Two Chameleons, One Cage?

[voemas]

First things first, I know that two chameleons are NOT supposed to be sharing a cage in adulthood, however, I'm not sure if this changes the situation or if I just made a really big mistake and wasted my time.

I have two Veiled Chameleons:

1. Laura, a little over three months old. I have owned her and have personally had her in my possession for 50 days (roughly, two months). She is very friendly and has rarely ever shown signs of aggression. She has shed once since I've gotten her. She eats roughly 8-10 crickets daily. The crickets are gutloaded. I have a separate cage (basically a bucket with a lid and ventilation area) for the crickets with food and jellied water for them. She goes outside of her cage roughly every other day. She has not shown signs of stress (swaying, trying to crawl out, abnormal discoloration, and aggression). I mist her hourly or every two hours. The temperature is general around 85 - 90 in the central area, in basking (if I had to guess) around 90-95. I dust all of her food with calcium dust. She enjoys crawling on me, and around my house. She really likes to crawl up to my neck and stay there.
2. Lyle, is around 5 or 6 weeks old. I got him today (June 25th). The pet store said that he is not the most sociable, however, when I took him home he was very friendly, he crawled all over me. I have not had him long enough to get more information on him.

(All photos taken with Canon EOS 60D, click on them for bigger viewing)

This is Laura:
She's roughly 4" or 5" excluding tail length.


This is Lyle:
He is about 2.5" excluding tail length.


Their cage is 24" x 18" x 18" a decent size for two smaller chameleons.
I split the cage in half with wire and made a barrier from an old t shirt that is brown (to vaguely have a natural color for them). Then I separated their branching and allowed them both to have lighting, both heat and UVA.

Please tell me, will my chameleons become stressed or be uncomfortable with a set up like this. I am okay with taking back Lyle to the pet store. It was an unplanned purchase (kind of the issue here) and I just want the best for Laura. Lyle is on the right, Laura is on the left.

Here is the set up:
Frontal View:

Left Side:

Right Side:


Please help me.

 

[Carlton]

First things first, I know that two chameleons are NOT supposed to be sharing a cage in adulthood, however, I'm not sure if this changes the situation or if I just made a really big mistake and wasted my time.

I have two Veiled Chameleons:

1. Laura, a little over three months old. I have owned her and have personally had her in my possession for 50 days (roughly, two months). She is very friendly and has rarely ever shown signs of aggression. She has shed once since I've gotten her. She eats roughly 8-10 crickets daily. The crickets are gutloaded. I have a separate cage (basically a bucket with a lid and ventilation area) for the crickets with food and jellied water for them. She goes outside of her cage roughly every other day. She has not shown signs of stress (swaying, trying to crawl out, abnormal discoloration, and aggression). I mist her hourly or every two hours. The temperature is general around 85 - 90 in the central area, in basking (if I had to guess) around 90-95. I dust all of her food with calcium dust. She enjoys crawling on me, and around my house. She really likes to crawl up to my neck and stay there.
2. Lyle, is around 5 or 6 weeks old. I got him today (June 25th). The pet store said that he is not the most sociable, however, when I took him home he was very friendly, he crawled all over me. I have not had him long enough to get more information on him.

(All photos taken with Canon EOS 60D, click on them for bigger viewing)

This is Laura:
She's roughly 4" or 5" excluding tail length.
View attachment 109432

This is Lyle:
He is about 2.5" excluding tail length.
View attachment 109433

Their cage is 24" x 18" x 18" a decent size for two smaller chameleons.
I split the cage in half with wire and made a barrier from an old t shirt that is brown (to vaguely have a natural color for them). Then I separated their branching and allowed them both to have lighting, both heat and UVA.

Please tell me, will my chameleons become stressed or be uncomfortable with a set up like this. I am okay with taking back Lyle to the pet store. It was an unplanned purchase (kind of the issue here) and I just want the best for Laura. Lyle is on the right, Laura is on the left.

Here is the set up:
Frontal View:
View attachment 109434
Left Side:
View attachment 109435
Right Side:
View attachment 109436

Please help me.

The size cage you have would be marginal for ONE adult veiled cham, not 2. You will either need to take one back or build another cage for it, preferably a bit larger. And, you'll still need to block their view of each other.

 

[MsCham]

^ You've already got the solid answer you'll get from any of us. That is the size of my enclosure that I have for one. They need space to regulate as well, so not only is it the problem of them being together, but its a problem of each individual not having enough space without being forced to the bottom of the cage. They won't get enough exercise, won't have enough variation, crickets could favor one side of the cage, thus letting the other one starve (or if you find crickets not being eaten, how do you know which one to be concerned about?) Its just not a situation I would get into.

 

[Devokid]

I agree, your cage is too small for 1 adult male veiled. I would also urge you to not use a glass cage with a veiled and to get rid of that substrate. Both can lead to health issues.

 

[voemas]

First things first, I know that two chameleons are NOT supposed to be sharing a cage in adulthood, however, I'm not sure if this changes the situation or if I just made a really big mistake and wasted my time.

I have two Veiled Chameleons:

1. Laura, a little over three months old. I have owned her and have personally had her in my possession for 50 days (roughly, two months). She is very friendly and has rarely ever shown signs of aggression. She has shed once since I've gotten her. She eats roughly 8-10 crickets daily. The crickets are gutloaded. I have a separate cage (basically a bucket with a lid and ventilation area) for the crickets with food and jellied water for them. She goes outside of her cage roughly every other day. She has not shown signs of stress (swaying, trying to crawl out, abnormal discoloration, and aggression). I mist her hourly or every two hours. The temperature is general around 85 - 90 in the central area, in basking (if I had to guess) around 90-95. I dust all of her food with calcium dust. She enjoys crawling on me, and around my house. She really likes to crawl up to my neck and stay there.
2. Lyle, is around 5 or 6 weeks old. I got him today (June 25th). The pet store said that he is not the most sociable, however, when I took him home he was very friendly, he crawled all over me. I have not had him long enough to get more information on him.

(All photos taken with Canon EOS 60D, click on them for bigger viewing)

This is Laura:
She's roughly 4" or 5" excluding tail length.
View attachment 109432

This is Lyle:
He is about 2.5" excluding tail length.
View attachment 109433

Their cage is 24" x 18" x 18" a decent size for two smaller chameleons.
I split the cage in half with wire and made a barrier from an old t shirt that is brown (to vaguely have a natural color for them). Then I separated their branching and allowed them both to have lighting, both heat and UVA.

Please tell me, will my chameleons become stressed or be uncomfortable with a set up like this. I am okay with taking back Lyle to the pet store. It was an unplanned purchase (kind of the issue here) and I just want the best for Laura. Lyle is on the right, Laura is on the left.

Here is the set up:
Frontal View:
View attachment 109434
Left Side:
View attachment 109435
Right Side:
View attachment 109436

Please help me.

I just wanted to update everyone. After this post was made, I went out, got some Plexiglas, and covered it with this window mirror film and placed it in the middle rather than that substrate. Then, the same day I ordered a whole new terrarium for the baby. He now has his own cage. They are not in contact with each other. He has friendly, not a big crawler, but will still climb a little bit, and he eats his crickets by hunting them rather than having them given to him in a cup. All is well and each have their own cage.

 

[Carlton]

I just wanted to update everyone. After this post was made, I went out, got some Plexiglas, and covered it with this window mirror film and placed it in the middle rather than that substrate. Then, the same day I ordered a whole new terrarium for the baby. He now has his own cage. They are not in contact with each other. He has friendly, not a big crawler, but will still climb a little bit, and he eats his crickets by hunting them rather than having them given to him in a cup. All is well and each have their own cage.

A question about the "mirror film" you are using on the barrier. Does it create a reflection? It might cause some stress for the chams if they can see their reflection. They could end up seeing a "rival" that never goes away and starts displaying just like they do. You could always paint the plexiglas or put some opaque waterproof shelf liner on it. There are lots of options to block their views.

 

[mvad]

I'm not at all trying to be rude but why did you buy another one if you knew two chams can't be kept in the same cage? This forum is a great wealth of knowledge. In order to be a successful chameleon keeper and provide the best husbandry you can, you should do extensive research and educate yourself. I learn something new almost every time I visit this forum.