Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and new to Chameleons but have been doing a lot of research before I planned on getting one. I went into Petco to get crickets for my beardie and saw this 4 month old or so female chameleon with only some vines in the back of enclosure. There were no source of water or food. So I purchased all that I needed for her and brought her home. She is eating, I havent seen her drink but I do mist her twice a day. Today when I took her out I noticed that she was shedding her tail and she wouldn't keep her eyes open. It was in the evening and I am not sure if that is why she kept her eyes closed. I am a little worried about her with being deydrated. I have only had her for 4 days. If anyone has any advise for me being a new loving mom to my beautiful Chameleon. Thank You
Rescue from Petco
- Thread starter LuLuLover
- Start date
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Hello!
Welcome to CF!
We are all super glad that you have made your way here.
This forum is a great resource for any information you may need on chameleons.
Having eyes closed during the day means somthing is wrong, it may be somthing minor, or somthing severe.
To better help you, we have a form that you can fill out that will give us an idea of your husbandry, and how the animal lives.
Here is that form:
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.
Pictures are helpful
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and to share your opinions.
Again, welcome to CF!
Welcome to CF!
We are all super glad that you have made your way here.
This forum is a great resource for any information you may need on chameleons.
Having eyes closed during the day means somthing is wrong, it may be somthing minor, or somthing severe.
To better help you, we have a form that you can fill out that will give us an idea of your husbandry, and how the animal lives.
Here is that form:
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.
Pictures are helpful
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and to share your opinions.
Again, welcome to CF!
followmehaha
New Member
I remember when I first got my 3-month-old male veiled from petsmart, there was one day in the evening around 7 when his eyes were slightly closed. Nothing happened later on as he is still healthy now that it has been 3 months. So I guess your cham could be just tired. But try to keep cautious.
justjumpit621
New Member
definitely fill out the how to ask for help form posted above, especially the part about the brand of and type of UVB light
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - She is a veild Chameleon, I think she is 4 months from the info they gave me.
Handling - I handle her once a day.
Feeding - Large crickets. I give her 7 a day. I turn her light out at 8pm and back on a 8 am that is when i feed her. I use the Flukes Water and Flukes Supplement.
Supplements - I am useing Zoo Meds Reptivite.
Watering - She has a waterfall and I also mist her. I haven't seen her drink though.
Fecal Description - It is brown about a inch or so long. She also has the white stuff with it. She does go every day. I do not know if she has I will have to call and ask.
History - I only know that they have had her since Dec and I just got her 4 days ago.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have a small Reptibreeze.
Lighting - I have a 60watt ceramic bulb. I have the a uvb light the coil one. It is the 25 watt I believe.
Temperature - It is 70 to 72 on the floor of it to 80 in the basking light.
Humidity I am having a hard time keeping humidiy right in the breezeway.
Plants - I have the fake plants in there with viens right now. Lots so she can hide.
Placement - I live in Maine. I have her cage up high in the living room.
Current Problem - I am just concerend about her closing her eyes tonight when I was holding her. She was fine all day eating and move around. She was shedding her tail but I am not sure if that is stressed or not. Also wondering if she is dehydrated since there was no water when I got her.
I will send some pic tomorrow when she is up.
Thank You
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and to share your opinions.
Again, welcome to CF!
Your Chameleon - She is a veild Chameleon, I think she is 4 months from the info they gave me.
Handling - I handle her once a day.
Feeding - Large crickets. I give her 7 a day. I turn her light out at 8pm and back on a 8 am that is when i feed her. I use the Flukes Water and Flukes Supplement.
Supplements - I am useing Zoo Meds Reptivite.
Watering - She has a waterfall and I also mist her. I haven't seen her drink though.
Fecal Description - It is brown about a inch or so long. She also has the white stuff with it. She does go every day. I do not know if she has I will have to call and ask.
History - I only know that they have had her since Dec and I just got her 4 days ago.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have a small Reptibreeze.
Lighting - I have a 60watt ceramic bulb. I have the a uvb light the coil one. It is the 25 watt I believe.
Temperature - It is 70 to 72 on the floor of it to 80 in the basking light.
Humidity I am having a hard time keeping humidiy right in the breezeway.
Plants - I have the fake plants in there with viens right now. Lots so she can hide.
Placement - I live in Maine. I have her cage up high in the living room.
Current Problem - I am just concerend about her closing her eyes tonight when I was holding her. She was fine all day eating and move around. She was shedding her tail but I am not sure if that is stressed or not. Also wondering if she is dehydrated since there was no water when I got her.
I will send some pic tomorrow when she is up.
Thank You
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and to share your opinions.
Again, welcome to CF!
camimom
New Member
waht time was it when she closed her eyes? she could have just been getting ready for bed.
also females can lay eggs as early as 6 months old, even without being bred, so you will need to do reserach on egg laying bins.
does she have a bump on the back of the back feet?
What should I be using for a UVB light. I have the long dome light. Not sure what is called because I threw the packaging away. it was around 630 or 7 and I usally put her to bed at 8 so that could be it but I am being a nervous new mom I guess. I am used to my beardie and so now I just need to learn more about her.
ChamomilleCame
Avid Member
Sometimes the UVB brand has a print on it.
No one said anything about gutloading, so Im gonna pitch in there are a few threads about gutloading feeders with fruits and veggies, so just click on the search bar and look it up. At the top of my head you can use carrots, orange slices (good for hydration), mango, mustard greens, strawberries and a lot more stuff. Hope it helped if you didnt know
No one said anything about gutloading, so Im gonna pitch in
there are a few threads about gutloading feeders with fruits and veggies, so just click on the search bar and look it up. At the top of my head you can use carrots, orange slices (good for hydration), mango, mustard greens, strawberries and a lot more stuff. Hope it helped if you didnt know Panthergirl11
New Member
Also be careful on the size of crickets you give her. Large might be too big for a 4 month old.
SonTigerPantherCham
New Member
Hi and welcome,
To help with humidity, cut to size an inexpensive shower curtain. Unscrew the top side screws on your cage, lay the curtain against the sides or back of your cage, replace the screw. It will help alot. I also do the same to the bottom screws to make it snug.
Anne
To help with humidity, cut to size an inexpensive shower curtain. Unscrew the top side screws on your cage, lay the curtain against the sides or back of your cage, replace the screw. It will help alot. I also do the same to the bottom screws to make it snug.
Anne
laurie
Retired Moderator
Hello and late welcome to the forum. Even after all these years I still remember my first chameleon. Doesn't it just seem like fascinating, beautiful little creature that you just want to watch all day? If petco had your girl from December, I would guess she is over 4 months. But that is just a guess based on what age they usually get chameleons.
All of us have our own way to do things so don't worry, you will decide what works for you and Lulu. I don't ever keep a waterfall in with my chameleons as the breed germs like crazy. Unless you want to scrub the waterfall daily, you are offering her water that she may have pooped in. A easy way to get water to her is take a stryofoam cup, put a small pin hole in it and sit it on top her cage. Then you need a bowl with a screen over it to catch the drips. If you can get it to drip on a leaf that will help. Things that will help with humidity are as Anne said wrapping part of the cage, live plants, and a cheap humidifer from target or walmart. I get a cheap Crane brand at target. I get a cute one that has an elephant head with a trunk I can point at the cage. If you run it on low it will run all day.
Our petco also has wax worms that you can offer as a treat. Just something else to keep her interested in her food.
I have other ideas for you but don't want to overload you all at once. It will be easier to offer advice after we see your set up and your sweet little Lulu.
All of us have our own way to do things so don't worry, you will decide what works for you and Lulu. I don't ever keep a waterfall in with my chameleons as the breed germs like crazy. Unless you want to scrub the waterfall daily, you are offering her water that she may have pooped in. A easy way to get water to her is take a stryofoam cup, put a small pin hole in it and sit it on top her cage. Then you need a bowl with a screen over it to catch the drips. If you can get it to drip on a leaf that will help. Things that will help with humidity are as Anne said wrapping part of the cage, live plants, and a cheap humidifer from target or walmart. I get a cheap Crane brand at target. I get a cute one that has an elephant head with a trunk I can point at the cage. If you run it on low it will run all day.
Our petco also has wax worms that you can offer as a treat. Just something else to keep her interested in her food.
I have other ideas for you but don't want to overload you all at once. It will be easier to offer advice after we see your set up and your sweet little Lulu.
