Hi everyone! I’m planning on getting a male baby veiled and had a few questions on supplementation. I would like to keep him outside because I know that’s what’s best for them. I plan on keeping him on my patio which gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight (I live in central Florida). If the 4 hours of direct sunlight isn’t enough then I can also house him inside with a reptisun tube light and a heat lamp that I have. First question: is 4 hours of natural sunlight enough? Second question: given that he will have that amount of sunlight, what exactly, how frequent and how much calcium and vitamins should I be giving? I have calcium with d3, calcium without d3 and herptivite multivitamin (I also have tortoises and cresties). I dust my crested geckos’ crickets every time since the crickets are higher in phosphorus and I don’t worry too much about my torts’ supplementation because most of what I give them isn’t high in phosphorus plus they don’t eat insects. But given the circumstance of the Cham living outside I just want to make sure I’m giving the right amount of supplements. Thank you!
Supplementation
- Thread starter Jedig
- Start date
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Is your patio screened? Will your chameleon be in a screen enclosure? Normally when they go outside allot they do not need any supplements at all. They do not need direct sun because they can over heat and die especially babies. They get allot of UVB outside in the shade but screen blocks some of the sun. I use plastic coated wire cages. I also live in FL. There’s allot of wildlife in FL too that can tear right through screen. I don’t recommend screen as an outside cage. You can see my outside cages here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...ng-new-outside-sun-cages.150826/#post-1276712
My patio is not screened and I live on the 2nd floor so I’m not too worried about predators. Only animals I ever see roaming around are squirrels. The area where he will be is partly covered by a large oak tree so it will also be shaded with some parts of direct sunlight. Once the sun has passed around 1 o clock there is no more direct sunlight. I had planned on keeping him in a screen enclosure.
Also those cages look great! I’m not much of a builder but I know someone who might be able to haha I only saw the pics with the wood frames. Do you use chicken wire?
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Thank you! My husband is the builder.
No, not chicken wire it can damage their feet. if you look through the entire post there’s progress photos as the build goes along and you can see the roll of the plastic coated wire fencing and the finished products.
Oops sorry I just read the part where you had already told me it was plastic coated
anyway you said they don’t need much supplementation when they’re outside. Does that mean calcium and vitamins maybe twice a month? Since you keeps yours outside what’s your regimen?
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Oops sorry I just read the part where you had already told me it was plastic coated
I haven’t used any supplements in years per my vets orders but mine go outside about 350 days a years for 3 to five hours. I’m in the Keys and it’s pretty much warm here year round.
Wow thats amazing. I’ve heard if you over do it, it can be a really bad thing which is why I was worried about supplements. The only time I would ever plan on keeping him inside is if it ever gets too cold which is on and off for a few months here in Orlando.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Buy some calcium without D3, and some Reptivite with D3 and when you have a cold spell give him calcium without d3 and if it’s cold longer than 2 weeks dust once wit( the Reptivite with d3.
