Acting weird.

[Sikchick341]

My 3 month old veiled is acting really weird lately. He hardly eats, its almost like he doesn't see the crickets. And now he is running to the bottom of the cage very often. At first I thought he was hunting but now he picks at the glass like he sees his own reflection? Is this unusual?

 

[UrbanChameleon]

It seems like it's too hot in his cage. The glass cages heat up extremely quickly. I don't know what wattage your bulb is but you might want to bring it down. Keep it about 85 degrees in his cage.. considering his age. I love that you're asking most of the same things I was just a few months ago. Haha. He is probably going to the bottom of his cage and scratching because it is too hot. The bottom of his cage should be low-mid 70's then 85-90 at his basking spot. Chams thermoregulate which means they will move higher or lower depending on what their temperature needs to be. If he is on the cooler side.. he will bask, if he is too hot.. he will move to the bottom to cool down. Also, if you see him holding his mouth open often, that is a sure sign it is too hot. It took some experimenting with bulbs to find the right wattage at first. Considering you have the same set-up I do, I would go with a 25 watt for now.

 

[carol5208]

you say glass, are you talking a terrarium? If so what size? You said you were going to use two uvb bulbs? I suggested using just the one 5.0. It may be too bright for your chameleons eyes with two bulbs in a small enclosure. He is still a baby.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

you say glass, are you talking a terrarium? If so what size? You said you were going to use two uvb bulbs? I suggested using just the one 5.0. It may be too bright for your chameleons eyes with two bulbs in a small enclosure. He is still a baby.

I agree. I just mentioned that in one of her past posts. I think she currently has a 50 watt bulb, a 5.0 UVB, and also a 2.0 UVB. She could have changed it since her last post, but that's what I got from it. Since she has a ventilated terrarium and a 3-4 month old Cham, I think she should go with a 5.0 and a 25 watt bulb. I don't know if she purchased the digital thermometer and hydrometer yet. The cheap ones gave me a horrible read and I didn't realize until a week later when I bought the digitals. I'm pretty sure it's giving her a read that's completely off. When I had a 50 watt in the exact same cage it was about 100 degrees in there. The 40 watt was still a little too high for a Cham that age. The 25 watt works and she can still use it in her canopy top. She said she didn't want the lighting to look weird so that's why she added the 2.0 along with the 5.0. I tried the same thing, but found it was better with just the one UVB and his basking light. I just don't want anything to happen to his eyes or for it to be too hot in there. I learned this all from experience not long ago. Our Veiled's are actually brothers and she bought the same things I did concerning his cage and plants.

 

[Sikchick341]

Hi jordan! Lol. Yes I have a 2.0 and a 5.0 UVB in my canopy top. It says its recommended for both. But i was a little concerned about it. For the basking light I have a 50 watt bulb and its usually around 96. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS TOO HOT I am doing what I can right now. I do have the digital therm/hygro and the bottom of his cage is below 75 degrees and the middle is around 75. His humidity ranges from 40-50 when I don't mist and when I do it goes higher. I have a vine that is slanted towards his basking light to the bottom of the terrarium so he can bask where he pleases. At night it usually drops about 5-10 degrees. He stopped going to the bottom of the cage after I added more plants so I believe he was just seeing his reflection. The terrarium is an exo-terra terrarium that is 18X18X24.

 

[lindawaz]

Hi jordan! Lol. Yes I have a 2.0 and a 5.0 UVB in my canopy top. It says its recommended for both. But i was a little concerned about it. For the basking light I have a 50 watt bulb and its usually around 96. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS TOO HOT I am doing what I can right now. I do have the digital therm/hygro and the bottom of his cage is below 75 degrees and the middle is around 75. His humidity ranges from 40-50 when I don't mist and when I do it goes higher. I have a vine that is slanted towards his basking light to the bottom of the terrarium so he can bask where he pleases. At night it usually drops about 5-10 degrees. He stopped going to the bottom of the cage after I added more plants so I believe he was just seeing his reflection. The terrarium is an exo-terra terrarium that is 18X18X24.

That is cooking the little guy. if you still have it that hot they are running to the cool area and trying to escape. A household bulb from the dollar store can fix this 25 watts would be a big help.

 

[Sikchick341]

I can just lift the lamp couldn't I? Its a clamp lamp.

 

[Solid Snake]

Yes lift it.

 

[Sikchick341]

Okay thanks!

 

[lindawaz]

as long as the UVB is not in the same unit yes Lift it

 

[Sikchick341]

Do u all think the 2.0 and 5.0 is too much? 2.0 has very low UVB but the 5.0 does they kinda even each other out.

 

[lindawaz]

if a compact bulb the 2.0 and you want light to balance the cage can you put a regular house hold florescent in there -they run cool but will add light

that way you only have the one UVB, brightness, and no extra heat

 

[UrbanChameleon]

That's a very good idea Linda. I promise you will see such an improvement in him if you get a lower wattage. Bodhi's skin was so dried out after only a week of a 50 watt. It took me about a month to get him looking normal. I got one of the longer looking Exo Terra 25 watt Day Glo or whatever. It works amazing. How do you get the clamp lamp to actually clamp? I had trouble with that. I honestly think you would have to raise it a significant amount to have it around the low 80's. Raising it will for sure help but I don't think it will solve the problem. I keep my therm at the very top right below his light. I think its extremely important to know how hot the basking spot is, as opposed to the bottom. Luckily, a friend of mine has the infared thermometer gun so I don't have to rely just on the one thermometer. I think your husbandry is really good, but you should definitely fix that. It is of upmost importance.

 

[Sikchick341]

I just clamped it on the side now its 85 under his basking spot.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

I can't clamp mine at all! I'm so jealous. The clam is too big, and the side is too small. You bought the Exo Terra clamp lamp right?

 

[Sikchick341]

Nope its a zilla but it works the same.