Poos and wees

[RubyLee]

I've read the old posts about healthy urate and poo, but just had a quick question as we are so new to chameleons!

We have a male veiled around 5 months old and have just witnessed the first poo. Said poo looks healthy and fine.

BUT we also got a white lump the same size. We know there is supposed to be white urate, but didn't know if a solid lump of it was healthy?!

Feedback appreciated!

 

[carol5208]

the white lump is the pee and that is the way it is supposed to look!

 

[RubyLee]

Brilliant thanks! Not used to animals that pee solids...

Also, we've only had him for less than a week - when he was in the reptile shop he was a lovely bright green with turquoise, and when we handle him he is usually pretty green, but in his cage he's kind of a brown.

Do you think he's still getting used to being here and a bit moody still? Or is it likely he's darker for basking? Also there's a fake rock wall at the back of the tank that is roughly the same colour he goes - any thing to do with it?

He's seems to be fine in terms of eating etc and doesn't really hiss if we go to handle him, but wondered if he's just a bit moody still

 

[carol5208]

Well if he is not under the basking light and he is still brown, then it is not him trying to get warm. The rock on the back has nothing to do with his color! that is a myth about chameleons changing colors to their environments. Yes, it could be he needs to get used to his cage and new environment. I have a friend on here whose chameleon was dark for weeks and she was worried too but he finally brightened up. Just give him some time. Welcome to chameleon owndership by the way!! Glad to have you on the forums! Oh, one last thing, does he have the little spurs on the back heels of his back feet? If not, then he is a she! I have seen many times on here where the petshops sell a chameleon and tell the people it is the wrong sex!

 

[RubyLee]

It's definitely a he, spurs and all! He's probably still a bit unsure then, and hopefully he'll go green as he was before. He used to be in a smaller cage with a few of his bros/sisters at the reptile centre and still green, seemed like a happy guy. Thanks for the welcome and advice!

 

[laurie]

Hi just wanted to add my welcome also. We have some uk members and they are a good group, so you are sure to be happy here. Glad things are good with you cham. As Carol said he will color up nicely as soon as he feels at home.

 

[chameleoman]

hey looks like you got a female how old is she?

 

[chameleoman]

is it me or does her arms look a little curved

 

[RubyLee]

Defiantly a he, the reptile dealer had just last week lost a female due to it not laying and getting egg bound. As we are beginners she felt it better we get a male. He's got spurs on his back feet so he's defiantly a boy.

Now maybe i'm being over involved in my chameleons excretion but he's just done a rather wet urate. Sort of lumps but in fluid. His poo is normal if LARGE. I'm sure it's fine but just in case thought i'd ask you lovely people on here : )

We've just introduced a drip system rather than misting so I thought maybe he'd drank quite a lot as there is much more water around now. Likely?
We also had to do a quick rearrange of his viv as we removed the substrate and replaced with newspaper this has meant a bit of change in layout so maybe a bit of stress causing the running-ness?

Also gave him 2-3 waxworms today (which he's never had before) as well as 5 or so meal worms as he was out on his free ranging area I hand fed them.

Hopefully he's alright! and runny urate isn't a massive problem.

Thanks ever so much for the warm welcome : )

 

[camimom]

Defiantly a he, the reptile dealer had just last week lost a female due to it not laying and getting egg bound. As we are beginners she felt it better we get a male. He's got spurs on his back feet so he's defiantly a boy.

Now maybe i'm being over involved in my chameleons excretion but he's just done a rather wet urate. Sort of lumps but in fluid. His poo is normal if LARGE. I'm sure it's fine but just in case thought i'd ask you lovely people on here : )

We've just introduced a drip system rather than misting so I thought maybe he'd drank quite a lot as there is much more water around now. Likely?
We also had to do a quick rearrange of his viv as we removed the substrate and replaced with newspaper this has meant a bit of change in layout so maybe a bit of stress causing the running-ness?

Also gave him 2-3 waxworms today (which he's never had before) as well as 5 or so meal worms as he was out on his free ranging area I hand fed them.

Hopefully he's alright! and runny urate isn't a massive problem.

Thanks ever so much for the warm welcome : )

Welcome!
I understand teh comment about it being a girl, the casque is a bit short, but if youre sure their are tarsal spurs, then ok.
Next, regarding the runnish urate, I wouldnt be too concerned about it. You fed him waxworms, and sometimes worms can cause this.
As for the mealworms though, please restrict how many you feed him.
They are ok for a once in a while treat, but they are not high in nutritional value and they have a hard exo skeleton which when ingested enough, can cause impaction.

What are you supplementing him with?

 

[Dez]

is it me or does her arms look a little curved

His right arm does looked like it could be a little curved..but It could be a camera trick

 

[RubyLee]

We're suplementing him with komodo premium insect dusting powder (specifically designed for chameleons according to the tub)

We put this on his worms/crickets everyday. We were happy to do this because of the dealer having had successfully used it to rear her brood of chameleons (near on 50!) It seems to be a multivitamin including A, D3 and E as well asplant extracts e.g. rosehip, yukka and alfalfa.

What would you suggest as the staple if mealworms are less frequently used?

I think his arms are ok, he doesn't seem wobbly and they usually look straight apart from that odd angle. Will keep tabs on it though!