Newbie-worry-wart

[bcadybug]

I'm like a new mother with my veiled cham, well in all reality I am! This is my first chameleon and I'm just spazing out with every noise and move he makes. Does he look healthy to you guys? I've had him for about 3 weeks now, he shed his skin earlier this week and really had me worried. I'm having trouble keeping the humidity up in his enclosure, did some reading today and it sounds like I wasted my money on a fogger. Oh well.. I'm learning. He seems to be eating well although I really don't know how much. I put a few crickets in with him in the morning and keep a couple superworms in his food dish, he doesn't always empty the bowl. Anyway, I'm trying and I don't wanna fail the poor fella. Is he supposed to look kinda dry and wrinkled there on his side? You can see it in the picture. I heard him sneeze this morning but read that could be a warning to leave him alone... I'm always moving, adjusting, adding or changing something in his house. Thanks to all of you for the wealth of informtion available here.

 

[Bermuda1237]

I had the same problem when j got my guy the people at the store didn't know anything got a fogger and was having problems with humidity. Best thing to do is cover 1 and a half sides and the bottom so the mist builds up but can still give good circulation so the air doesn't stagnate. I ended up making a mist system with aquiruim pump
It works way better. His skin looks fine my guy has the same thing round his belly. Watch about that noise my guy makes little huffs and such every so often just make sure it's not wheezing and poping sound as Thag indictes URI. As long as he isn't gaping or got extra mucus you should be fine though. Give some more info about the enclosure plus husbandry info for more feedback. Sounds like he should be eating more though my guy will still be lookin for more after every feeding. But I'm no expert im sure others will chime in

 

[jpowell86]

He's a good looking guy. It's natural to be worried, especially with your first chameleon. He looks healthy and hydrated to me. I would like to see a picture of his entire enclosure if you could. Also, as far as humidity is concerned, you have a chameleon that is native to Yemen. Humidity can be a good thing, but you need to make sure that the ambient temps and basking temps are on point. Lots of live plants in his enclosure will help with the humidity. Good luck!!

 

[brownie64]

From the pic He looks like a she. could you post another one with a better shot of the hind legs. It's important to know the sex because the care for each differs a lot. He/she also looks healthy to me.

 

[jpowell86]

I thought it looked like a female as well, but I wasn't sure if that was a spur on the back right foot I was seeing or just the way the foot was positioned.

 

[bcadybug]

I paid for a male veiled... Well dang... That won't be a very good first impression of that cham dealer if they sent me a female Here are pictures of the encloser and he/she. Just misted so apologizes for all the water spots on the front screen.

 

[brownie64]

False alarm it's a male.

 

[carol5208]

I am pretty sure that is a spur I see .. The males have a bump on the back of the back heel. I think there is a bump but the position of the foot is just a little weird. I also see faint stripes or bars which the males have and the females do not. Do you have a uvb light?. I see a red light which is frowned upon. If that is what you are using for your basking light, then switch that out with a housebulb. Wattage depending upon your housetemps. Also, the petstores seem to give the advice of keeping the red lights(which are wrong to begin with) on all night for heat. No light at night and no heat necessary unless your house is gonna get down into the 40's at night.

 

[bcadybug]

Okay so out with the red light and complete darkness at night but, no heat at night, at all? Ekk..... I'm having anxiety just reading that. I keep my house at 68 in the winter and that's far from 40 so okay, no heat for my little buddy. I'm going to return that stupid fogger and just get a mister instead and wrap a side or two of his enclosure. He doesn't seem to eat as much as I think he should but I did see him eat a cricket this morning and drink water, he's cup fed and always has food available to him. Thanks everyone!

PS: He has a basking day bulb as well as a tube UVB bulb on him during the day.

 

[MissLissa]

Okay so out with the red light and complete darkness at night but, no heat at night, at all? Ekk..... I'm having anxiety just reading that. I keep my house at 68 in the winter and that's far from 40 so okay, no heat for my little buddy. I'm going to return that stupid fogger and just get a mister instead and wrap a side or two of his enclosure. He doesn't seem to eat as much as I think he should but I did see him eat a cricket this morning and drink water, he's cup fed and always has food available to him. Thanks everyone!

PS: He has a basking day bulb as well as a tube UVB bulb on him during the day.

You know, if you filled out the "howw to ask for help form" (found here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/), that will really help us decipher what else might need a bit of tweaking to your cham's care. There isa lot of misinformation out there! There are a ton of people on this forum with a heck of a lot of experience, and filling in the form will help them help you and your cham

If your cham is new to you, don't be alarmed if his appetite is a little depressed; chams do not take to new situations very well and can be less interested in food for a while during re-acclimation. Just make sure his care is spot-on, that you are following a regular schedule for him, and that you leave him alone until his appetite is back- no handling, etc,usually for the first few weeks. However, that being said, it's important that you take a stool sample to your reptile vet to check for parasites. Internal parasites are very common in reptiles,and can cause decreased appetite (and other symptoms later on).