New veiled has bumps on his side / burrowing questions (with tons of photos!)

[Charms]

Ok you are not always responding or liking the posts so we do not know if you are reading them or implementing our advice. That will be the issue with that lid you are using. It is not a shooting gallery and not designed for that type of use. Here is another DIY option. It does not have to be a huge bottle. But I recommend taking a lighter to melt sharp edges of cut plastic. https://dragonstrand.com/constructing-a-chameleon-feeder-run/

This is what I am talking about for guage with probe. They sell them in big box pet stores as well. https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-For-Terrariums/dp/B00U9ODNRO/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2QPU9MQBUHRAU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hr5EY_cYoAs0DVLDXqa7I-joDLkD0BVv_5ZBJO0HLlCLQdy3mLviEBDdyzZ9sM96mb292RqliBzE3RuY6r_JuRA698hDEBA5nChQS8__ZQV6tvP_H_eXmHOJqs4TuVLzEBANaBKGSsMwL5qbsCRHsMTC75VSRsnJkxuCkp8OeBWppP6dedC3zKcKaE7IUY6X25uczTDoReznqqltgwgg8YOQU5Sio90L6chlZs-GaU0_L4Hqr00QgyOrZI-jUDiwJnKlhTlH9L2KurLVAzHIy1ws1ZtjO-UdWjlBI0w7-I4.wYMMkHbbBSaPfwtB3T6gPT6_go4LiE0_MGBqZaj0nOc&dib_tag=se&keywords=zoomed+temp+gauge&qid=1732660066&sprefix=zoomed+temp+guage,aps,149&sr=8-7

Per temp at this age no matter the gender you would not have it over 80 at basking.

Sorry but I've never used forums before so I don't know the etiquette / how to Like stuff. I don't use social media.

I bought the probe thermometer. I think it's too hot in the enclosure since replacing the red bulb with the 60W exo terra daytime bulb. Right now it's 82 in the basking area and it goes up to 83ish.

Vet appointment, x-rays, sex ID, and more to come tomorrow.
Charms is still not eating and is now just hiding in the dracaena.

 

[MissSkittles]

Sorry but I've never used forums before so I don't know the etiquette / how to Like stuff. I don't use social media.

I bought the probe thermometer. I think it's too hot in the enclosure since replacing the red bulb with the 60W exo terra daytime bulb. Right now it's 82 in the basking area and it goes up to 83ish.

Vet appointment, x-rays, sex ID, and more to come tomorrow.
Charms is still not eating and is now just hiding in the dracaena.

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[Beman]

Sorry but I've never used forums before so I don't know the etiquette / how to Like stuff. I don't use social media.

I bought the probe thermometer. I think it's too hot in the enclosure since replacing the red bulb with the 60W exo terra daytime bulb. Right now it's 82 in the basking area and it goes up to 83ish.

Vet appointment, x-rays, sex ID, and more to come tomorrow.
Charms is still not eating and is now just hiding in the dracaena.

Honestly the most important aspect of a first check up is taking in a fresh fecal to run for parasites. With you buying him at an expo this would be the first thing I would do.

If the temp is sitting at 83 that is not out of the question high but you could lift the fixture slightly off the cage top. That would not cause baby to avoid the top of the enclosure for basking. Now if the other side away from the basking is sitting hot too then that would cause baby to go down.

If your vet actually knows chams they will be able to provide a gender but please keep in mind they are very commonly miss gendered by a vet. So when you get baby out to go to the vet get pics of the back of the back feet for us.

I would avoid letting the vet give a dewormer in office or a vitamin shot... These are not advised. Dewormers without knowing if there is an issue is not recommended because not all meds work on all things. And there is the strain that medication takes on their organs. So typically we only advise medicating when there is a specific reason and the medication is matched with that.
Vitamin shots can compromise a chameleon especially if they are giving a shot of D3 or A, I have seen multiple times in the forum where they take down a cham because it is more then their system can handle.

 

[Charms]

Hi everyone, just wanted to give an update here:

We took Charms to the exotic vet and got confirmation from three vets there that he is, in fact, a boy.
He also passed the fecal parasite test with zero parasites, so that's good.
Best of all, I caught him eating on three separate occasions. He appears to enjoy eating out of the suspended cups more than any other method.
Charms was very calm and seemed to enjoy being held at the vet, right up until she used a guitar pick to open his mouth to take a look. He turned a sandy color with big black polkadots during that procedure. He was pissed.

He stopped digging for 3 days, but has resumed digging again. I still can't figure out why.
I'll get the new probe thermometer hooked up today, but his basking temp has been a steady 82 for a while now according to the thermo-hygrometer.

The vet said he looks great. 9 grams weight, good coloration, healthy mouth.

 

[MissSkittles]

So very glad that he got a clean bill of health from the vet and that you may have found his preferred way to eat. Fill that little cutie up with whatever it is he’ll eat. For his size I wouldn’t give anything larger than about 1/4” size. At 9 Gm, he’s got a whole lot of growing to do. There’s still no explanation for why he’s digging, unless he’s trying to get out for some reason. Keep a close eye on his temps and humidity and start planning from now his big boy upgrade. You can probably still get a great price for a ReptiBreeze at somewhere like PetSmart, if you haven’t already. (I can’t remember and too lazy to go back to look). I do hope you’ll keep posting updates and pics of your cutie.

 

[Charms]

Ok you are not always responding or liking the posts so we do not know if you are reading them or implementing our advice. That will be the issue with that lid you are using. It is not a shooting gallery and not designed for that type of use. Here is another DIY option. It does not have to be a huge bottle. But I recommend taking a lighter to melt sharp edges of cut plastic. https://dragonstrand.com/constructing-a-chameleon-feeder-run/

This is what I am talking about for guage with probe. They sell them in big box pet stores as well. https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-For-Terrariums/dp/B00U9ODNRO/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2QPU9MQBUHRAU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hr5EY_cYoAs0DVLDXqa7I-joDLkD0BVv_5ZBJO0HLlCLQdy3mLviEBDdyzZ9sM96mb292RqliBzE3RuY6r_JuRA698hDEBA5nChQS8__ZQV6tvP_H_eXmHOJqs4TuVLzEBANaBKGSsMwL5qbsCRHsMTC75VSRsnJkxuCkp8OeBWppP6dedC3zKcKaE7IUY6X25uczTDoReznqqltgwgg8YOQU5Sio90L6chlZs-GaU0_L4Hqr00QgyOrZI-jUDiwJnKlhTlH9L2KurLVAzHIy1ws1ZtjO-UdWjlBI0w7-I4.wYMMkHbbBSaPfwtB3T6gPT6_go4LiE0_MGBqZaj0nOc&dib_tag=se&keywords=zoomed+temp+gauge&qid=1732660066&sprefix=zoomed+temp+guage,aps,149&sr=8-7

Per temp at this age no matter the gender you would not have it over 80 at basking.

How do I reduce the temperature by 3 degrees in the enclosure?
Can I raise the heat bulb a bit off the top of the enclosure? How can I do this?

 

[Charms]

So very glad that he got a clean bill of health from the vet and that you may have found his preferred way to eat. Fill that little cutie up with whatever it is he’ll eat. For his size I wouldn’t give anything larger than about 1/4” size. At 9 Gm, he’s got a whole lot of growing to do. There’s still no explanation for why he’s digging, unless he’s trying to get out for some reason. Keep a close eye on his temps and humidity and start planning from now his big boy upgrade. You can probably still get a great price for a ReptiBreeze at somewhere like PetSmart, if you haven’t already. (I can’t remember and too lazy to go back to look). I do hope you’ll keep posting updates and pics of your cutie.

I have posted a lengthy update!
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/veiled-hydration-bumps-on-sides-burrowing.194056/

 

[MissSkittles]

How do I reduce the temperature by 3 degrees in the enclosure?
Can I raise the heat bulb a bit off the top of the enclosure? How can I do this?

I use small wire baskets that I get from the dollar store to achieve this. Usually a pair of the long slender drawer organizer types are perfect for this. If you need more height, just stack them.

 

[Beman]

How do I reduce the temperature by 3 degrees in the enclosure?
Can I raise the heat bulb a bit off the top of the enclosure? How can I do this?

Reduce overall ambient temp or basking temp? Basking temp you raise the fixture up off the top more. For ambient you have to reduce what you have your house heat set on to help bring down the cage temp.

 

[Charms]

I use small wire baskets that I get from the dollar store to achieve this. Usually a pair of the long slender drawer organizer types are perfect for this. If you need more height, just stack them.

My wife has asked if you'd be willing to upload a photo of the wire baskets and how you've set them up?

Basking temp you raise the fixture up off the top more. For ambient you have to reduce what you have your house heat set on to help bring down the cage temp.

I naturally run super hot so I keep the heat off almost always. Ambient temp in the house is between 70-72 most of the year. In summers it's 76 because we're in SoCal.
Ambient temp at bottom of enclosure is 74-75. Right now it's actually 73 midway up the enclosure outside of the basking area. It's a cold morning.

I will try raising the heat lamp off the top of the enclosure if yall think his top-of-back temp should be reduced from 84 to 80?

 

[Charms]

So very glad that he got a clean bill of health from the vet and that you may have found his preferred way to eat. Fill that little cutie up with whatever it is he’ll eat. For his size I wouldn’t give anything larger than about 1/4” size. At 9 Gm, he’s got a whole lot of growing to do. There’s still no explanation for why he’s digging, unless he’s trying to get out for some reason. Keep a close eye on his temps and humidity and start planning from now his big boy upgrade. You can probably still get a great price for a ReptiBreeze at somewhere like PetSmart, if you haven’t already. (I can’t remember and too lazy to go back to look). I do hope you’ll keep posting updates and pics of your cutie.

Hey by the way, are you the woman who runs the Neptune channel? I thought she was a member here but I'm not sure. I'm planning on scheduling an hour-long call with her this week, but I realized I should ask if she is you first because you've already imparted your advice.

 

[Beman]

My wife has asked if you'd be willing to upload a photo of the wire baskets and how you've set them up?


I naturally run super hot so I keep the heat off almost always. Ambient temp in the house is between 70-72 most of the year. In summers it's 76 because we're in SoCal.
Ambient temp at bottom of enclosure is 74-75. Right now it's actually 73 midway up the enclosure outside of the basking area. It's a cold morning.

I will try raising the heat lamp off the top of the enclosure if yall think his top-of-back temp should be reduced from 84 to 80?

It depends on how you are determining basking temp. For example if you are doing it with a probe at the basking branch and that is reading 84 then where the cham rises up would be more like 86-87. If you are doing it with a temp gun these only measure surface temp and I find them to be very inaccurate compared to a probe. For a baby as young as yours I would not have basking exceed 82 meaning what their exposure is where they rise up. So it would be 80-81 max at the branch with a probe.