Setup help

[Evanstouffer1]

Hello everyone, this is my first post ever on this website and I made an account specifically to ask this because everyone on here seems so helpful. I recently purchased a young veiled chameleon and i have a question about future housing for the chameleon. I currently have it in a bioactive terrarium that is 18x18x24 and in the future when it outgrows it i would like to put it in a screen cage or a larger terrarium. I would rather get a large screen cage for it because i know those are better for chameleons with the airflow and overall just better than terrariums. I see kits at petsmart but I figure those are not really the best because i mean its petsmart. I would like to make the cage bioactive as well and have a misting system set up in it like i have in my current bioactive terrarium. Does anyone have any tips or advice on a future setup like this for an adult veiled chameleon? Gender for the chameleon is still currently unknown because I believe it is still to small to be sexed.

 

[Flick boy]

Hi and welcome only males have spurs on their back legs. Do you have pictures of your enclosure

 

[Evanstouffer1]

Hi and welcome only males have spurs on their back legs. Do you have pictures of your enclosure

This is the current enclosure the chameleon is in until it is outgrown. I posted this about what i should get for it for its future setup when it has become fully grown however if this was mistaken

 

[Flick boy]

I don't know anything about petsmart but those chameleon kits are rubbish and a waste of money as most of it isn't suitable of a chameleon and needs changed

 

[Evanstouffer1]

I don't know anything about petsmart but those chameleon kits are rubbish and a waste of money as most of it isn't suitable of a chameleon and needs changed

Do you have any recommendations on what i should get for a bioactive setup when it is an adult and needs to move out of its current setup

 

[Flick boy]

No not mistaken thanks for asking though imo opinion your cham could go into his/her adult enclosure anytime. Looking at this enclosure you could think about change now there is not enough branches for climbing or live plants to hide so as they feel safe that bamboo imo is too large and slippy for your baby

 

[ebarrychameleon]

Hello everyone, this is my first post ever on this website and I made an account specifically to ask this because everyone on here seems so helpful. I recently purchased a young veiled chameleon and i have a question about future housing for the chameleon. I currently have it in a bioactive terrarium that is 18x18x24 and in the future when it outgrows it i would like to put it in a screen cage or a larger terrarium. I would rather get a large screen cage for it because i know those are better for chameleons with the airflow and overall just better than terrariums. I see kits at petsmart but I figure those are not really the best because i mean its petsmart. I would like to make the cage bioactive as well and have a misting system set up in it like i have in my current bioactive terrarium. Does anyone have any tips or advice on a future setup like this for an adult veiled chameleon? Gender for the chameleon is still currently unknown because I believe it is still to small to be sexed.

What a cutie! People usually recommend a 2x2x4 foot screen enclosure for a male, slightly smaller for a female. Personally I have a female and she still has a 2x2x4 because I figure the more space the better and she's pretty active! I have a zoo med, I would recommend Zoo Med, ExoTerra, or Dragon Strand for enclosures. Pet store sets don't really give you what chameleons actually need, so I would definitely buy the items separately. You could also go secondhand for some of the stuff if you want to but it might be hard to judge quality.

I would definitely check out Neptune the Chameleon on youtube! It's a channel with a ton of videos about how to properly set up and care for your chameleon. Has info on UVB, lighting, humidity, enclosures, food... basically everything you need to know! There are also good care sheets, etc in the "Resources" section on the forums. Welcome to the chameleon parents club

 

[Evanstouffer1]

What a cutie! People usually recommend a 2x2x4 foot screen enclosure for a male, slightly smaller for a female. Personally I have a female and she still has a 2x2x4 because I figure the more space the better and she's pretty active! I have a zoo med, I would recommend Zoo Med, ExoTerra, or Dragon Strand for enclosures. Pet store sets don't really give you what chameleons actually need, so I would definitely buy the items separately. You could also go secondhand for some of the stuff if you want to but it might be hard to judge quality.

I would definitely check out Neptune the Chameleon on youtube! It's a channel with a ton of videos about how to properly set up and care for your chameleon. Has info on UVB, lighting, humidity, enclosures, food... basically everything you need to know! There are also good care sheets, etc in the "Resources" section on the forums. Welcome to the chameleon parents club

Thank you so much, i will definitely check it out !

 

[MissSkittles]

I have all screen enclosures and currently am using root pouches inside of them for bioactive. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Root-Po...th-Handles-Planter-BB900-45H/306677187?NCNI-5 The bags are working just fine so far, but eventually I’m hoping to get some planter boxes made which I can then set the enclosures on top of.

 

[Evanstouffer1]

I have all screen enclosures and currently am using root pouches inside of them for bioactive. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Root-Po...th-Handles-Planter-BB900-45H/306677187?NCNI-5 The bags are working just fine so far, but eventually I’m hoping to get some planter boxes made which I can then set the enclosures on top of.

I believe i read somewhere that those are great if you have a female chameleon allowing them to dig down into the substrate to lay eggs, if you have a female chameleon, do you know if this is accurate?

 

[MissSkittles]

I believe i read somewhere that those are great if you have a female chameleon allowing them to dig down into the substrate to lay eggs, if you have a female chameleon, do you know if this is accurate?

I have 2 females, but neither has laid eggs since being bioactive. It’s been almost a year since either laid and their weights have been increasing. I’m a bit nervous about how laying will happen in the bioactive. With a lay bin, it’s very easy to make sure it’s kept moist enough for their tunnels. With bioactive it’s a larger area, soil is a bit looser than sand and keeping it consistently moist is a challenge. I have bought little cameras so I can better monitor when their times come.

 

[GrayMadder]

I believe i read somewhere that those are great if you have a female chameleon allowing them to dig down into the substrate to lay eggs, if you have a female chameleon, do you know if this is accurate?

I would definitely check this video out for info on egg laying. As some stated above these videos really do help, I watched these so many times before bringing my little guy home and they're awesome.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I currently have it in a bioactive terrarium that is 18x18x24 and in the future when it outgrows it i would like to put it in a screen cage or a larger terrarium.

It's never too soon.

I would rather get a large screen cage for it because i know those are better for chameleons with the airflow and overall just better than terrariums.

The current trend seems to be toward hybrid enclosures—solid (usually PVC) backs & sides with screened front & top. They can still get sufficient ventilation via chimney effect.

Does anyone have any tips or advice on a future setup like this for an adult veiled chameleon? Gender for the chameleon is still currently unknown because I believe it is still to small to be sexed.

Good breeders can sex them at 3 months or before. Many folks here (not me) probably can as well.

Other excellent hybrid enclosures suitable for bioactive are those from Zen Habitats.
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...osures/products/2x2x4-pvc-reptile-enclosure-1
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...losures/products/4x2x4-pvc-reptile-enclosures

 

[Evanstouffer1]

It's never too soon.


The current trend seems to be toward hybrid enclosures—solid (usually PVC) backs & sides with screened front & top. They can still get sufficient ventilation via chimney effect.


Good breeders can sex them at 3 months or before. Many folks here (not me) probably can as well.

Other excellent hybrid enclosures suitable for bioactive are those from Zen Habitats.
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...osures/products/2x2x4-pvc-reptile-enclosure-1
https://www.zenhabitats.com/collect...losures/products/4x2x4-pvc-reptile-enclosures

I was actually thinking about getting that 2x2x4 pvc enclosure when doing some research this morning

 

[ERKleRose]

I was actually thinking about getting that 2x2x4 pvc enclosure when doing some research this morning

Just keep in mind 2’ x 2’ x 4’ tall is the minimum for males and recommended minimum for females. Preferably 4’ x 2’ x 4’ tall or bigger is best! DragonStrand and Zen Habitats are currently the only ones with commercially made available 4’ x 2’ x 4’ tall enclosures. Building your own and fully customizing every option is also a good way to go! I personally love bioactive enclosures, but have never had a female (if you do- could you post pics from the backside and side of the back of her back feet, please? It’ll help us sex her), so it’s up to you. Just make sure the soil part is at least 8” deep if she’s female, otherwise you’ll have to provide a separate lay bin. What do you use for a clean-up crew? Her cage needs reworking, I’ll post helpful links below, along with helpful care images. Veileds need live plants only! No fake plants, fake vines with leaves on them, or fake leaf bunches, etc. I’d also take out the moss vines as well, they aren’t sanitary. Don’t buy Exo Terra fake vines either, they can cause health issues. Make sure all plants are properly cleaned off and prepared before putting them in her enclosure. If you don’t go bioactive, make sure all of the soil in the pots is covered with rocks too big for her to eat. I’d scruff up whatever bamboo you use with some rough sandpaper. And only use the branches, not the thick tubes like you have. Chameleons need branches of multiple diameters, but the majority of the biggest sizes should only be around where she can only fit her paws around halfway. She needs tons more plants (live only), branches of multiple species and diameters, and vines (real and/or fake without leaves). Make sure all plants you use are chameleon-safe, as well. I’d also recommend getting your husbandry reviweed on here to make sure everything else is in tip-top shape! I’ll post the form at the end.

Here’s links (make sure to read through all care modules and listen to as many podcasts as possible on The Chameleon Academy! They have the most up-to-date and accurate info):
https://www.chameleons.info/en/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html (if she’s female)
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/
https://flchams.com/chameleon-safe-plant-list/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/external-resources/
https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
https://chameleonacademy.com/veiled-chameleon-care/
https://chameleonacademy.com/plants/
https://chameleonacademy.com/setting-up-a-chameleon-cage/
http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2012/04/how-to-set-up-proper-chameleon.html

And the form (make sure to include as much detail as possible and post clear pics of her, her full enclosure, and her lights):


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.

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Please Note:

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