New Veiled Chameleon

[BCboom]

I just bought a new baby veiled chameleon (not sure the age) three days ago. I have never owned a chameleon before and would really like to hear some opinions about it.
Info:

• Male veiled chameleon
• The cage is based off the reptibreeze chameleon kit
• Misted 3 times a day
• Eats about 2 semi small crickets a day (never seen him eat though)
• Drinks well (not for certain though)
• Dripper is used for about 1-3 hours a day
• 6 Crickets are put in a plastic container every morning
• 1 live plant is used in the cage
• looks healthy (does not sleep during the day, has no shed, is decently active)
• Coloration seems kind of light (not sure if this is normal)
• I have had him for 3 days now

Would Really appreciate some feedback

 

[ERKleRose]

Okay, so there are things that need to be corrected in your husbandry, so please read these links (especially The Chameleon Academy- they have the most accurate and up-to-date info), and fill out this form with as much detail as possible, please:
https://www.chameleons.info/en/
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/external-resources/
https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/
https://chameleonacademy.com/plants/
https://chameleonacademy.com/setting-up-a-chameleon-cage/
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/04/how-to-set-up-proper-chameleon.html

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[skywes13]

Welcome! One thing I would say is you don't have enough foliage in his enclosure. Especially babies like him need lots of places to hide, & the foliage and hiding spots will make him feel safe & secure in his new home. You should also fill out the chameleon info sheet so we could give you feedback on your husbandry.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

Ok so someone more experienced will go through everything but my main concern is how much hes eating for his size, has he been tested for parasites?

 

[BCboom]

No he hasn't been tested yet

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

No he hasn't been tested yet

I would get that done, he should be eating a lot more

 

[BCboom]

I assume he hasn't been eating because i have only have him for 3 days, on the first day he ate 4 crickets

 

[GrayMadder]

I just bought a new baby veiled chameleon (not sure the age) three days ago. I have never owned a chameleon before and would really like to hear some opinions about it.
Info:

• Male veiled chameleon
• The cage is based off the reptibreeze chameleon kit
• Misted 3 times a day
• Eats about 2 semi small crickets a day (never seen him eat though)
• Drinks well (not for certain though)
• Dripper is used for about 1-3 hours a day
• 6 Crickets are put in a plastic container every morning
• 1 live plant is used in the cage
• looks healthy (does not sleep during the day, has no shed, is decently active)
• Coloration seems kind of light (not sure if this is normal)
• I have had him for 3 days now

Would Really appreciate some feedback

I can already tell you have the wrong lighting. If you used the one in the cham kit it's a bad uvb bulb and could lead to your cham developing MBD. You want a linear fixture with a t5 ho bulb.

When filling out your form be as specific as possible. Especially with the supplements. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here who can definitely help you out.

 

[ERKleRose]

I assume he hasn't been eating because i have only have him for 3 days, on the first day he ate 4 crickets

It could just be that, but rather safe than sorry. It is recommended for all chameleons to get at least a fecal float (bring a fresh fecal to the vet) done once they arrive to their new home. Make sure to drop off at least 2 more fresh fecal samples afterwards to make sure no parasites were missed. Also make sure you go to an experienced chameleon vet as well, and do x-rays and bloodwork.

 

[BCboom]

For my supplements I use calcium without d3
I have calcium with d3 which I plan on giving him twice a month

 

[ERKleRose]

For my supplements I use calcium without d3
I have calcium with d3 which I plan on giving him twice a month

You also need a multivitamin without D3 given twice a month, as well. What brands do you use? Sadly your lights and cage set-up (and size) are wrong, so filling out the entire form will keep all feedback we give you in one place and allow us to correct anything else that is improper

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

I assume he hasn't been eating because i have only have him for 3 days, on the first day he ate 4 crickets

Oh I missed the 3 days part. I still do suggest getting tested for parasites, I wish I did when I first got my cham lol

 

[BCboom]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Male Veiled
• Handling - I handled him once so far, for about 5 minutes
• Feeding - I feed him crickets dusted in calcium without d3
• Supplements - Calcium without d3, plan on giving him d3 twice a month
• Watering - Misted 3 time a day, dripper used for 1-3 hrs a day
• Fecal Description - Feces seems normal, the urine part is white, it has not been tested for parasites
• History - Baby chameleon not sure the age, had him for 3 days

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Cage from reptibreeze kit, screened
• Lighting - Use the lighting from the kit, both are on 12 hrs a day
• Temperature - Basking temp is about 85
• Humidity - Not sure but it is misted 3 times a day
• Plants - 1 live plant, not fully grown
• Placement - the cage is on a sidetable
• Location - in my room

Current Problem - Worried about how much it eats (2 crickets a day, 4 crickets on the first day). And coloration seems kind of light

 

[BCboom]

Mainly worried about his coloration

 

[skywes13]

Feeding - I feed him crickets dusted in calcium without d3

Do you gutload your crickets? Gutloading your feeder insects are a very important part to feeding your chameleon, without gutloading them (esp bugs lower in nutrition such as crickets) it's similar to feeding your little guy potato chips. Also, chams prefer a varied diet so I would suggest getting a few other types of bugs such as dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, silkworms, locusts, etc.

it has not been tested for parasites

I might reccomend getting him tested for parasites, esp since he's a brand new chameleon & showing signs that he may be unhealthy. Parasites are a pain to deal with, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Cage Type - Cage from reptibreeze kit

What are the dimensions of the enclosure?

Humidity - Not sure but it is misted 3 times a day

It's extremely important to know the % of humidity in the enclosure as chameleons need high humidity levels, so you really should prioritize purchasing a hygrometer. & veileds specifically need 40-70% humidity.

 

[skywes13]

Here is some really good info on diet:

 

[Ramrod]

Hi, others have already commented on your husbandry so I will just say "welcome to the forum"

 

[BCboom]

The crickets are gutloaded.
Cage size is 16" L X 16" W X 30" H
I going to assume that the humidity is in that range, because I do mist it often and I have a dripper that adds to the humidity

 

[ERKleRose]

Thanks and welcome to the forums! My feedback and any questions will be in red. @skywes13 has already posted the two care images; I’ve already posted helpful links above:

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Male Veiled
• Handling - I handled him once so far, for about 5 minutes
• Feeding - I feed him crickets dusted in calcium without d3 What size are the crickets, and how do you gutload them? Variety is key for gutload and feeders!
• Supplements - Calcium without d3, plan on giving him d3 twice a month You also need a multivitamin without D3. If you use the two supplements that came in the Zoo Med Chameleon Kit, use those two only! The calcium without D3 every feeding and the multivitamin with D3 once every two weeks. What brands do you use?
• Watering - Misted 3 time a day, dripper used for 1-3 hrs a day How long do you mist for? It should be a minimum of 2-5+ minutes long each time for his daytime mistings. Try to only mist in the morning and late afternoon/night when his cage is cooler for his daytime mistings if your humidity allows it.
• Fecal Description - Feces seems normal, the urine part is white, it has not been tested for parasites Find an experienced chameleon vet to go to and do as I have suggested above for a general check-up and peace of mind.
• History - Baby chameleon not sure the age, had him for 3 days

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Cage from reptibreeze kit, screened He’ll need a minimum cage size of 2’ x 2’ x 4’ tall, but preferably 4’ x 2’ x 4’ tall or bigger soon, if not now. Bigger is always better! Your cage needs TONS more live plants, branches, and vines (real and fake without leaves- just no Exo Terra vines) ASAP so he can feel secure hiding in the foliage and being able to use the whole cage! I’ve posted two cage set-up links above.
• Lighting - Use the lighting from the kit, both are on 12 hrs a day You need a T5 High Output linear light fixture either the length of or a foot longer than what his biggest enclosure will be ASAP! You also need either an Arcadia 6% (replace yearly) or a Zoo Med 5.0 (replace every 6 months) linear UVB bulb of the matching size ASAP, as well! Get a Solarmeter 6.5 if you can afford it! It’ll give you precise UVI readings, tell you if an UVB bulb is defective, and tell you when to actually replace your UVB bulbs (when the readings are cut in half)! He needs a regular household white light incandescent bulb for his heat bulb instead of the blue light. Make sure both the linear UVB bulb and heat bulb are raised the appropriate distances away from his basking branch! Do you use anything at night?
• Temperature - Basking temp is about 85 Don’t go higher than that. Most keepers’ basking spots are between 80-85*F. Measure this with a digital thermometer with a probe placed where his casque/top of his back is when he’s on his basking branch. What are his ambient and nighttime temps?
• Humidity - Not sure but it is misted 3 times a day This is crucial! Get 3 thermometer-hygrometer combos and place one near the top of his cage, one in the middle, and one at the bottom to measure humidity levels and ambient temps. It should be between 30-50% during the day and up to 100% at night. Do you use a cool mist fogger or anything else?
• Plants - 1 live plant, not fully grown You need live plants only with veileds, no fake plants or fake vines with leaves on them! Veileds will try to eat anything, so fake plants are an impaction risk! You can hang his current fake plant outside of his cage to give him extra privacy. All plants need to be chameleon-safe (I posted a link for a list above) and properly cleaned beforehand, along with rocks too big for him to eat covering the soil in the pots.
• Placement - the cage is on a sidetable
• Location - in my room

Current Problem - Worried about how much it eats (2 crickets a day, 4 crickets on the first day). And coloration seems kind of light He is probably too uncomfortable in his cage to eat because he has no privacy or foliage to hide himself in. He is also still settling in his new environment. I would still take him in to an experienced chameleon vet to rule out anything else.

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

Do you gutload your crickets? Gutloading your feeder insects are a very important part to feeding your chameleon, without gutloading them (esp bugs lower in nutrition such as crickets) it's similar to feeding your little guy potato chips. Also, chams prefer a varied diet so I would suggest getting a few other types of bugs such as dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, silkworms, locusts, etc.


I might reccomend getting him tested for parasites, esp since he's a brand new chameleon & showing signs that he may be unhealthy. Parasites are a pain to deal with, so it's better to be safe than sorry.


What are the dimensions of the enclosure?


It's extremely important to know the % of humidity in the enclosure as chameleons need high humidity levels, so you really should prioritize purchasing a hygrometer. & veileds specifically need 40-70% humidity.

During the day veileds should not have more than 50% then at night it can go up as high as 100%