alexcpeters
New Member
A few weeks ago I lost my Chameleon, Frankie. We bought him from a Petco in December and we’re given completely false information on how to care for him. After having him for a few weeks we noticed something was seriously wrong and took him to an emergency vet but it was too late. Despite the corrections we made and the life saving care we gave him, he passed from MBD. I feel 100% responsible for what happened to him because I did not do enough independent research and instead trusted the advice given to me by the store that I purchased him from. This past Sunday, we felt ready enough to purchase another Chameleon. I have done a ton of research over the last few weeks and think I have a way better understanding of these animals and how to care for them. I want to make sure I’m doing everything in my power to give this little guy the life he deserves so any corrections to the care I’m providing would be super super helpful. I would like to note that this is not his permanent enclosure. We close on our house tomorrow and will be building him a large, permanent enclosure to move into once he is a little bit bigger.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - No problem currently. Just want to get any feedback on things I could be doing better to give him the best life possible. What temperature should his basking spot be? Do I keep his heat on at night or let the temp drop to the mid-high 60s? Are his humidity levels okay? Is the water source I’m providing enough? Should I be opening his cage door for airflow a few times a day like I have been or keep it closed? At what age can he move into his permanent enclosure (we plan on it being at least 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide)? And anything else you see/read that needs to be corrected! Thank you!!
Chameleon Info:
- Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Male. Approx 1 month old. I have had him for 2 days.
- Handling - Currently not at all. Trying to minimize the stress he is probably already under from being moved into a new enclosure/place. The only handling that has been done was to put him into his new home.
- Feeding - Currently feeding 15-20 small crickets per day. Half in the morning about an hour after he wakes up and half in the afternoon about 2 hours before lights out. I’m gutloading with collards, oranges and carrot shavings.
- Supplements - The only calcium I could find without D3 was the “thrive” brand so I’ve been dusting his crickets with it for every feeding (ordered the Arcadia earthpro A and will switch to that when it comes in). I plan on using the Reptivite vitamins with D3 twice a month but haven’t given it to him yet since I’m pretty sure they were dusting daily with calcium WITH D3 at the store that I purchased him from so tho out I would hold off on his first dose until the 15th of this month.
- Watering - I have been misting 3 times per day for about 20-30 seconds each. His enclosure is small and glass so the humidity level rises rather quickly. I mist about 30 mins before he wakes up, once during the middle of the day and then again about an hour before he goes to sleep. He has been drinking the dew drops from the leaves and also tries to drink directly from the nozzle of the spray bottle lol
- Fecal Description - He has only pooped once since I got him which was yesterday morning. Poop was brownish and solid. Urates we’re white with slight yellow close to the poop. He hasn’t been tested for parasites.
- History - None.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - Thrive 20 gallon vertical terrarium. 16.6 W x 19.1 L x 22.4 H. This is temporary while we build his permanent enclosure.
- Lighting - I don’t recall the exact brand unfortunately but I know the UVB bulb is a T5 and for heat I am using a ceramic heat bulb that has no light. The brand of the fixture is zoomed and it is a dome. In his permanent enclosure I will switch to the vertical lighting. Currently I turn his light on at 7am and turn it off around 7pm.
- Temperature - During the day the bottom of his cage is between 72-77 degrees and his basking spot is 85-95 (I feel like these are too high and want to get a mount to hang his lights from to cool off his basking spot a bit) The first night I had him I left his heat source on all night but felt it was too warm when I woke up so last night I cut it off and this morning the temp was at 67. I have a digital thermometer as well as a regular thermometer in his enclosure.
- Humidity - At night his humidity levels are between 80-100% and during the day they are between 40-55%. I have a digital hygrometer as well as a regular hygrometer in his enclosure.
- Plants - I am using live plants. A golden pothos and a yellow croton.
- Placement - His cage is in the kitchen/living room. I keep the living room fan on and open the door to his enclosure a few times a day to create airflow. No vents are nearby and the area is not heavily trafficked since it’s just my boyfriend and I and he works during the day (I work from home). His cage sits on the counter that connects the living room and kitchen and is approximately 3 feet off the floor.
- Location - 30 mins south of Atlanta, Georgia.
Current Problem - No problem currently. Just want to get any feedback on things I could be doing better to give him the best life possible. What temperature should his basking spot be? Do I keep his heat on at night or let the temp drop to the mid-high 60s? Are his humidity levels okay? Is the water source I’m providing enough? Should I be opening his cage door for airflow a few times a day like I have been or keep it closed? At what age can he move into his permanent enclosure (we plan on it being at least 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide)? And anything else you see/read that needs to be corrected! Thank you!!