Veiled Chameleon confusion

[dodolah]

hey guys!
Call me Dodo
My new baby Veiled is coming tomorrow morning (I am so excited, I can't sleep!).
Anyway, I have all the requirement set up.
I am pretty new to this so please help me out ok..

I got 24"L x 12"W x 24"H screen cage (i know it's a bit small, but i have one taller for him when he reach 4 months old).
I got all the lighting set.

I put 4 plants (two 6" ficus and 2 small pothos.. honestly it's a bit like jungle inside of the cage..)

Is that good for him? I know chameleons like to hide.. so there's plenty leaves there for him to eat and hide.


I also use fake vines in addition of the 4 plants for him to go all over the place.

I think everything is set up perfect..

Another question is on V.Chameleon humidity..
I search and search and search.. many simply does not address it.
but i found 3 VASTLY different opinion.

one site says 30-50% is the best for v.cham
another say 50-60%
and some say 60-70%

WhOAAA that's a difference between desert, moderate, and tropical!
So which one is correct guys?

If it is 30-50% then everything is perfect as my bedroom humidity is 30% during the day and 50% during the night (sometime goes 60% on rare occassion).

but if other sites are correct then I need help ASAP.. as my room is dry.
What should i do? misting only bring the humidity up for about 15 minutes
be4 it goes back to dry again..

thanks a bunch!!!!

 

[bg77]

Well my veiled loves to hide. I have a hard time trying to find him sometimes. Personally I think that the humidity is fine. From what I have been told is that they do not meed as much humidity as other chams because of where they are from, it will only cause problems down the road. You just need to make sure that he is drinking good. If you are getting it from a reputable breeder ask them what they do?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Your live plants will raise the relative humidity in the enclosure considerably.
Additionally, you will be misting the enclosure several times a day (never less than three) and have a drip system, or something similar.
The humidity will be fine...and yes veileds do tolerate extremes better than some other chams, but I believe in giving them the best possible conditions in their captive environment.

-Brad

 

[dodolah]

Your live plants will raise the relative humidity in the enclosure considerably.
Additionally, you will be misting the enclosure several times a day (never less than three) and have a drip system, or something similar.
The humidity will be fine...and yes veileds do tolerate extremes better than some other chams, but I believe in giving them the best possible conditions in their captive environment.

-Brad

so, which is best for him?
the 60%?

 

[PardalisGirl]

Congrats in Advance!

Congrats in advance of getting your new baby. You will be fine with the humidity in the 30% to 50% range as long as you are misting and see him drink. The humidity will exceed the 50% right after misting and gradually go down to 30% right before you mist again. These ranges are guidelines. The potted plants will keep in some humidity and provide surfaces for your baby to drink from. The important thing is to make sure you see him/her drink. And to keep a close eye on how his eyes look until he is well established in your care. Young cham eyes should look full, round, clear and totally open unless sleeping. I would mist by hand at this point so you can observe his drinking response to the misting. Just don't spray him directly. Let us know how your new babe is after you get it settled in!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Agreed.
30 to 60 percent is fine.
You do want the enclosure to dry out completely between mistings.

-Brad

 

[dodolah]

the baby has arrived.. but it kinda worries me..
he walk around and then he just climb the screen cage and cling to the net...


what did i do wrong? should i worry?
the humidity is 60% now..
temp is about 84 degree the hottest.
i'll take a picture for you guys to see.

please advise me if i made a bad choice in setting up his cage.




thanks you thank you thank you

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Awesome looking environment for him!
temps and humidity sound great!
Don't worry....this is normal.
He needs time to adjust and get his bearings....just leave him alone (as much as you possibly can a new cham is hard to ignore) he'll settle down and figure out where all his special spots will be.

-Brad

 

[lonomac]

Yes, mine wouldn't let go of the screen for at least a few days when they first got here. Its how they freak out in thier new enclosure I guess. He will chill out soon Im sure

 

[booshified]

i cant tell from your pics but make sure your cage is up high. my veiled has calmed down considerably since i move her higher.

 

[bg77]

Do you have a digital therm/hum. gauge? If not, I would get one from Lowes. Mine to stayed up top on screen for awhile. He does it from time to time to go under the UVB light. Just make sure he can't get burned by your heat lamp.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

a few things...
It's looking out the window at all the light and open space with lots of
bugs in the bushes and it's instinct is saying... wow... try to find a way over there!

Secondly, The animal is young, I believe, it's instinct is to move and travel from it's
parents home territory where it was clutch laid to green pastures.
Everyone's noticed how the young ones are much more active and run around
where the older subadults and adults are much more "relaxed".

The theory is that the young are moving along to locate and establish a non competitive territory
with it's brothers and sisters or at least "spread out" to minimize
the competition for feed insects and perhaps later inbreeding.

Don't worry, everything is alright.

now, I know that some aren't going to agree with the following.
I've found that taking a "stir crazy" cham outside to have a look around
and bask in the sunlight while being held
can calms them down when placed back into their cage.
(at least for awhile) YMMV
I honestly don't think that my handling stresses them any more
than their escape attempts and frustration inside the cage.
but then again, that depends on you and your animal.

it also helps to move slowly and take care not to disrupt them too much when handling new and young chams..

 

[dodolah]

yeah.. i think he's afraid of me
i left my bedroom and come back a while to see him prancing around the cage.
when he saw me he immediately run to the cage again..

anyway to ease his stress of me?

 

[bg77]

Just move slowly, and hopefully he will get use to ya someday soon.

 

[dodolah]

yeah.. hopefully soon.. especially since my visit = cricket.

umm.. i'll tell you guys any new behavior..
he's way up to the top of the cage now..
sighhh.. my columbus is too shy..

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I will second the suggestion to position the enclosure as high up as possible.
Altitude = Security/Safety for these creatures.

-Brad

 

[royden]

my baby veiled took about three weeks before I could walk into the room without him running for cover.

Even now, every day is kind of a new day with a new brain, my cham is always afraid of me in the mornings, and ok with me in the evenings.

 

[PardalisGirl]

New Arrival

How exciting for you It is normal for younger chams to cruise around on the screen sides and even upside down on the top screen. It's good exercise for them and helps them develop strong limbs as they grow. Older and heavier chams (males in particular) don't do it as much because they have a lot more weight to support. They usually prefer to sit on something. Just be patient and let him acclimate for a few days. He has to figure out his new surrounding and the new routine. He was used to another environment before. Chams get used to particular routines in a short period of time. He will soon figure out the food and misting routine. Don't stress too much and don't just sit and stare at him too long. It's hard to do but you need to let him chill for a few days

 

[dodolah]

I will second the suggestion to position the enclosure as high up as possible.
Altitude = Security/Safety for these creatures.

-Brad

yes.. i will do that.. but the highest point around my bedroom will be about 2 inches higher.. and directly on top my bed's head

but at least i figure it's me he's afraid of. he was happy walking around branches when i am outside peeking. by the time i get in, he's back to the top of the screen.

WoWWW!! thank so much guys! i love all the info you guys gave! this is awesome!

 

[dodolah]

hey guys! it's me again..
thanks sooo much for all the advise..
my baby chameleon (i named him Columbus) has been incredibly mellow out
now.. he starts crawling all over the place and the sight of me entering my room has not terrified him anymore.

He still often goes to the screen cage when i am very close at his enclosure (feeding and misting time).
but, overall, he's been drinking the water and i am about to feed him soon.

PS: one more question..
Is there any "green" insects that i can feed him that does not include:
catching it in the wilds (i am afraid of the pesticides content)
and NO ROACHES! (i am absolutely positively traumatic over that particular
insects.. <shudder>)
I can be brave toward any kind of nasty insects and wild animals but the sight of roaches makes me flee 3 blocks away.. ughhh

Thank you