Opening mouth

[reptimanny]

I was wondering if i should be concerned about my baby veiled opening her mouth every so often but not all the time. She is very light green in which i know shes happy and healthy, she is eating just fine along with the vitamin dust i am giving with each feeding. The temp and uvb specs are up to par and the housing is all up to specs. Is there something wrong or am i paranoid? I would appreciate any experienced or knowledgeable answer.

 

[justjumpit621]

Please fill this out, I am fairly sure I know the answer but just to solidify my thoughts:
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.

 

[Julirs]

I was wondering if i should be concerned about my baby veiled opening her mouth every so often but not all the time. She is very light green in which i know shes happy and healthy, she is eating just fine along with the vitamin dust i am giving with each feeding. The temp and uvb specs are up to par and the housing is all up to specs. Is there something wrong or am i paranoid? I would appreciate any experienced or knowledgeable answer.

Fill out the form. If you are giving vitamin dust at every feeding you are doing something wrong and potentially harmful.

 

[reptimanny]

this may be a dumb question but i am really new to posting stuff and i was wondering how im to fill out this form?

 

[justjumpit621]

copy, paste =)

 

[reptimanny]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon,Female, dont know exact age juvenille .I have had it for 3 weeks now
Handling -I handle her once a day
Feeding - I feed my chameleon med to large crickets. At least 5 med to large a day. I gutload my feeders baby carrots and celery.
Supplements - Dont know the vitamin dust im using what was provided by the pet store and i dust them every feeding.
Watering -I mist 3-4 times daily and i mist the entire cage i also have the little dripper going .I have seen my chameleon drink but i dont see her drink all the time.
Fecal Description -the color is white and dark brown and semi wet. My chameleon has never been tested for parasites.

 

[justjumpit621]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon,Female, dont know exact age juvenille .I have had it for 3 weeks now
Handling -I handle her once a day
Feeding - I feed my chameleon med to large crickets. At least 5 med to large a day. I gutload my feeders baby carrots and celery.
Supplements - Dont know the vitamin dust im using what was provided by the pet store and i dust them every feeding.
Watering -I mist 3-4 times daily and i mist the entire cage i also have the little dripper going .I have seen my chameleon drink but i dont see her drink all the time.
Fecal Description -the color is white and dark brown and semi wet. My chameleon has never been tested for parasites.

The other half would be beneficial also, because that is what I am most concerned about.

 

[justjumpit621]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon,Female, dont know exact age juvenille .I have had it for 3 weeks now
Handling -I handle her once a day
Feeding - I feed my chameleon med to large crickets. At least 5 med to large a day. I gutload my feeders baby carrots and celery.
Supplements - Dont know the vitamin dust im using what was provided by the pet store and i dust them every feeding.
Watering -I mist 3-4 times daily and i mist the entire cage i also have the little dripper going .I have seen my chameleon drink but i dont see her drink all the time.
Fecal Description -the color is white and dark brown and semi wet. My chameleon has never been tested for parasites.

You should dust with a plain calcium powder every to every other feeding and only give a vitamin supplement once a month. The typically suggested regime on here is rep-cal w/o d3 every feeding, rep-cal w/ d3 twice a month, and herptivite vitamin mineral supplement once a month. I have heard that you should not give the vitamin supplement and calcium supplement together, it does something to the absorption of the supplements.

Also, feeder insects should not be larger than the width between the chameleons eyes. They can easily choke on a prey item that is too big.

 

[Elizadolots]

They sometimes "gape" for no reason anyone can determine, but they also "gape" when they are too warm and are trying to cool down. Make sure your chameleon has places to hide from the "sun" (your lights) if he's feeling too warm...

 

[reptimanny]

Cage Type - I have a screen cage with glass bottom.
Lighting - exoterra reptiglow 5.0 uvb, TRex 60watt moon glow heat lamp. What is your daily lighting schedule?I keep the heat lamp on all the time and the reptiglow turns off at sundown and turns on at sunup.
Temperature - My highest temp goes to 94 degrees and the lowest is at 78 degrees . How do you measure these temps? I have a exoterra digital display thermometer.
Humidity - Dont know. How are you creating and maintaining these levels? misting and dripper.
Plants - Fake plants for now.
Placement -Cage is located on a dresser no vents or fans in the area.medium to low traffic At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? At least 4 feet from the floor.
Location - near mountains in california

 

[justjumpit621]

Cage Type - I have a screen cage with glass bottom.
Lighting - exoterra reptiglow 5.0 uvb, TRex 60watt moon glow heat lamp. What is your daily lighting schedule?I keep the heat lamp on all the time and the reptiglow turns off at sundown and turns on at sunup.
Temperature - My highest temp goes to 94 degrees and the lowest is at 78 degrees . How do you measure these temps? I have a exoterra digital display thermometer.
Humidity - Dont know. How are you creating and maintaining these levels? misting and dripper.
Plants - Fake plants for now.
Placement -Cage is located on a dresser no vents or fans in the area.medium to low traffic At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? At least 4 feet from the floor.
Location - near mountains in california

This is likely the cause. Lower your basking temps to low 80's and your temp gradient to around 70 at the bottom. Babies over heat VERY easily and they open their mouths to try to cool off.

 

[justjumpit621]

Also, many people will tell you to ditch the coil UVB and get a reptisun 5.0 linear tube bulb and fixture. Coil and compact florescent bulbs have been shown to cause blindness and burns in reptiles.

 

[Elizadolots]

Most chameleons appreciate a period of coolness and darkness...