Show him you aren't such a bad thing and that you come with good things.

Hehe . You have more time then I . One year I'm coming up one with chameleons . Lizards 30 lol .

 

[jamest0o0]

Feeding- I'd get some variety if you can, every bug has different contents so it helps to have a mix. Gutload with veggies, seeds, nuts, some fruit(there's lists you can look up). I'd skip the water crystals and just put a carrot or apple slice in for hydration.

Supplementing- calcium free of d3 and phosphorus every feeding, calcium with d3 1x every other week, vitamins (such as herptivite) every other week. Alternate weeks between d3 and vitamins, don't use on same week. Also don't dust with the plain calcium on the day you use your d3 calcium or vitamins.

Water- there are tons of different misting schedules, but ideally you probably want around 10-15 total minutes of misting split between 2-4 times a day. (Im a panther guy, so maybe a veiled keeper can give you more accurate input on that). We mist for what seems longer than necessary to clean out and hydrate their eyes, allow them to wash off, raise humidity, and give them time to drink. Often it might take them a little while to get a drink so it's important to just keep misting even if it seems like overkill.

If you can place the cage at eye level, it helps them feel safe and secure. They live high up in trees after all.

Also whoever told you not to measure temp and humidity is flat out wrong. For a veiled juvenile according to the caresheets temperature in basking spot should be around 85. 95 max for an adult. Humidity should be around 50% and spike to around 70 during mistings.

Hope that helps, goodluck

 

[Nursemaia]

Live plants, measuring temps and humidity is a must

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Boy, such great advice! If you follow it all you should be fine! Welcome to the forums! Remember not to stress too much or act all anxious around your chameleon! They will see/feel it and act that way too! Relax, enjoy, have fun!