Winslow

[Sundragon]

Hi this is Winslow a baby Veiled chameleon. Thanks to Mike Fisher, JannB, LPSouth, and others on this forum along with the care sheets he is loving his new home.

Screen enclosure reptisun 5.0 light tube, 75w basking bulb, little dripper, bougainvilleas, fern, baby palm, peace Lilly live plants and some sticks and fake vines.

He's eating 6 crickets per day and drinking each morning. He has a morning routine that I find quite comical!

He checks out the cricket bowl, eats a few, then goes to the bottom of the cage and poops (almost in the same spot as if he's trained). Then climbs up to the dripper and takes a couple swigs. Then he goes up to his basking spot (85 degrees f) and hangs out the rest of the morning. I'll put three more crickets in at about 12 pm making sure he eats them all.

He slept much better last night because I took the advice of those named above and turned off the heat light. I replaced the ceramic with a regular light and this morning when it came on, he went near the perch under it to warm up before going down to nab some cricks.

Thanks again for all of your help, this forum saved Winslow's life!

 

[Sundragon]

A picture of his enclosure. Any suggestions are welcome.

Hanging out.

 

[Brad]

Hello Winslow

It sounds like he is off to a good start. Are you gutloading your feeders and using supplements? In case you have not already you can find some basic info here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/

 

[SycoSquirl]

i would say add some foliage to the top of the cage, its pretty bare up there.
You could use strong fishing line to tie a pathos to a corner or 2 of the cage which would provide some good coverage and good use when it comes to climbing. With all live plants make sure to put some rocks over the substrate to keep your chameleon from accidentally ingesting some. Your guy looks so cute and is on his way to become a big boy =)

 

[Rodcham]

I think Winslow is lucky to have found a parent that cares for him so much! He looks fantastic. Keep us all updated please.

 

[Sundragon]

i would say add some foliage to the top of the cage, its pretty bare up there.
You could use strong fishing line to tie a pathos to a corner or 2 of the cage which would provide some good coverage and good use when it comes to climbing. With all live plants make sure to put some rocks over the substrate to keep your chameleon from accidentally ingesting some. Your guy looks so cute and is on his way to become a big boy =)

Great idea. I have a small pothos I can use for that. Thanks!

 

[Sundragon]

I think Winslow is lucky to have found a parent that cares for him so much! He looks fantastic. Keep us all updated please.

Will do! Thank you.

 

[BrucenBruce]

_THE_ Winslow?!

Little fellow looks terrific, and set for a long happy life!

~Bruce, loving the name, lol . . .

 

[Psychobunny]

Cute, is this one of Jann's babies?

I would add some branches, going horizontal, about 10'' below the lamp. Take some temp readings with a digital thermometer with a probe, and monitor the temp at the basking spot for a few hours.
Temps can fluctuate, and you don't want him to be able to get to close to the hot lamp.

Little ones like to climb around upside down on the top, so keep an eye on him so he dosent get directly under the lamp and cause a burn.

I use branches from a back yard tree, cut to size, and stuck up with push pins.

Do you have a Solarmeter?

Those types of UVB bulbs provide very little %UVB at any distance above 4 inches. Unless it's a high out bulb (highly recommended) the screen filters out a good bit of the UVB.

A good investment would be a high output 6% T5 Arcadia tube bulb and fixture.
They are MUCH brighter then any standard t8, and this gives you much better coverage and depth.

I use my Solarmeter to measure the distance I need to put my UVB basking branch.
I switched from the 6% to the 12% because I was getting low % UVB reading using the 6% tubes.

So I am using 12% HO and a distance of 12'' and get readings of 5 and 6%.

If possible, try to get yourself a Solarmeter, it really takes the 'guess work' out of proper set up

 

[Sundragon]

Awesome, Psycho! Thanks for the tips. I'm going to search for a solarmeter now. I do have two zoomed digital thermometers. One on his basking branch 87-90 degrees F usually. Then one toward the bottom where it remains about 75 degrees F. He usually hangs in the basking branch, or just below.

I've added some more branches and a Pothos in a magnetic pot holder deal I bought at the reptile store. I threw in some vines too (exotera and national geographic brands).

I'll take a pic in the morning, now lights are off and I don't want to disturb Winslow's sleep.

 

[Sundragon]

Cute, is this one of Jann's babies?

No, I "rescued" him from a Petsmart by accident. I posted a response to the petsmart caresheet thread if you care to hear the story.

Long story short, I took my 5 year old daughter in to get a better enclosure for her tree frogs she loves to catch in our backyard and an employee holding baby Winslow said he would do great in the enclosure we had picked out...

My family and I are having much more enjoyment keeping Winslow than the frogs, we actually let them go tonight. Now we're focusing our attention on Winslow. He's so cute. Eating mini dubias and crickets and greens.

 

[Sundragon]

Little ones like to climb around upside down on the top, so keep an eye on him so he dosent get directly under the lamp and cause a burn.

I noticed him doing that on the screen directly under the heat lamp. He quickly turned back around and got away from it. I'm worried about him doing that when I'm gone, though...

Do you think I should do something to prevent that?

 

[jannb]

Winslow is adorable! I'm glad that he found a good home with you!

I noticed him doing that on the screen directly under the heat lamp. He quickly turned back around and got away from it. I'm worried about him doing that when I'm gone, though...

Do you think I should do something to prevent that?

Having allot of plants, vines and branches in his enclosure can help with that. If he continues to climb near the lights I would raise the basking light up off the top of the cage for fear of a burn.

 

[Sundragon]

Winslow's Upgrades

Hi Jann, PsycoBunny, and all others who have helped me greatly on this forum. I've taken your advice and have been working on Winslow's home. Here are some updated pics.

I replaced the uvb with a 10.0 UVB Reptisun, (can't afford the Arcadias right now) and added a 6500k full spectrum tube also.

I put a Pothos in a hanging magnetic pot on the top back section (he loves hanging out on those leaves!) That was a great idea from Jann or PsycoBunny.

I added some fake vines and foliage at the top as suggested by several members, Thanks!!

My wife decorated his feeding cup with some fake leaves. I added a mister.

I also placed polished river rock on top of all the soil in the live plants so he can't get the substrate stuck to his tongue.

The highest temp in his basking spot is 88 degrees F and the bottom of the enclosure remains 74-75 degrees f. When the mister goes off the basking area cools down to about 81 for 10 minutes but the lower section actually remains the same or even goes up a degree or two. Humidity goes from 40 to 80%

 

[Sundragon]

Winslow's Basking Spot.

This spot is usually about 81 degrees. There is a vine that goes about 6 " from the top of the enclosure and it remains about 88 degrees. He only usually stays on that one for about 20 minutes after eating in the mornings. Then he moves to this area.

I still get a kick out of him going to the bottom of the cage in the mornings and pooping. Its hilarious, almost as if he was potty trained. Makes it easy to clean up!

 

[SycoSquirl]

this looks really good now <3 how is the little guy doing in it? Enjoying it I bet lol

 

[Psychobunny]

I noticed him doing that on the screen directly under the heat lamp. He quickly turned back around and got away from it. I'm worried about him doing that when I'm gone, though...

Do you think I should do something to prevent that?

Yes, you can find something to raise the lamp up from the screen.
I use those large paper clamps.
If you can raise it an inch, that should be enough.

 

[Jamire]

Sounds like your on your way to providing for your chameleon greatly, just give them time

Winslow? As in from "Phantom of the Paradise"? Great Movie!

 

[Sundragon]

Sounds like your on your way to providing for your chameleon greatly, just give them time

Winslow? As in from "Phantom of the Paradise"? Great Movie!

Actually after the painter Winslow Homer.

 

[zsazsa85]

He is very cute and his enclosure looks great!
I'm glad he found such a good home!!!