MoodyMelody
New Member
Hi,
Just registered, new with chameleons and worried I don't know enough, despite lots of reading up, our young man skittles is not looking right to me and could do with some advice please.
We have had him for two weeks, but he isn't eating locusts/crickets, even though we have the size appropriate ones for him, left some in his cage and they just got bigger, then I was told not to leave them in the viv as when the chameleons sleep they get nibbled by the crickets, so i have removed them.....is this true, or should one leave a few small ones in there (they did have some in the viv at the pet shop) he has eaten a few waxworms and a couple of mealworms, but even off those in the last couple of days. Been reading up to see if this could be beause he maybe going to shed, but I dont know......
He also was drinking quite a lot, over the last couple of days when i mist ( did not see him doing this before though) however today i didnt see him drink at all.
he basks a lot during the day, but over the last few days, his eyes are closed a lot in the day and he seems to be a bit unsteady/weak.
He is in a glass viv, glass front and two sides, he has plastic plants, a basking hammock and 2 live plants that i checked first were veiled safe. (spider plant and fiscus, if i recall) the size of the viv is 60x50x40 cm.
He doesnt explore much, in fact spends most of his time either in the live ( tall plant) or on the hammock.
He is handled daily, but I'm thinking this might be too much? suggestions please?
lighting- we have the 5%uv light with arcadia magnetic controller also the exo terra light dome with i think it's a 75 watt lamp and a thermostat (this was all sold to us by the reptile centre where we got skittles and the viv and food)
I read the basking temp should be around 90 degrees for adults and less for youngsters, so set it at 85- is this right or what do i need to adjust to? have a thermometer in the basking area, but not elswhere do i need another ( he spends all of his time either under the basking light or very close to it in his favorite plant, but rarely goes to a cooler part of the viv).
I Mist several times a day, but going to put a drip water system in tomorrow as we will be out during the week days more from next week and wont be able to mist as much.
As you can see, we are very inexperinced and I'm totally stressed that we do not have this right and very concerned for his health, as his behaviour has changed over the last few days.
Please let me know what we are doing wrong, as i fear our little chap is not doing well.
thanks so much, look forward to your help.
Just registered, new with chameleons and worried I don't know enough, despite lots of reading up, our young man skittles is not looking right to me and could do with some advice please.
We have had him for two weeks, but he isn't eating locusts/crickets, even though we have the size appropriate ones for him, left some in his cage and they just got bigger, then I was told not to leave them in the viv as when the chameleons sleep they get nibbled by the crickets, so i have removed them.....is this true, or should one leave a few small ones in there (they did have some in the viv at the pet shop) he has eaten a few waxworms and a couple of mealworms, but even off those in the last couple of days. Been reading up to see if this could be beause he maybe going to shed, but I dont know......
He also was drinking quite a lot, over the last couple of days when i mist ( did not see him doing this before though) however today i didnt see him drink at all.
he basks a lot during the day, but over the last few days, his eyes are closed a lot in the day and he seems to be a bit unsteady/weak.
He is in a glass viv, glass front and two sides, he has plastic plants, a basking hammock and 2 live plants that i checked first were veiled safe. (spider plant and fiscus, if i recall) the size of the viv is 60x50x40 cm.
He doesnt explore much, in fact spends most of his time either in the live ( tall plant) or on the hammock.
He is handled daily, but I'm thinking this might be too much? suggestions please?
lighting- we have the 5%uv light with arcadia magnetic controller also the exo terra light dome with i think it's a 75 watt lamp and a thermostat (this was all sold to us by the reptile centre where we got skittles and the viv and food)
I read the basking temp should be around 90 degrees for adults and less for youngsters, so set it at 85- is this right or what do i need to adjust to? have a thermometer in the basking area, but not elswhere do i need another ( he spends all of his time either under the basking light or very close to it in his favorite plant, but rarely goes to a cooler part of the viv).
I Mist several times a day, but going to put a drip water system in tomorrow as we will be out during the week days more from next week and wont be able to mist as much.
As you can see, we are very inexperinced and I'm totally stressed that we do not have this right and very concerned for his health, as his behaviour has changed over the last few days.
Please let me know what we are doing wrong, as i fear our little chap is not doing well.
thanks so much, look forward to your help.
