brittbrit93
New Member
she was doing it eariler but the temp was at 90 which i no is too high as of now both temp read 80 and 78 and i only have the uv light on and she seems quite content. but i still would like to no why she burries herself
any reason why my graceful chameleon keeps laying in the dirt?
- Thread starter brittbrit93
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KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
First, why is there dirt? Second, how old is she and do you have a laying bin? Females lay eggs regardless of mating or not and if not properly supplied can become eggbound and die. She might have been trying to escape heat too.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Also a 2 degree difference isn't much, there should be a bit more of a range so she can get in a temp she is comfortable in.
brittbrit93
New Member
shes three-4 weeks old the soil came with the tank and what am i supposed to use because the soil i have keeps the humditiy
whats a laying been i have a wall and vines for her and plants she usually sleeps on the fake plant
whats a laying been i have a wall and vines for her and plants she usually sleeps on the fake plant
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Sounds way too young to be sold. Can we see pics of her and the tank? Glass tanks like fish tanks are not for chameleons. Some use terrariums but that's it, we don't use dirt for humidity, just misting and live plants.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
A laying bin is a container of damp playsand females lay eggs in. Should be 12 inches deep and damp enough to dig in but not collapse.
brittbrit93
New Member
how do i post stuff on here? and the the tank i have is just fine http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.398602996832396.120389.100000480972486&type=3 i no my tank is way too small but it was all we can afford right now as soon as my friend gets his new cage for his vieiled chameleon im getting his old one which is alot bigger
ChameleonFan1989
New Member
Upload your images to site such as photobucket or imageshack.
But its generally not recommended to keep them in tanks. You can purchase small mesh cages and upgrade her cage as she grows, only problem with anything glass is that it can become a green house effect and become VERY hot and UVB doesn't pass through glass.
Please take the soil out, when she eats, there's a large risk she'll eat it when shooting for crickers and become impacted.
But its generally not recommended to keep them in tanks. You can purchase small mesh cages and upgrade her cage as she grows, only problem with anything glass is that it can become a green house effect and become VERY hot and UVB doesn't pass through glass.
Please take the soil out, when she eats, there's a large risk she'll eat it when shooting for crickers and become impacted.
brittbrit93
New Member
well how much will a mesh tank cost and were can i get one?
and what am i supposed to do with this terranium?
and what am i supposed to do with this terranium?
ChameleonFan1989
New Member
The small screen cage generally are cheaper than anything made for glass. I live in the UK so our prices will differ from the US, but look at some of the site sponsers.
what I do when I no longer need a cage, buy the new one and sell the old one on places like ebay, instead of throwing it away.
what I do when I no longer need a cage, buy the new one and sell the old one on places like ebay, instead of throwing it away.
brittbrit93
New Member
i have the terrarium soil so i can keep my plants in there alive and the crickets dont really go in the dirt for some reson they hop on the wall
brittbrit93
New Member
but i really dont wanna buy anything until i have too because shes happy in the cage and she actually doesnt mind me holding her and i also have a branch around my room that she likes to lay on shes really not as aggresive as the books i been reading says
ChameleonFan1989
New Member
But still the risk is there, either have a bare floor or I use reptile carpet. Sorry to say some of the info you've gotten in incorrect.
Here is the small screen cage its $43.99
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ges/-/16-x-15-x-20-inch-aluminum-screen-cage/
Its from LLLReptiles and its the small screen on the left of the picture.
Here is the small screen cage its $43.99
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ges/-/16-x-15-x-20-inch-aluminum-screen-cage/
Its from LLLReptiles and its the small screen on the left of the picture.
brittbrit93
New Member
im not aloud to buy things online i live with my grandparents who dont believe the internet is safe is there any kind of catalogs that come in the mail for tanks and stuff like that?
JRchameleons
New Member
Firstly, welcome to the forums! This is a great place to learn about chameleons and meet other keepers. 
Exo Terras are fine for chameleons. Aquariums are not fine because they don't allow for proper ventilation, but yours isn't an aquarium.
Your tank looks pretty nice overall, but I also recommend taking the soil out, especially because your cham is so young. She can easily become impacted from accidently ingesting even a little of that dirt at her age. Most of us just use newspaper or paper towels on the bottom of our cham cages (and change them frequently).
You shouldn't worry about humidity because as long as you mist 3-4 times a day, the glass will hold in the humidity just fine.
I would recommend some more foliage for your cham as well. Live plants (such as pothos) are wonderful. Just plant them in a pot, and cover the soil with river rocks to eliminate the impaction risk. That's what I do in my baby cages.
If you post pictures of your chameleon laying on the dirt it might give us a better idea of what could be going on. Sounds like it was just way too hot in there though. Remember, chameleons can't sweat or pant to regulate their body temperature, so you have to be extra careful not to let them get too hot. Especially in a glass tank that small, you'll be much better off airing on the side of caution and keeping her basking spot temp fairly low. It's best for them to have a temperature gradient with the cage floor going down into the low 70s, but it's hard to create that type of gradient in a small glass enclosure because they hold in so much heat.
Exo Terras are fine for chameleons. Aquariums are not fine because they don't allow for proper ventilation, but yours isn't an aquarium.
Your tank looks pretty nice overall, but I also recommend taking the soil out, especially because your cham is so young. She can easily become impacted from accidently ingesting even a little of that dirt at her age. Most of us just use newspaper or paper towels on the bottom of our cham cages (and change them frequently).
You shouldn't worry about humidity because as long as you mist 3-4 times a day, the glass will hold in the humidity just fine.
I would recommend some more foliage for your cham as well. Live plants (such as pothos) are wonderful. Just plant them in a pot, and cover the soil with river rocks to eliminate the impaction risk. That's what I do in my baby cages.
If you post pictures of your chameleon laying on the dirt it might give us a better idea of what could be going on. Sounds like it was just way too hot in there though. Remember, chameleons can't sweat or pant to regulate their body temperature, so you have to be extra careful not to let them get too hot. Especially in a glass tank that small, you'll be much better off airing on the side of caution and keeping her basking spot temp fairly low. It's best for them to have a temperature gradient with the cage floor going down into the low 70s, but it's hard to create that type of gradient in a small glass enclosure because they hold in so much heat.
brandon1
Established Member
Just butting in here, you could get a Zoomed Repti Breeze from Petsolutions. They are the cheapest screen cages I can find and the one I have works fine for me.
brittbrit93
New Member
if i take the dirt out my plant will die bc thats what its burried in
im starting to think the reason she was laying in the dirt was because she was too hot or maybe she just likes the dirt idk
i dont have any of her laying in the dirt bc when she did it i freaked out be i thought she was dying but she only goes in the dirt when its to hot bc now she on her branch happy as can be
im starting to think the reason she was laying in the dirt was because she was too hot or maybe she just likes the dirt idk
i dont have any of her laying in the dirt bc when she did it i freaked out be i thought she was dying but she only goes in the dirt when its to hot bc now she on her branch happy as can be
ChameleonFan1989
New Member
Some pet stores MAY sell them, not sure. Alot of people by all there supplies online because 1 its easier and 2 you save money as pet stores sometimes rip you off and generally tell you the wrong things just to get a purchase from you.
It isn't safe but you're using the internet now LMAO
Anyway can I also ask what your suppliments are like also? Are you using 3 different suppliments? Calcium without D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 2 times a month and multivitamins also 2 times a month.
You can pot your plants in organic soil and put river rocks around so she can't eat the soil
It isn't safe but you're using the internet now LMAO
Anyway can I also ask what your suppliments are like also? Are you using 3 different suppliments? Calcium without D3 every feeding, Calcium with D3 2 times a month and multivitamins also 2 times a month.
You can pot your plants in organic soil and put river rocks around so she can't eat the soil
Trace
Captain Awesome
First off you have a female Senegal Chameleon and not a Graceful.
Unfortunately both species tend to be wild caught specimens and yours is no different. She is very skinny and dehydrated. Before you worry about things like caging I'd concern myself with getting her healthy. Mere weeks ago she was happily living in a tree in Africa and now is in a cage in North America and this is very stressful; as much as she is cool keep your handling to a minimum. It's best to leave her alone during this time to let her acclimate and feel safe. I'd start with some long rehydrating showers, maybe 15 minutes a day to let her drink. Make sure she is offered healthy gutloaded insects and in a few weeks take her to a vet to see if she needs to be dewormed. She probably will.
Here is a good guide to rearing wild caught chameleons: https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-arrival-bringing-home-new-chameleon-56333/
Unfortunately both species tend to be wild caught specimens and yours is no different. She is very skinny and dehydrated. Before you worry about things like caging I'd concern myself with getting her healthy. Mere weeks ago she was happily living in a tree in Africa and now is in a cage in North America and this is very stressful; as much as she is cool keep your handling to a minimum. It's best to leave her alone during this time to let her acclimate and feel safe. I'd start with some long rehydrating showers, maybe 15 minutes a day to let her drink. Make sure she is offered healthy gutloaded insects and in a few weeks take her to a vet to see if she needs to be dewormed. She probably will.
Here is a good guide to rearing wild caught chameleons: https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-arrival-bringing-home-new-chameleon-56333/
brittbrit93
New Member
well everytime i give her a shower or try to mist her she turns black and i never seen her eat anything but she is pooping i have calcium enriched crickets and i offered her meal worms but she turned her nose at it
