Please help!!

[lizgentry]

Hello!

I am a new owner and although i researched befor buying now i have my little baby chameleon it is making me very paranoid!

How do i know if its happy?????

I have had her for two days now. She seems to be eating fine which i assume is a good start!

When sitting under her basking light she is gaping her mouth for about 10 seconds then closing her mouth then gaping again! Is this normal??

Can someone please put my mind at ease?

Thanks!

Liz

 

[Sancho]

Answer the following:
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
Location - 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?

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.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[jmdavis]

It sound like the temps in your cage are to high. What are your temps?

 

[BigR]

What's the basking temperature at? If she's gaping it means she's trying to cool down. A baby cham should have a warm spot of no more than 85*F and an overall enclosure temp of 75*F. Temps should drop to around 65*F at night. What species is it and could you describe the enclosure and everything in it, as well as all heating and lighting? Pics would help.

 

[lizgentry]

Ok here is as much info as i can think of.....

I have had her for 2 days.
She is a veiled Chameleon.
She is about 4 inches long when tail is extended.
I am feeding her crickets.
I am feeding throughout the day - food is available for about 8 hrs - as was recommended.
She has a waterfall and i am spraying 2 times a day.
Light is on for 13 hrs a day.
Ambient temp is 78ish degrees - drops to between 65 and 70 at night.
Enclosure is 1ft wide, 1ft deep 2 ft high.
She has 2 branches winding throughout.
(it was sold to me as a starter kit from a reptile specialist - i have 2 snakes, the shop has supplied me with all for the snakes and have been very helpfull)
Bulb is strip bulb sold to me as it emmits UVA and UVB.
Enclosure is glass/mesh combo.
She is about 4 ft from the ground.

I know this sounds daft but if she is too hot would she not move away from the basking spot like snakes do? Sorry if that sounds stupid!

Any more info you need?

Thanks

 

[lizgentry]

What's the basking temperature at? If she's gaping it means she's trying to cool down. A baby cham should have a warm spot of no more than 85*F and an overall enclosure temp of 75*F. Temps should drop to around 65*F at night. What species is it and could you describe the enclosure and everything in it, as well as all heating and lighting? Pics would help.

oops - posted reply as a new comment!

 

[BigR]

She's gonna need some plants, either live or artificial. The cage size will do for now, but she will need a larger one in the future.

Could you post some more info on the bulb. (Brand, output(2.0,5.0,10.0, etc...) size)

The waterfall is a big no. Chams won't drink from it and it breeds bacteria.

 

[lizgentry]

She's gonna need some plants, either live or artificial. The cage size will do for now, but she will need a larger one in the future.

Could you post some more info on the bulb. (Brand, output(2.0,5.0,10.0, etc...) size)

The waterfall is a big no. Chams won't drink from it and it breeds bacteria.

The people at the shop said the cage will last 3 months - 6 at a push but she was already bigger than her siblings!

They also recommended the waterfall as she had one in her previous home - am i right in saying if there is no water fall then spraying 2-3 times a day is right?

She has 2 artificial plants on either side - sorry forgot that part before!

The bulb is an exo-terra self ballasted lamp, 26W 220-240V.

I can give you her 'daily' routine - or what i have noticed so far if that helps!

She seems to have a regular sleeping place - highest branch on opposite side to lamp (ie closest to front of enclosure).

When i put the food in in the morning she comes right down and eats about 4 crickets.

She then moves up to the basking area - comes down every so often for another cricket and goes back up - although if any come up to her she will grab them.

Then that is where she stays until the lights go off when she will go back to her sleeping spot.

Also - any tips on 'taming her' she was quite freindly until we moved her to her new home, i assume she just needs to settle in?

Thanks so much for your help so far!