Newbie in need of some advice please

mrnice

New Member
Hi all this is my 1st post so may I please 1st say a big HELLO to you all:)!

Ive just bought my 1st Chameleon, hes a captive bred Yemen and hes only 12 weeks old.

Ive also bought a "starter kit" which comprises of a exo terra glass terrarium measuring 12"x12"x18" with a repti glo 5.0 compact fluorecsent bulb and canopy and is furnished with a polystyreen rock effect background, 3 plastic plants some bark chips (rosewood?) small water dish and a synthetic vine.

The humity is approx 70% and the ambient temp is about 25/26C. Ive also added a desk lamp above the mesh with a 60w bulb which put one top corner to about 30C (his favourite spot) and spray the plants about every few hours or when they start to look dry.

Iva also got an old aquarium with mesh on the top and added some no4 hoppers/locusts with some cereal, peas, carrot, potato, fish flake and bug gel and put approx 3 in every morning 30 mins after i turn the light on, if all 3 are eaten during the day i will add another 1 as so there is always at least 1 in there at all times. Before adding them I will alternately dust every other one with a mixture of 50/50 calci dust/nutrobal multivitamins.

He seems really content and seems to like being out on our indoor plants more than he likes being in his terrarium (he turns a vibrant light green with bright yellow flashes), hes ok about being handled as we are really patient and gentle with him and only handle him for small periods at a time.

So i just wondered if im doing everything ok or not and if you guys had any pointers for me as i want to do the best job possible for my little fella.

Bye the way I still havent thought of a name for him yet, I like Pablo, Diego or Manwel and my boy likes Wagner, what do you think?

Thanks:)
 
you need to...

since you have never had a cham you dont know but be sure to do some research becasue you need to get rid of your house asap chams. should never ever be in any type of glass aquarium you need to go get a all screen or mesh cage right away i use the zoo med repti breeze the exo terra screen cages are also nice but you need to get 1 right away because they need the ventilation and you can literaly cook them to death in them....and be careful with dusting to much and if it is calcium with d3 dont over do it....do you have any pics of your little guy??
 
Hi, I should probably point out I live in Wales in the UK the outside temp is 6C at the mo. my house only gets to about 23/24C with the logburner going.

The terrarium was recomended to me by a chamelion shop it has a mesh top and ventilation in the front:-

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/glass_terrarium.php

http://www.exo-terra.com/download/high_res/products/images/PT2602_Glass_Terrarium_Filled.jpg

Its a starter kit and its only for the next few months.

Hes then going to a very large half mesh half solid vivarium with mister, basking light uvb light etc so by the time he reaches maturity he wont freak out at his own reflection.


These are the suplements im using:

http://www.petsparade.co.uk/reptiles/supplements-cricket-foods/?p=1790

http://www.vetark.co.uk/pages/Calci-Dust.aspx

Ive not uploaded any pics off my phone yet but will get on the case a s a p.

Cheers:)
 
HELLO, AND WELCOME!!!!:cool:

you seem really caring for your cham and thats great, and or pointers, just swtich the compact light to a linear tube either reptisun or repti glo 5.0..im saying this because the compacts have been known in the past to casue eye problems....and the heat lamp is fine.....also try diferent bugs, switch it up, i like the long list of gutloading for the locusts now apply to more bugs like dubias, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, moths, mantids too:cool:

also put a dripper adding with your misting that u r doing....

can you please post pics of your cham AND setup that will def help us to help you of you need something:)

goodluck
 
you wil also need a larger cage as he gets bigger. 24,24,48 inch cage is highly recommended. I like the name Manwel hahaha. Welcome to the forums!
 
Cool I will start feeding him other insects as soon as I can find a decent supplier online now you have suggested what he can eat, are there any to avoid? (ive heard black crickets and mealworms can pose a problem sometimes?)

His upgraded enclosure is gonna be about 60"W X 20"D x 48"H and furnished with fruit branches, live and plastic plants. At the mo its about 32" high but I plan on extending it:).
 
Hi and Welcome to the forums! One thing! you need to get rid of the bark substrate. First off you cham could injest it which would lead to many problems for him such as an impaction. Secondly it really is a place for bacteria to breed with the mistings and drippings. You are much better off with the cage being bare on the bottom!
 
since you have never had a cham you dont know but be sure to do some research becasue you need to get rid of your house asap chams. should never ever be in any type of glass aquarium you need to go get a all screen or mesh cage right away i use the zoo med repti breeze the exo terra screen cages are also nice but you need to get 1 right away because they need the ventilation and you can literaly cook them to death in them....and be careful with dusting to much and if it is calcium with d3 dont over do it....do you have any pics of your little guy??

Sorry to say but this isn't true. Many Europeans swear by glass "terrariums" for chams not to be confused with aquariums which are for fish. It all depends on the situation on whether to use a glass terrarium or not. They are more recommended for people that live in colder climates such as the North East. Not highly recommended for people that live in hotter humid areas. But on this forum it is usually recommended that new cham owners start out with a screen cage which provides better ventilation and lessens the possibility of bacteria, fungal infections and respiratory problems.
 
Hello and Welcome

The exoterra is a good choice for the first couple months of a chameleon's life, but he will soon outgrow it. Where you live, a semi-solid sided cage will probably be better than all screen.

Although Ive used reptiGlo CFLs in the past without issue, the general consensus is that the reptiSun 5.0 linear tube is the better way to go. Some CFLs have caused eyesight issues do the the phosphors used by the CFL manufactuers.

Live plants are much better than plastic. I like Pothos. Also good are umbrella and fiscus and hybiscus.

You will want to remove the bark mulch - using no substrate is better (easier to clean, nothing for bugs to hide in, no accidental injestion by chameleon).

30C is too hot for a young chameleon.

Fish food is not a good choice for feeding the bugs (at little now and then is okay, but too much can lead to gout). Here is a link to information on properly gutloading:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

as for what to feed the chameleon, and where to buy them in your country:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/171-where-buy-feeders-online.html

I would not mix the calicum and the nutribol. You will want to use them in differing quantities. More info on supplements:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

General information useful to all new chameleon owners:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/56-chameleon-related-websites.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/nutritional-information/
 
Hi all this is my 1st post so may I please 1st say a big HELLO to you all:)!

Ive just bought my 1st Chameleon, hes a captive bred Yemen and hes only 12 weeks old.

Ive also bought a "starter kit" which comprises of a exo terra glass terrarium measuring 12"x12"x18" with a repti glo 5.0 compact fluorecsent bulb and canopy and is furnished with a polystyreen rock effect background, 3 plastic plants some bark chips (rosewood?) small water dish and a synthetic vine.

The humity is approx 70% and the ambient temp is about 25/26C. Ive also added a desk lamp above the mesh with a 60w bulb which put one top corner to about 30C (his favourite spot) and spray the plants about every few hours or when they start to look dry.

Iva also got an old aquarium with mesh on the top and added some no4 hoppers/locusts with some cereal, peas, carrot, potato, fish flake and bug gel and put approx 3 in every morning 30 mins after i turn the light on, if all 3 are eaten during the day i will add another 1 as so there is always at least 1 in there at all times. Before adding them I will alternately dust every other one with a mixture of 50/50 calci dust/nutrobal multivitamins.

He seems really content and seems to like being out on our indoor plants more than he likes being in his terrarium (he turns a vibrant light green with bright yellow flashes), hes ok about being handled as we are really patient and gentle with him and only handle him for small periods at a time.

So i just wondered if im doing everything ok or not and if you guys had any pointers for me as i want to do the best job possible for my little fella.

Bye the way I still havent thought of a name for him yet, I like Pablo, Diego or Manwel and my boy likes Wagner, what do you think?

Thanks:)

Hmmm...I love your avatar picture...?
 
Hi, so it looks like i need to get rid of the bark chippings, dust the feeders maybe every other day? and alternate the 2 powders not use them both at the same time, ive got the basking area down to about 28C its there mainly to add a permenantly warm area when its on if the house gets too cold during the day, it seems to be his favourite spot. I need to add live plants and alternate his foods a bit. I wont use fish food again for a long time now, Ive made a dripper. Have i missed anything?
 
Cant manage to upload my pics, it keeps asking for my URL, im not very computer savvy so im not sure what to do. Normally on my other forums it gives you the option to browse your PCs pics and then I just click on them.
 
click on Post Reply (dont use the quick reply)
in the reply thread window, click on the paperclip icon (not the picture icon)
a Manage Attachements window will open
browse to your file, click upload
repeat as desired
close the attachement window
you can stop there and the files will be thumbnail attached, or you can use the paperclip icon again to insert in-line
 
heres the little fella: 10112010636.jpg
 
Hi, can any of the experts on this forum tell me how often i should be dusting my locusts with the vitamins and calcium supplements ive been using (mentioned earlier) and how to use them ie one at a time/alternate them etc as i dont want to overdo/underdo it? thanks:)
 
Hi, can any of the experts on this forum tell me how often i should be dusting my locusts with the vitamins and calcium supplements ive been using (mentioned earlier) and how to use them ie one at a time/alternate them etc as i dont want to overdo/underdo it? thanks:)

i use

Repcal with d3 (2-3x month)
Repcal without d3 (every other feeding)
Herptivite multivitamin (2-3x month)

people also use Miner-all which is great , but the ones with "D3" use use depending on the amount of sunlight you give your cham..the more sunlight the less you use calcium or miner-all with "D3"...the less sunlight the slightly more you use it.....gutloading your feeder bugs help out alot....and you shoul be fine.....i do not mix the powders , i dust the bugs one or the other, different days of the week/month....hope this helps
 
Check the link I provided re supplementing. Every person situation is different - there is no one supplementation schedule that fits all situations.
 
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