Preparing for my first chameleon, tips appreciated

I was harassing Vedool with the camera this morning because he was sitting really cute. He did good to hold the pose for photos, but eventually got upset, as you'll see.
Didn't grab his weight yet this week. I'll sneak it in after he falls asleep tonight.

Took photos with and without flash to show the difference

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V update!

So a few changes but otherwise not too much. He's still on a food strike, so I'm trying to address that.

-I switched his 60w incandescent bulb to a 65w halogen, same bulbs my dragons use, to help keep him toasty with lower house temperatures. He seems happier and is no longer clinging to the mesh by the bulb.
-I added an aquarium heater to his mist reservoir, so it's up to 88° in the bucket opposed to about 72°
-I just bought him a drinking fountain from Amazon to encourage him to drink more. I know there are cautions about bacteria build up in those waterfall fountains, but this one appears to address that issue with constant flowing water and a screen to keep anything from falling into the water reservoir. It's smaller size also encourages you to keep your eye on it and maintain the cleanliness.
-I bought him some BSFL today as well, being shipped. I'm hoping new worms will entice him, and if not the worms, maybe the flies.

Otherwise he's doing very well. He's moving around pretty nonstop, giving many glares, and enjoys his tree in the living room.

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Traildrifterphalanx said:
V update!

So a few changes but otherwise not too much. He's still on a food strike, so I'm trying to address that.

-I switched his 60w incandescent bulb to a 65w halogen, same bulbs my dragons use, to help keep him toasty with lower house temperatures. He seems happier and is no longer clinging to the mesh by the bulb.
-I added an aquarium heater to his mist reservoir, so it's up to 88° in the bucket opposed to about 72°
-I just bought him a drinking fountain from Amazon to encourage him to drink more. I know there are cautions about bacteria build up in those waterfall fountains, but this one appears to address that issue with constant flowing water and a screen to keep anything from falling into the water reservoir. It's smaller size also encourages you to keep your eye on it and maintain the cleanliness.
-I bought him some BSFL today as well, being shipped. I'm hoping new worms will entice him, and if not the worms, maybe the flies.

Otherwise he's doing very well. He's moving around pretty nonstop, giving many glares, and enjoys his tree in the living room.

View attachment 195260View attachment 195261 View attachment 195262
Click to expand...
Hello V handsome as ever !!. How was your turkey day ?
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QYT2KFO/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a link to it.
It's got a little carbon filter and everything. I don't intend to set and forget, and will likely include it in weekly cleanings, if not more frequently
Click to expand...
You also know the things to watch for . If V starts with any issues at all just pull it out . You have the F1 still ? Or if you can get your hands on developer over 40 val that kills anything pretty much . Sally’s if you have one near by .
 
Yep, and I plan to throughout clean out the enclosure, spray it down with F10, and let it sit and rinse a bit before introducing the water fountain. V is usually pretty good about his pooping spots, and he's on a cricket hiatus so I'm not concerned about what they may drag into it.

I check on V several times a day (to his dismay) and this fountain will definitely be going under a trial period.
It seems hit or miss from forum posts on this thing. Some love it immediately, some never touch it or just poop on it. I don't plan to change his mist settings, so he'll never be forced to use it.

If he doesn't use it, or it becomes a toilet, I'd be removing it, sanitizing it, and maybe repurpose it somehow
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
Yep, and I plan to throughout clean out the enclosure, spray it down with F10, and let it sit and rinse a bit before introducing the water fountain. V is usually pretty good about his pooping spots, and he's on a cricket hiatus so I'm not concerned about what they may drag into it.

I check on V several times a day (to his dismay) and this fountain will definitely be going under a trial period.
It seems hit or miss from forum posts on this thing. Some love it immediately, some never touch it or just poop on it. I don't plan to change his mist settings, so he'll never be forced to use it.

If he doesn't use it, or it becomes a toilet, I'd be removing it, sanitizing it, and maybe repurpose it somehow
Click to expand...
The biggest thing is maintaining them every day . Most don’t do it often after a few weeks . You will thats not a concern . You come home at lunch and such . There would not be anything in there sitting or not being cleaned immediately . If you are going away for the day or over night vacation the obvious would be don’t have it in there . Your a very intelligent dude I don’t need to tell you that ;) . Have you tried Phoenix worms with V ?
 
Kristen Wilkins said:
The biggest thing is maintaining them every day . Most don’t do it often after a few weeks . You will thats not a concern . You come home at lunch and such . There would not be anything in there sitting or not being cleaned immediately . If you are going away for the day or over night vacation the obvious would be don’t have it in there . Your a very intelligent dude I don’t need to tell you that ;) . Have you tried Phoenix worms with V ?
Click to expand...

Right, and even taking the cleanliness out of the equation, if I were gone, out of town etc, I'd unplug just as a fire safety hazard. I do the same with a few other electronics, and I'd never risk V's safety, say the water runs out, motor runs dry for hours, catches fire, smoke emits, etc. When I'm home I can maintain it better.

And nope, first BSFL for him! I figure those are essentially two kinds of new food, worms and flies, and I'm hoping he loves one or the other. Was going to get him silkworms but everyone appears sold out and I don't want to raise the eggs lol
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
Right, and even taking the cleanliness out of the equation, if I were gone, out of town etc, I'd unplug just as a fire safety hazard. I do the same with a few other electronics, and I'd never risk V's safety, say the water runs out, motor runs dry for hours, catches fire, smoke emits, etc. When I'm home I can maintain it better.

And nope, first BSFL for him! I figure those are essentially two kinds of new food, worms and flies, and I'm hoping he loves one or the other. Was going to get him silkworms but everyone appears sold out and I don't want to raise the eggs lol
Click to expand...
Check in with @Katacara she is Awesome and gets them out fast . She has been our supplier while waiting for our next hatch . Prices are amazing !!. She is sooooo sweet .
 
V really looks great !!. I know how you feel about the food strike . They sure give us Anxiety don’t they lol . Mr. Septiseye was being a real pip about his roaches and crickets for some time . He only wanted wax worms but would eat silkies and horns . At least he was eating a few different worms . I had to completely take worms away and only feed crickets and roaches for a bit .
 
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