Rate my cage set up

[Rencontreras]

Hi everyone,
I’m a new-ish chameleon owner so I wanted to see what you guys think of my set up. Is it missing anything? Let me know how I can make it better!

Also I do this weird thing where at dawn and dusk I sort of ease into the light transition. I don’t have any concrete reason for doing this other than I think the sudden change of light could be jarring. Anyway that’s why the red heat bulb is on at the same time as the beam light.

 

[Rencontreras]

Also try to find Mango!

 

[saradoggy10]

It looks like it smells like petrichor and mangoes.

 

[Thehippie]

I would get rid of your substrate asap, and that red light, you def need a white heat bulb, colored lights are a big no. you also need much more coverage... and more branches. maybe a live plant or two. do you have a veiled or panther, if you have a veiled, he shouldn't have fake plants since theyre known to ingest materials and get impacted

 

[saradoggy10]

I would get rid of your substrate asap, and that red light, you def need a white heat bulb, colored lights are a big no. you also need much more coverage... and more branches. maybe a live plant or two. do you have a veiled or panther, if you have a veiled, he shouldn't have fake plants since theyre known to ingest materials and get impacted

Why would a red light be bad? Im really unsure about chameleons but I was pretty sure most animals can't see red

 

[Prince of Duval]

Why would a red light be bad? Im really unsure about chameleons but I was pretty sure most animals can't see red

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-bad-are-red-lights-really.172586/page-2

 

[saradoggy10]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-bad-are-red-lights-really.172586/page-2

If I'm totally honest that thread contains value that has to be sewn together from small contributions. From what I gathered the light on the top of the head is not sensitive to red but chameleons can see red and is sometimes shown by chameleons to breed or fight or show dominance.
Now that I think it through it makes more sense as to why chameleons just wouldn't like the color red.

 

[Prince of Duval]

Hi everyone,
I’m a new-ish chameleon owner so I wanted to see what you guys think of my set up. Is it missing anything? Let me know how I can make it better! View attachment 266698
Also I do this weird thing where at dawn and dusk I sort of ease into the light transition. I don’t have any concrete reason for doing this other than I think the sudden change of light could be jarring. Anyway that’s why the red heat bulb is on at the same time as the beam light.

I would fill out this form. It will help the community better evaluate your setup.


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.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful

 

[Rencontreras]

I would fill out this form. It will help the community better evaluate your setup.


Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Mango is a veiled chameleon and he is about 8 months old. We got him when we was two months old so he’s been in my care for half a year

• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

We handle him semi frequently. We have a little free roaming space for him so when we take him out he’s able to explore those plants and bamboo.

• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

We feed him crickets, meal worms, wax worms, horn worms, and dubia roaches. They are gut loaded with that Mazuri feed. I’ve tried offering him some fruits and veggies but he’s not a huge fan.

• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I printed a calendar for which days to give him the supplements but I’m too tired to get up and see it

• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

Misting system and dripper. We mist three times a day for two ish minutes. We fill the dripper with water about once a day

• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

Urate: off white/ light in color
Fecal matter: light brown
Never 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?

Screen x Glass combo. The front door is glass but the rest of the cage is screen. It is about 24x24x48. That sounds wrong but it’s definitely very roomy for him

• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

UVB light bulb, ceramic heat bulb, day basking bulb, red heat bulb.
12 hours on and 12 off

• 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?

50%-60% usually, measured with a thermometer/hydrometer combo thing

• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

Moss and I can’t remember the name of the two live plants but I got the inspiration from this site

• 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?

On the floor in my room, I have a fan in my room but I cover the sides of the cage with a towel or blanket if I turn it on.

• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Houston Texas

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful

 

[Thehippie]

give me a minute an I'll give you a general overveiw

 

[Rencontreras]

I would get rid of your substrate asap, and that red light, you def need a white heat bulb, colored lights are a big no. you also need much more coverage... and more branches. maybe a live plant or two. do you have a veiled or panther, if you have a veiled, he shouldn't have fake plants since theyre known to ingest materials and get impacted

So I should add more branches in the lower half of the cage right?
Also the substrate is actually for the live the plant in the corner. I plan on adding more but I’ve been just watching to see how I manage with a tester plant. How would you recommend adding more coverage?

 

[Thehippie]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Mango is a veiled chameleon and he is about 8 months old. We got him when we was two months old so he’s been in my care for half a year

• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

We handle him semi frequently. We have a little free roaming space for him so when we take him out he’s able to explore those plants and bamboo.

• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

We feed him crickets, meal worms, wax worms, horn worms, and dubia roaches. They are gut loaded with that Mazuri feed. I’ve tried offering him some fruits and veggies but he’s not a huge fan.

I personally would add more to your gutload like fresh fruit or veggies. mealworms are a general no and can cause your cham impaction. waxworms are considered a treat as they are extremely high in fat and can cause obesity problems.

• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I printed a calendar for which days to give him the supplements but I’m too tired to get up and see it

supplementation is crucial to a chameleons development, if you find time tomorrow would you post your supplementation schedule?

• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

Misting system and dripper. We mist three times a day for two ish minutes. We fill the dripper with water about once a day

• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

Urate: off white/ light in color
Fecal matter: light brown
Never 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?

Screen x Glass combo. The front door is glass but the rest of the cage is screen. It is about 24x24x48. That sounds wrong but it’s definitely very roomy for him

• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

UVB light bulb, ceramic heat bulb, day basking bulb, red heat bulb.
12 hours on and 12 off

you do not want the red heat bulb and the ceramic heat bulb should not be needed for your geographic location. they will benefit from a drop in temp at night

• 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?

50%-60% usually, measured with a thermometer/hydrometer combo thing

you need to have humidity at 30-40% day and 80-100% night
what are your current temps?

• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

Moss and I can’t remember the name of the two live plants but I got the inspiration from this site p

youre going to want more plants, veileds are notorious plant chompers and shouldn't have many fake plants in their enclosures. it causes problems if they try to eat it and accidentally ingest a leaf.

• 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?

On the floor in my room, I have a fan in my room but I cover the sides of the cage with a towel or blanket if I turn it on.

• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Houston Texas

to answer your other questions, I think he needs more branches and plants everywhere

youre going to want to pot that plant and take the soil out unless youre planning a bioactive. veileds are known to try an eat soil and with all the exposed soil and fake foliage, hes bound to ingest some and develop digestive issues or impaction. once you've potted the plant, put mesh or rocks over the soil so he cannot get to it. to add more coverage I recommend getting a large chameleon safe plant or tree that he will be able to hide in. something like a 2-3 ft schefflera arboricola would suit him. I have 2 large schefflera and a mass cane tree in my enclosure currently.

 

[Prince of Duval]

Agree with @Thehippie. Is that linear bulb your UVB? And what strength bulb is it? I would place it more down the middle of the enclosure so your equally flooding the cage with UVB.

 

[AmandaS]

And also take the foliage off the top screen. The hiding spots should be down lower, and the top should be open for basking. You got some great information from @Thehippie

 

[BenjiTheCham]

I would get rid of your substrate asap, and that red light, you def need a white heat bulb, colored lights are a big no. you also need much more coverage... and more branches. maybe a live plant or two. do you have a veiled or panther, if you have a veiled, he shouldn't have fake plants since theyre known to ingest materials and get impacted

Wait, so I’m getting a veiled soon. I can’t have any fake plants? The plants don’t seem like a cham could take a bite out of them, I have one big fake plant. And a few of the 6ft Flukers vines. I read the reviews and a lot of them say they use them for veiled chameleons, but I figure it’s best to ask here. In case you were wondering, I will also have live plants.

 

[AmandaS]

Wait, so I’m getting a veiled soon. I can’t have any fake plants? The plants don’t seem like a cham could take a bite out of them, I have one big fake plant. And a few of the 6ft Flukers vines. I read the reviews and a lot of them say they use them for veiled chameleons, but I figure it’s best to ask here. In case you were wondering, I will also have live plants.

Yes, I would suggest you have no fake plants. The chameleon is very likely to try a nibble here and there.

 

[BenjiTheCham]

Yes, I would suggest you have no fake plants. The chameleon is very likely to try a nibble here and there.

Okay thanks, that’s good to know and it’s something I never really thought of

 

[The Wild One]

Go to chameleon academy and they have and amazing plant list.

 

[NashansCamos]

Wait, so I’m getting a veiled soon. I can’t have any fake plants? The plants don’t seem like a cham could take a bite out of them, I have one big fake plant. And a few of the 6ft Flukers vines. I read the reviews and a lot of them say they use them for veiled chameleons, but I figure it’s best to ask here. In case you were wondering, I will also have live plants.

In the winter sometimes my veiled takes bites out of the plants in my cage (all harmless). Why its only In the winter, i have no idea and im not sue if anyone elses chams do the same.

 

[AmandaS]

In the winter sometimes my veiled takes bites out of the plants in my cage (all harmless). Why its only In the winter, i have no idea and im not sue if anyone elses chams do the same.

My adult female eats the vegetaion that overgrows onto her paths.