Buying Baby Veiled Chameleon...need advice

Hello there this is my first thread here

My bf bought a senegal cham about 2-4 months ago and it is the cutest thing...i have a job now and i want to get one for myself


I just wanted to ask for some tips and help on raising a baby chameleon...I was going to get a 10 gallon for the baby until he is 4 months and move him into the 2x2x4' cages...is that ok?

what should the setup of the 10 gal be?
should he be handled?

im trying to find CHEAP fake plants but idk where...either online or in stores

I live in miami, FL (in the kendall area)

just give me info on how you raised your baby cham

thanks again and this forum has helped me alot


*I was planning on buying a cham here http://www.theveiledchameleon.com/?ffdf3d20
which of the first three (sunburst, high orange, turqoise) would you get?

Here's a few good links. Welcome to the forums.


http://raisingkittytheveiledchamele...-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=11


http://www.julirschameleons.com/chameleonshoppinglist.htm


https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html

jannb said:

Here's a few good links. Welcome to the forums.


http://raisingkittytheveiledchamele...-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=11


http://www.julirschameleons.com/chameleonshoppinglist.htm


https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html

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thank you very much

i saw in a petsmart that they keep a veiled (2 months at most) in a 10 gallon glass with screen cover...
I was going to do this...but is it dangerous?


I wanted to buy the screen cage later

I would not even start out with a Senegal. If you have never owned a chameleon go with a captive bred MALE Veiled-Senegals are almost always WC, and tricky to acclimate. I would get one that is 3-4 months old, and forget the 10 gallon aqaurium. Go with a screen cage from the start here in FL. Live plants are better and cheaper.

I have also sent you a private message-please read.

im not getting a senegal...i saw the veiled and fell in love with it

thing is im buying the screened cage later...the 10 gal is for the baby veiled for now...its going to cost me more buying each cage size


im wondering if anyone did this with their baby cham...

oh and i know LLL is having a sale...should i take up on this or are there cheaper cages out there?

LLL and DIY cages are both the cheapest I can find. Both cages have their strong points. Do a search in the equipment and supplies forum and you find all kinds of good reading.

No, do not start out with a 10 gal. Doing so is almost a guarantee for Upper Respiratory Infections/URI. It's a hit doing the 2 cage thing, but necessary. There are only a handful of species that are appropriate for aquarium life and veileds are not one of them. Aquariums simply do not have enough ventilation.

Size is also a factor. A 10 gal will only be large enough until the veiled is about 4-5 months old. Yet he will still be a little too small for a big boy cage measuring 24/24/48 inches. Where a cage measuring 18/18/24 will last until he is big enough to move to the adult cage.

Danicuteeyes said:

im not getting a senegal...i saw the veiled and fell in love with it

thing is im buying the screened cage later...the 10 gal is for the baby veiled for now...its going to cost me more buying each cage size


im wondering if anyone did this with their baby cham...

Click to expand...

I raise baby veileds and keep them in 10 gals until 6 weeks old. Then they are off to small screen cages. The idea of a 4 month old veiled in a ten gal is really, really bad. At 4 months old a veiled needs a lot more room than a 10 gal. They need air, humidity, temperature gradient, climbing space, hunting space and UVB light there is no way to provide all that in a 10 gal. If you can't afford the screened cages right now save up until you raise baby veiled, I keep my babies in a ten gallon ONLY until they are about u can that way you will not need to buy the 10 gal. Also if you purchase a cham off this forum you can start with a healthy chameleon, something VERY few pet stores provide. Read the links provided to you and give a little more thought to the purchase before you buy. Not meaning to sound mean but I would hate to see you on here in a couple of weeks with a sick chameleon.

Also if the cage cost is the issue consider a small mesh cage from LLL Reptile, one of our sponsors, they are cheaper and would work until you move up to an adult screen cage. Just a thought.

A good place to look for smaller cages is on sites like Craigslist or Kijiji.

90% of the time you'll find people wanting more then their cage is worth, but 10% of the time you can find good bargains (I got a 28x16x30 cage for 25$, but also had someone want 150 for a 28x24x30 cage, so gotta just keep looking)

Pure said:

LLL and DIY cages are both the cheapest I can find. Both cages have their strong points. Do a search in the equipment and supplies forum and you find all kinds of good reading.

No, do not start out with a 10 gal. Doing so is almost a guarantee for Upper Respiratory Infections/URI. It's a hit doing the 2 cage thing, but necessary. There are only a handful of species that are appropriate for aquarium life and veileds are not one of them. Aquariums simply do not have enough ventilation.

Size is also a factor. A 10 gal will only be large enough until the veiled is about 4-5 months old. Yet he will still be a little too small for a big boy cage measuring 24/24/48 inches. Where a cage measuring 18/18/24 will last until he is big enough to move to the adult cage.

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ok so getting a juvenile *(4-5) months and the 18/18/36 cage is good for now right?? at what age do they become an adult?

Yes, if you buy an 18x18x30 reptarium your chameleon should be good until he's big enough to move into a 2x2x4. The links that were given to you are very good sites to learn from. The age thing really depends on the chameleon, as they grow at different rates, but your chameleon should probably be a fair size and about 9-10 months old, wait even longer if he's a slow grower.

Try to only handle him when you need to. They really dont like to be handled and they will definately show you their dislike of it through hissing and gaping. Live pants are best and pretty cheap. And always remember to keep the basking spot in the mid 80's until he's old enough for his big boy cage.

Personally, I prefer the almost neon turquoise ones.

18X18X36 will last you almost a year-and by then you will want another chameleon anyways-so you just buy the 24X24X48!

ok thanks to all who posted and gave me links and advices...
i think ill get the juvenille cham and wait until its an adult to switch the cages...i think the baby would be a hassle...especially for a first time reptile owner...

i just placed an order for a 18x18x36 aluminum cage for $64 INCLUDING SHIPPING and the $3 off from LLLcages.
ill slowly build the cage and lining it with fake leafs and a ficus or another plant and branches...I can't wait!

Although my experience with veileds is very limited, I would suggest just buying a bigger cage (2x2x4) even if you get a young cham. The size of their environment in the wild doesn't get bigger as they get older. The only issue would be finding food, but a feeder cup would solve that.

Danicuteeyes said:

ok thanks to all who posted and gave me links and advices...
i think ill get the juvenille cham and wait until its an adult to switch the cages...i think the baby would be a hassle...especially for a first time reptile owner...

i just placed an order for a 18x18x36 aluminum cage for $64 INCLUDING SHIPPING and the $3 off from LLLcages.
ill slowly build the cage and lining it with fake leafs and a ficus or another plant and branches...I can't wait!

Click to expand...

Wow-that is a great deal!

oh man anyone know where to get low priced accessories?
60 Watt Heat Bulb
5 1/2" Clamp Lamp
20" Fluorescent Fixture
Reptisun 5.0 18' Fluorescent Bulb

or any vines?

i feel petsmart is overpriced...

Danicuteeyes said:

oh man anyone know where to get low priced accessories?
60 Watt Heat Bulb
5 1/2" Clamp Lamp
20" Fluorescent Fixture
Reptisun 5.0 18' Fluorescent Bulb

or any vines?

i feel petsmart is overpriced...

Click to expand...

Wal Mart for clamp light and UVB fixture

For a baby you will not need a basking light at first. When he's older you can just use a house light bulb

lll.reptile.com for UVB bulb and dusting suplements

jannb said:

Wal Mart for clamp light and UVB fixture

For a baby you will not need a basking light at first. When he's older you can just use a house light bulb

lll.reptile.com for UVB bulb and dusting suplements

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wont i need it for the 4 month veiled?

Yes you will need a basking light for a 4 month old, unless your home's ambient temperature is in the high 80s.

SteveKC said:

Although my experience with veileds is very limited, I would suggest just buying a bigger cage (2x2x4) even if you get a young cham. The size of their environment in the wild doesn't get bigger as they get older. The only issue would be finding food, but a feeder cup would solve that.

Click to expand...

In the wild babies usually stay low to the ground in thick patches of grasses and other thick low level vegetation. Gradually going to larger and taller plant life as they mature. Wile these low level habitats are in a BIG environment they create a micro environment, think of it as a small cage on the ground. Also these low level environments usually have a much larger insect population then what's found in higher locations. Meaning the babies don't have to move much to sustain themselves.

So in our homes we need to strive to recreate this. And that means providing a smaller cage when young and going larger as the animal gets bigger. One way to save money is to buy the big cage and install some sort of barrier to close off a portion of the cage, effectively making the living space smaller.