Hello forum! I am a brand new member and chameleon owner! I've owned many reptiles (Snakes and Geckos) since I was about 9, but this is my very first chameleon. I just wanted to get some advice and talk to some people that know about them. I just purchased a baby Veiled Chameleon and was wondering the sex. I was told that it was a male and was shown the "spurs" on the hind legs, but I just wanted other opinions/confirmation. Also, I've read that the coiled UVB bulbs can cause blindness in reptiles. Is this true? the bulb that I purchased is a 13W Repti Glo 5.0 Compact. Is this one safe? Thanks, in advance, for all the shared knowledge and input!
Question about Veiled Chameleon
- Thread starter sfplayr04
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mcleodschams
Established Member
yes he is a male. also the uvb is fine that u have the old lights years ago cause problems but has since been resolved
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
Hello and welcome to you and your new boy Here's a great caresheet for Veileds that covers all the basics - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
Here's a great caresheet for Veileds that covers all the basics - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
HolyToledo
New Member
Welcome to the forum!
Congrats on your new little boy!
You have come to the right place for info! The people on this forum are so helpful and informative! They have helped me to save the life of my cham.
I have been told that the linear (long straight) bulbs offer a better amount of area for soaking up the rays but that as long as your baby can easily get directly under the coiled bulb and it isn't shining through glass, the coiled should be fine for a 3 to 6 months at a time.
Congrats on your new little boy!
You have come to the right place for info! The people on this forum are so helpful and informative! They have helped me to save the life of my cham.
I have been told that the linear (long straight) bulbs offer a better amount of area for soaking up the rays but that as long as your baby can easily get directly under the coiled bulb and it isn't shining through glass, the coiled should be fine for a 3 to 6 months at a time.
Thanks a lot, guys! I am excited to watch him grow! I was told that he will probably reach full size in 9-12 months, so I went ahead and purchased the cage that they recommended for an adult. Only problem is, he is small and the cage is pretty large. I moved all the plants and vines down a bit in hopes that he will be able to hunt his crickets easier. The problem that I have read with this approach is that he may not be getting adequate basking light. Am I worrying too much? Or is this a legitimate concern? Hopefully the pictures will provide enough perspective for your advice.
The first two pictures were meant to show my setup and how far away the vegetation was placed from the light, but my dog felt like she should be the center of attention. The third picture will probably be the most helpful.
The first two pictures were meant to show my setup and how far away the vegetation was placed from the light, but my dog felt like she should be the center of attention. The third picture will probably be the most helpful.
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jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome to the forums and congrats on your baby veiled. I keep veileds along with panthers and a parsonii. My veileds show some much personality and are an absolute pleasure to care for.
I would recommend more plants, vine and branches in the cage. I'm attaching my blog for how I keep young veileds and panthers.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
I would recommend more plants, vine and branches in the cage. I'm attaching my blog for how I keep young veileds and panthers.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
mcleodschams
Established Member
you should deffinatly lift him up off the floor about 4 feet or so traffic is a stressful thing for most chams your dog will really stress him out i would think also i would suggest alot alot more foliage maybe a pothos which is a fav of mine also ficus and sheffierra andhibiscus i use aswell i rotate the hibiscus because they dont do well in really wet conditions you could also bring in some sticks and wash them really well then bake them for a bit in the oven at 250 until they are dried out then wrap them with ivy garland you can buy at craft store and some department and dollar stores hope i helped. also welcome to the forum
ps. babies donot need as hot of a basking temp mid 80's is perfect
ps. babies donot need as hot of a basking temp mid 80's is perfect
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
It is a good idea to put him up on a table or something, I also think some more foliage and little branches would be a good idea - you have plenty of room If he needs more light and heat he will stay nearer his bulbs so as long as you have a good enough gradient of temps he should be ok. I think it would be best to have a few more branches and leaves under the lights so he's more comfortable there.
P.s. good doggie, what's her name?
If he needs more light and heat he will stay nearer his bulbs so as long as you have a good enough gradient of temps he should be ok. I think it would be best to have a few more branches and leaves under the lights so he's more comfortable there. P.s. good doggie, what's her name?
Thanks for all the advice! I will be picking up some more vines and plants today. I will also be placing him on a stand in the livingroom( i'm pretty sure i've talked my girlfriend into it). Does the cage look too big for him at the moment? I'm really wanting to know that he is eating, but i've only seen him nail a couple crickets. I'm really appreciating all the input!
P.S. David- Thanks, dude! my dog's name is Jayda and she definitely is a good girl.
P.S. David- Thanks, dude! my dog's name is Jayda and she definitely is a good girl.
Goldenarcher1328
New Member
Wonderful little guy you have there.
Welcome to the forums!!!
Yes if it has the spurs, it is a male.
I would say, as everyone else has, raise the enclosure up, chameleons are not a ground faring species, they are more arboreal creatures. Also, Foliage is important, live or false plants. I prefer live plants however they are not always an option for all situations.
This is a wonderful resource for both new and experienced owners and i hope you get alot out of being a member here!
Welcome to the forums!!!
Yes if it has the spurs, it is a male.
I would say, as everyone else has, raise the enclosure up, chameleons are not a ground faring species, they are more arboreal creatures. Also, Foliage is important, live or false plants. I prefer live plants however they are not always an option for all situations.
This is a wonderful resource for both new and experienced owners and i hope you get alot out of being a member here!
mcleodschams
Established Member
awsome thats better he will enjoy that alot more also just keep th efoliage coming lol the more the better also maybe if you can find some bamboo or more sticks and wrap them like you have those and cut them so you ca run from one side of the cage to the other and you can use pins and pin it through the screen so it dont slip make sure they are a tight fit kinda too. and a big pothos probably 15 dollars or so will fill that whole top section right in. but so far soo.. good i like it good job.
ps. love the pitty mine is 13 this year they were banned down here
but so far soo.. good i like it good job.ps. love the pitty mine is 13 this year they were banned down here
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Goldenarcher1328
New Member
Looks much much better. i would say run down to the garden store and purchase some Pothos plants, i just hang the hangers from the ceiling of the cage and my chams usually just climb into the leaves to hang out, stay cool, hide or sleep lol.
Pothos, Ficus ( find a small one and put it in, and he'll be in cham heaven), Creeping fig ( a type of ficus if i am not mistaken,in a vine like plant), Hibiscus and Dracaena just to name a few, all these will make great additions to any cham cage.
Pothos, Ficus ( find a small one and put it in, and he'll be in cham heaven), Creeping fig ( a type of ficus if i am not mistaken,in a vine like plant), Hibiscus and Dracaena just to name a few, all these will make great additions to any cham cage.
Handsome fella and nice start-up cage. I wonder if you could find a way to get the lamp up off the screen. He will climb up there and burn his feet eventually! I made a 6" plywood frame around the top of my cage and put hardware wire across that so it stays away from the screen wire top. Good luck!
I know that I received an answer to this earlier, but my buddy (who has never owned a chameleon) insists that some female veiled chameleons can have the "bumps", or "spurs", on their hind legs just as mine does. Can I rest assured that the pictures that I have taken provide definitive proof that my baby veiled is a boy? Or is it possible that he is correct? If he is, I'd like to know so I can visit the pet store and snag a male before they're gone.
D
DavidBuchan
Guest
On very very rare occasions a female Veiled will have tiny bumps. Your boy has spurs there - 99.99% certain you have a male dude
mcleodschams
Established Member
no worries he is male!!
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
welcome to the forums! I see you have already gotten alot of great advice from our members. I just wanted to add my two cents here and say I would add a sturdy vine or branch about 8 inches below your lights so he can bask properly. The plant you have underneath looks like it is kinda far down. i hope you and your girlfriend and (your dog too) will enjoy having a chameleon in the house!!!
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