GeorgesMummy
New Member
Hi all
I have adopted my Dad's chameleon as he's grieving badly and unfortunately neglected him for a couple of months. Please don't judge me or my Dad. I understand I'm not perfect but I'm doing my best. He was quite unwell I think. He looks so much better already.
Hopefully the pictures have attached!
His spikes fell off as you can see from the pictures. They were already peeling off when he came to me. I kept a close eye on it and it never got infected.
He's not shed properly. There's a patch with a black spot. He also just has bits all over him that don't seem to want to go anywhere.
Does HE or his branches need to be 6 to 8 inches below the light? I see conflicting info everywhere!
He's a miserable little guy! I'm doing my absolute best, I've been reading bits on this forum and others and trying to create a decent environment for him but this black spot is bothering me.
Please see my form and my chameleon and advise if I'm doing anything wrong and what I should change.
Thank you!
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
George is about 14 months old. He is a male veiled chameleon. I've had him for a few weeks.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I try to handle him sometimes but most days he gets pissy. He used to love being handled but then Dad didn't handle him for a couple of months so he stopped coming onto your hand. I did just manage to get him out to sit in the sun for a bit though.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Dad was giving him locusts but apparently he wasn't really eating them. Personally I think they were much too big. Now, he's got large brown crickets and an occasional strawberry.
He has a few crickets each day.
What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
I chuck a few (3 or 4) in his enclosure every day.
I put lettuce, grapes and oats sprinkled with calci dust in the bugs tub. I also sprinkle the bugs with the dust.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Calci-dust from Vetark professional. Once a week but it's also on the oats.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
I mist about 2 times a day for about 2 minutes constantly.
I have made a watering system kind of thing (a pot with a hole in the bottom) which drips water constantly. He flicks his tongue at this every now and again. It drips into another pot at the bottom which I'm hoping helps with humidity.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
He's only been once. All looked normal. I don't think he's been tested for anything.
I can't understand why he's not been again in about 10 days. I've looked around but can't find any feces.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Only what I wrote to start with.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Mesh, 4ft
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Arcadia SMA80E27 D3 UV Basking Lamp 80 Watt. On around 8 or 9am (I can't figure out the automatic light thing at the moment), off 10 to 12 hours later, depending on if he's still sunbathing or has moved to where he spends the night. The light is in one of those big round things.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
I have two thermometer/hygrometers. One at the top which reads about 28 degrees and between 30 and 55% humidity.
The bottom one is about 19 degrees and 50 to 80% humidity.
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? There's a money plant and another plant. These came with him so I'm not sure what they are. I'm ordering some more tomorrow when I get paid.
I know the humidity around the top isn't great but I'm trying so hard.
Ive just misted and it's showing 31% ?
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?
He's in the corner of the living room. There's nowhere else for him to go. He is by a radiator which is on occasionally but not loads. No air vents but near to the patio door. I barely open it though.
Location - Devon.
I have adopted my Dad's chameleon as he's grieving badly and unfortunately neglected him for a couple of months. Please don't judge me or my Dad. I understand I'm not perfect but I'm doing my best. He was quite unwell I think. He looks so much better already.
Hopefully the pictures have attached!
His spikes fell off as you can see from the pictures. They were already peeling off when he came to me. I kept a close eye on it and it never got infected.
He's not shed properly. There's a patch with a black spot. He also just has bits all over him that don't seem to want to go anywhere.
Does HE or his branches need to be 6 to 8 inches below the light? I see conflicting info everywhere!
He's a miserable little guy! I'm doing my absolute best, I've been reading bits on this forum and others and trying to create a decent environment for him but this black spot is bothering me.
Please see my form and my chameleon and advise if I'm doing anything wrong and what I should change.
Thank you!
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
George is about 14 months old. He is a male veiled chameleon. I've had him for a few weeks.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I try to handle him sometimes but most days he gets pissy. He used to love being handled but then Dad didn't handle him for a couple of months so he stopped coming onto your hand. I did just manage to get him out to sit in the sun for a bit though.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Dad was giving him locusts but apparently he wasn't really eating them. Personally I think they were much too big. Now, he's got large brown crickets and an occasional strawberry.
He has a few crickets each day.
What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
I chuck a few (3 or 4) in his enclosure every day.
I put lettuce, grapes and oats sprinkled with calci dust in the bugs tub. I also sprinkle the bugs with the dust.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Calci-dust from Vetark professional. Once a week but it's also on the oats.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
I mist about 2 times a day for about 2 minutes constantly.
I have made a watering system kind of thing (a pot with a hole in the bottom) which drips water constantly. He flicks his tongue at this every now and again. It drips into another pot at the bottom which I'm hoping helps with humidity.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
He's only been once. All looked normal. I don't think he's been tested for anything.
I can't understand why he's not been again in about 10 days. I've looked around but can't find any feces.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. Only what I wrote to start with.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Mesh, 4ft
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Arcadia SMA80E27 D3 UV Basking Lamp 80 Watt. On around 8 or 9am (I can't figure out the automatic light thing at the moment), off 10 to 12 hours later, depending on if he's still sunbathing or has moved to where he spends the night. The light is in one of those big round things.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
I have two thermometer/hygrometers. One at the top which reads about 28 degrees and between 30 and 55% humidity.
The bottom one is about 19 degrees and 50 to 80% humidity.
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? There's a money plant and another plant. These came with him so I'm not sure what they are. I'm ordering some more tomorrow when I get paid.
I know the humidity around the top isn't great but I'm trying so hard.
Ive just misted and it's showing 31% ?
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?
He's in the corner of the living room. There's nowhere else for him to go. He is by a radiator which is on occasionally but not loads. No air vents but near to the patio door. I barely open it though.
Location - Devon.
