seems stressed

[JapSolum]

so I got my first cham a couple weeks ago, hes a 1-2 month old veiled. I was using the uvb light that comes with the zoo med starter cage(16x16x30) but knew it would have to be changed out at some point. for a few days I noticed him laying around on his branches a lot more. felt like it may not be that abnormal but could be a sign of calcium deficiency. hes getting plenty of calcium through dusting and gut loading his crickets with low phosphorus so I'm sure his diet is ok so figured it was time for a uvb tube to get him more d3. i got a 5.0 uvb light to cover his whole cage and finally got timers to put everything on. but for the past couple days hes seemed more stressed, (darker colors and hiding a lot more). feel like hes just nervous about his new environment, and how bright it is now. but wanting to make sure hes ok, just looking for a second opinion.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Please fill out the forum below and post some pictures if you are able to. Welcome to the forums!

hameleon 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.

 

[JapSolum]

• Your Chameleon - male veiled, 1-2 months old, I've had him about two weeks
• Handling - took him out once while cleaning tank and once when I had some family over, but not trying to over do it
• Feeding - so far just crickets dusted with calcium+ gut loading them with a variety of fruits and veggies, oranges, arugula, flax seed kiwi, trying to keep phosphorus low
• Supplements - using the basic multivitamin that comes with the zoo med tank, only done it once so far since I think you're only supposed to every other week
• Watering - have a dripper in tank and misting 2-3 times a day but never actually seen him drink
• Fecal Description - urate has been white for the most part though today I noticed a hint of yellow which I know means hes not hydrated enough, other part (dont know correct name) is dark brown found a fresh one today that was pretty moist
• History - not much since I just got him but has seemed pretty happy besides what I mentioned above

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - 16x16x30 screen but have 3 sides closed off as I live in colorado and it's hard to keep humidity up without it
• Lighting - zoo med basking light, 50 watt I believe, just got a 17 watt 5.0 uvb tube light from reptisun
• Temperature - 85-95 baking spot 75 towards middle/bottom of cafe, I have two thermometers
• humidity - 50-55 most of the time will spike to 75 after misting, have a reptifuggor to keep it there
• Plants - no live plants yet
• Placement - backed against wall and dresser on two sides cage is about 2 feet off ground making it 4 and a half tall all together, is a decently high traffic area
• Location - colorado, towards mountains, about 6500 elevation

 

[Chameleomom]

Just a few quick questions. What is your lighting schedule?..Is the room where he sleeps totally dark at night? If it is not ,he is not getting the proper rest Another thought does your cage have the proper plants for him to hide and not stress being in a high traffic area?

 

[JapSolum]

Just a few quick questions. What is your lighting schedule?..Is the room where he sleeps totally dark at night? If it is not ,he is not getting the proper rest Another thought does your cage have the proper plants for him to hide and not stress being in a high traffic area?

lighting schedule is 12 on 12 off... for the most part it's dark, hes downstairs which we only go down there at night to grab something to drink or whatever, and usually try to avoid any lights that would shine in his cage. but it seems like he sleeps through it all the time either way. and yes, have not gotten him live plants yet, but hes got lots of fake plants to hide in. a lot of the time, if hes not basking, it takes a good 3-4 mins of looking to find him.

 

[Chameleomom]

Is he laying around basking? They do turn themselves dark to absorb more heat .It will take him time to get use to you and his surrounding.

 

[JapSolum]

no, he was hiding in the back corner as far away from the light as he could, behind some leaves. I pulled the light a little higher, and went back to having the uvb bulb next to the basking light, and hes been back to his normal self .... think it might have just been too much all at once.