A plethora of questions

hi I'm new
So I've been doing a lot of research... online, in books, on this website... about chameleons. I'm considering possibly getting one someday and I still have a lot of questions.
Here is my plethora of questions... (I really wanted to use the word plethora in a sentence today)

How often do I dust insects with calcium, multivitamins, etc?

Do I dust each insect the same? For example, do I need to put calcium supplement on insects that have a high calcium content?

I really can't stand crickets. Are grasshoppers or reptiworms (phoenix worms, calciworms, etc.) ok instead of a main diet of crickets?

How do you keep an all-screen cage at a high humidity without making the rest of your house like that?

Is it ok to take a chameleon outside for a little while for some fresh air if the humidity is low?

If you have real plants in the chameleon's enclosure, what is the best way to clean them without hurting the plant? Would one of those UV light bacteria killing things work, or would it kill the plant? (obviously not while the chameleon is still in the enclosure)

What is the best brand of basking bulb for a Veiled Chameleon that will work for a 5ft tall enclosure in a house that is 65-83 degrees fahrenheit (65-70 in winter, 75-83 in summer)? Are there any basking bulbs that won't explode if I accidentally splash a little water?

What is the best UVB/UVA light for chameleons? Also, is it enough for a plant in the enclosure to survive off of?

Would weeping willow or small oak tree branches work well in an enclosure, or would they mold or rot easily?

If you keep the chameleon's cage in your room, can you get salmonella? Or is it fine as long as you wash your hands and clean the enclosure often? Do all chameleons carry salmonella?

Lastly, what store is my best chance for buying a healthy juvenile Veiled Chameleon: The Serpentarium, PetCo, or Petsmart?

Thanks in advance if you can answer any of these questions. I know I asked a lot, I just want to make sure if I do get a chameleon that I can take good care of it.

this is my first post and I hope I'm posting it right because if not I just wasted a half hour of thinking and typing!

Also, if you have questions post them here because there must be at least one other person wondering the same thing (that person is probably me) ... and hopefully someone (probably not me) who can answer the questions

oh one more thing...
What (in your opinion) is the best place to buy feeder insects based on:
- quality (pesticide-free, won't get your chameleon sick)
- price (it shouldn't cost more to feed a chameleon than it does to feed my 150lb Great Dane)
- any other good reasons you have

willow branches/bark contain a natural "advil" within them so I don't think they are cham safe

You can keep some of the moisture inside of the enclosure by attaching fake/real plants and vines to the sides of the cage using zip-ties.

I'll answer your store question: don't buy from mass chain stores! They most of the time don't know what they are doing so look around and find a local breeder or check the site sponsors. Welcome to the forums though you'll find that is a great community and great resource for Cham info of all kinds as many experts or on here, have fun!

Well you have come to the right place for a plethora of answers! If you look on the left side of the web page you will see care resources that will give you a lot of good information. The supplement question is addressed there. Many of the feeders like phoenix, butter, silk and hornworms have a naturally high calcium content so do not need dusted. Crickets do and so do other hard bodied feeders like roaches, grasshoppers, mantids and the like. Crickets are the typical recommendation for the main portion of the diet but you can use other bugs like roaches. Dubias are the most common, they are easy to keep/breed, they don't stink, they do not jump, fly, or crawl up the sides of the plastic tubs. There are other roaches, Turkistan, lobster, and bananas. Some of these can climb the containers though so do your research before you buy them. The other good thing about Dubias (and I think Turkistans) is they are tropical species so unless you live somewhere warm they can't live outside of their containers. They need heat (around 90F) to thrive and breed. Regardless of feeder they must be gutloaded to provide the best nutrition for your cham. Sandrachameleon has some great blogs about gutloading and keeping bugs. Pigglett79 also has good info on her blogs about hornworms and silkworm keeping and breeding. I have colonies of dubias, turkistans, silkworms and some hornworm pupae along with crickets. The good thing about crickets is they are cheap and easy to keep while the other colonies become established. If you want to offer a large variety of feeders I think it is the way to go as shipping is expensive because these are live animals. However in the long run getting bugs shipped kind of works out in the long run as there is less die off. I had a really hard time with cricket dieoff from a local store so I get them from Ghann's cricket farm. As far as the other bugs I use our sponsors for silks, horns and butter worms. Rainbowmealworms on ebay has the best price for phoenix worms with nice sized healthy worms. Using worms exclusively is not ideal as the cham needs the "roughage" from crickets or roaches, just like we need roughage in our diets.
As far as humidity many people hand clear shower curtains around three sides of their enclosures to maintain the needed humidity. I have that shrinkwrap window film insulation on my cages. Also having an automated misting system is very helpful in keeping the humidity up. Usually misting is done several times a day for several minutes at a time. There is also the shower method. Live plants also help. I don't clean the plants so there is no danger of exposing my cham to chemicals. My enclosure is planted heavily directly in the cage. Many just keep the plants in individual pots so they can come out to clean. There is a database here and if you google chameleon safe plants there are a couple of websites that list safe plants.
Lighting has a couple trends, most people use linear bulbs and lightyourreptiles.com is a good resource for buying the lights. Todd is very helpful and will talk to you about the lights to get if you contact him through the website. I currently use dome lights with CFL bulbs for UVB and full spectrum lights. At one time the CFLs were associated with eye damage but that is no longer the case. Reptisun is the brand of UVB light recommended to me. Just a regular incandescent or halogen light can be used for basking, don't waste your money on the infrared bulbs, they don't need them.
MOST IMPORTANTLY do not buy from a petstore, when you think of animals in a pet store think puppy mill mentality (except maybe tarantulas). Most of the animals are not kept properly and may not be healthy. Look in the classifieds here or contact a sponsor. And don't follow the advice of petstore employees. Most of the time it is wrong.
Also search the forums be active, ask questions, read posts even if they do not pertain to your situation or your lizard, there is always great information within these threads.
Good luck!

I've always wondered...is it pleth ora or ple thora? I have heard it pronounced both ways! lol

carol5208 said:

I've always wondered...is it pleth ora or ple thora? I have heard it pronounced both ways! lol

Click to expand...

pleth·o·ra (plthr-)
n.
1. A superabundance; an excess.
2. An excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area.

The emphasis is on the first syllable. PLE-tho-ra.
(Source: thefreedictionary.com/plethora)

chameeeleon said:

hi I'm new
So I've been doing a lot of research... online, in books, on this website... about chameleons. I'm considering possibly getting one someday and I still have a lot of questions.
Here is my plethora of questions... (I really wanted to use the word plethora in a sentence today)
the following answers are if you purchase a veiled or a panther. any other species are different requirements.
How often do I dust insects with calcium, multivitamins, etc?
Calcium no d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month, multivitamin twice a month.

Do I dust each insect the same? For example, do I need to put calcium supplement on insects that have a high calcium content?
depends on the bug. calci worms don't have to be dusted, but crickets, roaches, and most worms do.
I really can't stand crickets. Are grasshoppers or reptiworms (phoenix worms, calciworms, etc.) ok instead of a main diet of crickets?
good luck finding enough grasshoppers. Unless youre in the UK and mean locusts. I hate crickets because of smell and sounds. I use roaches for my guys, much easier to breed, not much smell, and no noise.
How do you keep an all-screen cage at a high humidity without making the rest of your house like that?
veileds and panthers don't need high humidity. a screen cage is just fine unless you live somewehere super dry. mistings tend to keep humidity right
Is it ok to take a chameleon outside for a little while for some fresh air if the humidity is low?
Outside time is wonderful for natural sun, as long as temps are good, and you watch them to ensure they don't run away and don't get eaten.
If you have real plants in the chameleon's enclosure, what is the best way to clean them without hurting the plant? Would one of those UV light bacteria killing things work, or would it kill the plant? (obviously not while the chameleon is still in the enclosure)
you want to cover all soil with large rocks they cant fit in their mouths. to clean the plant, hose it down or wipe it down with a dish soap mixed with water, then rinse off and let dry.
What is the best brand of basking bulb for a Veiled Chameleon that will work for a 5ft tall enclosure in a house that is 65-83 degrees fahrenheit (65-70 in winter, 75-83 in summer)? Are there any basking bulbs that won't explode if I accidentally splash a little water?
Use a regular house bulb for basking, its cheaper. no need to waste money on reptile basking bulbs.
What is the best UVB/UVA light for chameleons? Also, is it enough for a plant in the enclosure to survive off of?
I use reptiglo and reptisun uvb bulbs, some members use arcadia, which are becoming popular now.
Would weeping willow or small oak tree branches work well in an enclosure, or would they mold or rot easily?
I don't know about weeping willow, but I use oak. I also use dowel rods. just clean them in diluted dish soap and water, then let dry. or bake in an oven.
If you keep the chameleon's cage in your room, can you get salmonella? Or is it fine as long as you wash your hands and clean the enclosure often? Do all chameleons carry salmonella?
that's a myth about chams having saolmonella. but it is always suggested you wash before and after.
Lastly, what store is my best chance for buying a healthy juvenile Veiled Chameleon: The Serpentarium, PetCo, or Petsmart?
we prefer breeders instead of chain big box stores, but that's your decision. you have to examine the animal before buying.. Look for open moving eyes, good colors, no weird marks, no falling, etc.
Thanks in advance if you can answer any of these questions. I know I asked a lot, I just want to make sure if I do get a chameleon that I can take good care of it.

this is my first post and I hope I'm posting it right because if not I just wasted a half hour of thinking and typing!

Also, if you have questions post them here because there must be at least one other person wondering the same thing (that person is probably me) ... and hopefully someone (probably not me) who can answer the questions

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my answers in red.

also, check out the care sheet. it is super helpful.

qdude46 said:

I'll answer your store question: don't buy from mass chain stores! They most of the time don't know what they are doing so look around and find a local breeder or check the site sponsors. Welcome to the forums though you'll find that is a great community and great resource for Cham info of all kinds as many experts or on here, have fun!

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I second this motion on the no big chain store. A breeder will be cheaper usually and the cham will be healthier. Personally I like getting holdbacks around 6 months from reputable breeders on the forums. At six months you know what you are getting- no male/female confusion and they are easier to care for. Usually they are eating a plethora almost full-sized feeders and can easily hunt food in a full sized cage. You may miss the baby cuteness but I think it makes for a better first-cham experience!

How often do I dust insects with calcium, multivitamins, etc? For a veiled chameleon... Every feeding dust with Calcium with no D3. Once every 2 weeks dust with a multivitamin and Calcium with D3. That's a good guide for an indoor veiled.

Do I dust each insect the same? For example, do I need to put calcium supplement on insects that have a high calcium content?I would have as varied a diet as possible, and I would still dust all the feeders lightly.

I really can't stand crickets. Are grasshoppers or reptiworms (phoenix worms, calciworms, etc.) ok instead of a main diet of crickets?Again, varied and well gutloaded is best, and for many, crickets are the easiest to find. You can find some great site sponsors that have varied feeders available, just make sure you are allowed to have them shipped to your state.

How do you keep an all-screen cage at a high humidity without making the rest of your house like that?More frequent mistings. If your house has a very low humidity level you may want to use an enclosure with some plexiglass sides and a screen top. You would be better off with a screen enclosure and use some plastic (shower curtain, etc) during the drier months to maintain humidity levels.

Is it ok to take a chameleon outside for a little while for some fresh air if the humidity is low? As long as your chameleon is well hydrated, there is no issue being outside with low humidity for a short while. Just make sure to offer misting or a dripper when he is outside, or immediately after you bring him in.

If you have real plants in the chameleon's enclosure, what is the best way to clean them without hurting the plant? Would one of those UV light bacteria killing things work, or would it kill the plant? (obviously not while the chameleon is still in the enclosure)Just trim dead leaves, remove fecal matter with a damp paper towel, and mist the leaves. For thorough cleanings you will most likely have to take the plant out, so make your enclosure "simple" . (wish I could, but the pothos has vined its way through everything .

What is the best brand of basking bulb for a Veiled Chameleon that will work for a 5ft tall enclosure in a house that is 65-83 degrees fahrenheit (65-70 in winter, 75-83 in summer)? Are there any basking bulbs that won't explode if I accidentally splash a little water? Best type is a regular household incandescent bulb. Wattage varies for the proper temp throughout the year, and I'd start with a 40 or 60 watt and see if the desired temperature is reached. Be careful that the bulb isn't too close to the screen top so your cham can't easily get burned. Make sure your overspray doesn't hit the bulb. Anything can happen, and you don't need the glass getting in the enclosure.

What is the best UVB/UVA light for chameleons? Also, is it enough for a plant in the enclosure to survive off of? As for other lighting, you will be needing a UVB bulb. I would suggest a tube type 5.0 at minimum. I use an Arcadia 6% T5 high output tube UVB and love it. (also got from site sponsor LightYourReptiles here in the US) Some use 10.0 or 12% and are very successful. A UVB bulb is a must for chameleons that are kept indoors with no natural sunlight (Through windows doesn't work ) For the plants, a 6500k plant bulb is generally good enough. Some plants will not do well even with the lights, so its trail and error. No night lights of any kind .

Would weeping willow or small oak tree branches work well in an enclosure, or would they mold or rot easily? Whatever branches you use, make sure there is no sap coming out. This can cause irritation and be a problem if ingested.

If you keep the chameleon's cage in your room, can you get salmonella? Or is it fine as long as you wash your hands and clean the enclosure often? Do all chameleons carry salmonella? I would worry more about your kitchen . Just be smart and keep your hands clean before you handle your cham. (Yes I said BEFORE!!!) I'm more worried about him . And yes, you should keep the enclosure clean as well as wash your hands thoroughly after you hold him.

Lastly, what store is my best chance for buying a healthy juvenile Veiled Chameleon: The Serpentarium, PetCo, or Petsmart? "Best" chance is through a reputable breeder. Having said that, there are no guarantees. Any chameleon can get sick and all of us are constantly worried about our babies. I generally do not like to support large chain stores that do not give the proper advice to customers, but then again, my boy came from Petco. I wouldn't trade him for any chameleon in the world! (But, I lucked out with him!

Thanks in advance if you can answer any of these questions. I know I asked a lot, I just want to make sure if I do get a chameleon that I can take good care of it. Make sure you find out how much it can cost to own one, and what vet bills can cost, find a reputable chameleon vet that can help if you have an emergency, invest in a misting system like a MistKing or AquaZamp (not Monsoon) if you can't be there to mist throughout the day, and do lots of homework!!!

this is my first post and I hope I'm posting it right because if not I just wasted a half hour of thinking and typing!

Here's a great Caresheet for veileds... https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
and a link to the chameleon care resources tab... https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

Also, if you have questions post them here because there must be at least one other person wondering the same thing (that person is probably me) ... and hopefully someone (probably not me) who can answer the questions

Best of luck, and if you do decide to get a chameleon, remember...

pictures are a must!!!

...and you thought you typed a lot

Decadancin said:

pleth·o·ra (plthr-)
n.
1. A superabundance; an excess.
2. An excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area.

The emphasis is on the first syllable. PLE-tho-ra.
(Source: thefreedictionary.com/plethora)

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I love the "plethora" of help. Btw, its such a fun word. Apparently the Floridians agree w/ me. LOL, we can't vote, but we sure are word smiths.

melble68 said:

I love the "plethora" of help. Btw, its such a fun word. Apparently the Floridians agree w/ me. LOL, we can't vote, but we sure are word smiths.

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I've learned so many new words since moving to Florida! My favorite is still "Fixin-to"

Decadancin said:

I've learned so many new words since moving to Florida! My favorite is still "Fixin-to"

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"ya all" was learned my first week here in 2003 when I came from IL.

melble68 said:

"ya all" was learned my first week here in 2003 when I came from IL.

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I grew up in Georgia and Alabama where we even have the plural of ya'll, "ya'll all". As a true wordsmith of the colloquial tongue I will use it in a sentence: "Ya'll all fixin to go to the store cuz I could use a six pack and some scratch-offs".

Decadancin said:

I've learned so many new words since moving to Florida! My favorite is still "Fixin-to"

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That is so funny! I am from Virginia but have lived in the South my whole life and my grandma always gives me a hard time about saying "fixin to". Many people take southern people saying y'all a little too country. The majority of us don't say it in the really southern accent. I like going to the North and saying it though because they look at you like you can't speak English.

There's one thing that drives me insane. When peeps say "I'm gonna learn ya". That's where I put my foot down.

BTW, don't get me wrong I love living in the South.

Thank you everyone for answering my questions!
...and to everyone who started having a conversation about the word plethora and other words, thank you for making me laugh it was a very entertaining conversation

chameeeleon said:

Thank you everyone for answering my questions!
...and to everyone who started having a conversation about the word plethora and other words, thank you for making me laugh it was a very entertaining conversation

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Don't mean to derail your thread, but we was fixin to learn ya the answer eventually. I used ta could stay on topic, but we can get back to the original question if yant to.

Isn't A.D.D. another prerequisite of keeping chameleons?