JimNPHX
New Member
Hello everyone,
My name is Jim and I am in Phoenix Arizona. I am a (first time) new owner of 2 (male/female) Veiled chams. I purchased them from Mike at FLCHAM, who was a great help with everything, especially all my questions. I feel it is time that I get my feet wet in this forum and stop bugging him!
Here are my facts:
Per Mike both chams are roughly 5 months old, with the male a couple of weeks older and a little bigger.
Each of their cages are set up the same:
24"x24"x36" all screen cage
(1) 24" Reptisun 10.0 (long tube) sits on top of cage with no glass cover
(1) clamp on fixture w/75 watt bulb that is at top of cage * bulb is approximately 10" from top of screen and 20-25" from first resting/sunning branch (male's top branch is 20" & female's top branch is 25"). Digital therm reading was 98 degrees at 20" branch and 95 degrees at 25" branch.
(2) Pothos plants
I do not have an automated misting system so I have been spraying the cages multiple times a day. The humidity is still low and I am working on that.
Today I offered both some water in a spoon and the female took a few sips but the male did not do anything. **Neither looks dehydrated! Unless I am wrong with my evaluation . . .
Also, neither likes to be sprayed or misted.
I usually have the Reptisun light on for around 12 hours and the heat bulb a little less. (Do not want to turn on/off all at the same time.
I have been feeding crickets and mealworms as their diet. Crickets are the large size you get at Petco/Petsmart (about the length of a quarter), and the mealworms are bought at the same place(s). So far I have been feeding about 6-8 crickets a day and use the worms as a supplement if I am low or out of crickets. I usually only buy a few days worth so i just have been dropping in a piece of fruit to feed the crickets. (I have not decided how I want to handle feeder supply.)
Their fecal matter is both the same. 2 parts, smaller white and larger dark color, both parts are solid. I have not been able to observe them defecating so I do not know whether they are struggling or not.
Both chams arrived healthy and hungry on Tuesday 10/2. The female seems more acclimated to her new surroundings and does not spoke by my presence as much as the male. She also seems to keep her shade/color of green throughout the day and night.
The male is a lot different. He is not as sociable (although I have not attempted to touch/pick-up either), and he darkens up a lot during the eve/night and sometimes during the day. Every now and then he shows a colorful green with shades of yellow, but for the most part is dark. He also molted on Thursday 10/4.
* The male spends a lot more time near the heat bulb than the female, and also likes to be closer to the bulb than the female.
I think I have covered everything but if anyone needs to know more please ask.
Here are my questions:
Are the crickets too big? When the chams take them about half the cricket sticks out of their mouth until they work it in.
Does this sound like a good diet and amount?
What is the best way to handle them? (I want to start recording their growth rates/weight and for physical exams.)
Should I let them settle in longer before I handle them?
Best way to pick up?
Although they are in separate cages they are right next to each other. Should I hang some sort of curtain between the 2 cages? (Yes I do plan on breeding them when they are older.)
Can I get away with just buying one misting system for both cages? If so any suggestions? I have seen Pro-Mist get a lot of talk here.
Is my lighting times appropriate? I also want to get timers for the lights. Would a dimer work with the florescent fixture? If not, is it that important for the heat bulb?
Well I think I asked enough for now. I do not want to wear-out my welcome!
I try to read as much as possible here and elsewhere online. I also have the "Chameleons Care and Breeding book by Ferguson, Kalisch. (I'm a full-time student so been pretty busy with mid-terms
I will try to post picks soon. Which is the best/easiest way to post them?
Finally: Anyone here in AZ?
Thanks
Jim
My name is Jim and I am in Phoenix Arizona. I am a (first time) new owner of 2 (male/female) Veiled chams. I purchased them from Mike at FLCHAM, who was a great help with everything, especially all my questions. I feel it is time that I get my feet wet in this forum and stop bugging him!
Here are my facts:
Per Mike both chams are roughly 5 months old, with the male a couple of weeks older and a little bigger.
Each of their cages are set up the same:
24"x24"x36" all screen cage
(1) 24" Reptisun 10.0 (long tube) sits on top of cage with no glass cover
(1) clamp on fixture w/75 watt bulb that is at top of cage * bulb is approximately 10" from top of screen and 20-25" from first resting/sunning branch (male's top branch is 20" & female's top branch is 25"). Digital therm reading was 98 degrees at 20" branch and 95 degrees at 25" branch.
(2) Pothos plants
I do not have an automated misting system so I have been spraying the cages multiple times a day. The humidity is still low and I am working on that.
Today I offered both some water in a spoon and the female took a few sips but the male did not do anything. **Neither looks dehydrated! Unless I am wrong with my evaluation . . .
Also, neither likes to be sprayed or misted.
I usually have the Reptisun light on for around 12 hours and the heat bulb a little less. (Do not want to turn on/off all at the same time.
I have been feeding crickets and mealworms as their diet. Crickets are the large size you get at Petco/Petsmart (about the length of a quarter), and the mealworms are bought at the same place(s). So far I have been feeding about 6-8 crickets a day and use the worms as a supplement if I am low or out of crickets. I usually only buy a few days worth so i just have been dropping in a piece of fruit to feed the crickets. (I have not decided how I want to handle feeder supply.)
Their fecal matter is both the same. 2 parts, smaller white and larger dark color, both parts are solid. I have not been able to observe them defecating so I do not know whether they are struggling or not.
Both chams arrived healthy and hungry on Tuesday 10/2. The female seems more acclimated to her new surroundings and does not spoke by my presence as much as the male. She also seems to keep her shade/color of green throughout the day and night.
The male is a lot different. He is not as sociable (although I have not attempted to touch/pick-up either), and he darkens up a lot during the eve/night and sometimes during the day. Every now and then he shows a colorful green with shades of yellow, but for the most part is dark. He also molted on Thursday 10/4.
* The male spends a lot more time near the heat bulb than the female, and also likes to be closer to the bulb than the female.
I think I have covered everything but if anyone needs to know more please ask.
Here are my questions:
Are the crickets too big? When the chams take them about half the cricket sticks out of their mouth until they work it in.
Does this sound like a good diet and amount?
What is the best way to handle them? (I want to start recording their growth rates/weight and for physical exams.)
Should I let them settle in longer before I handle them?
Best way to pick up?
Although they are in separate cages they are right next to each other. Should I hang some sort of curtain between the 2 cages? (Yes I do plan on breeding them when they are older.)
Can I get away with just buying one misting system for both cages? If so any suggestions? I have seen Pro-Mist get a lot of talk here.
Is my lighting times appropriate? I also want to get timers for the lights. Would a dimer work with the florescent fixture? If not, is it that important for the heat bulb?
Well I think I asked enough for now. I do not want to wear-out my welcome!
I try to read as much as possible here and elsewhere online. I also have the "Chameleons Care and Breeding book by Ferguson, Kalisch. (I'm a full-time student so been pretty busy with mid-terms
I will try to post picks soon. Which is the best/easiest way to post them?
Finally: Anyone here in AZ?
Thanks
Jim
