Baby Veiled Cham tips?

[ajacobson]

So I posted on the Health Thread about being worried about my new Veiled Cham. A helpful post directed me here, because I think my new Cham is just a hatchling. I got him from an exotic pet store, and they didn't give me an age, but based on the photos I've seen he looks younger than 5 weeks to me.

I want to be able to take care of him the best way, and I'm sure baby care is different so all tips are welcomed and appreciated!

In case it helps, here's all the info I posted in the health forum:
Cage Info:
Cage Type - reptibreeze all screen enclosure its the smaller 16x16x20, but only while he is tiny then I'll get a bigger one
Lighting - Reptiglow 26W 5.0 UVB and T-Rex Reptile 60W basking light
Temperature - 80-90 degrees? never below 70 degrees at night
Humidity - Little Dripper system, and misting a few times a day
Plants - Live Umbrella Plant, fake vine, large piece of tree bark for climbing.
Placement - Cage is near a hallway, not a lot of traffic, 1 3/4 of the walls in the cage are to a wall, it's up about 4 feet high. But his "newness has my roomies staring at him.
Location - Las Vegas, NV

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male hatchling Veiled Chameleon, about 1 1/2 inch long body, he's very little. He changes colors. He is normally a brighter green, sometimes develops black stripes and turns dark brown/black when disturbed.
Handling - rarely
Feeding - pinhead crickets, I was told to feed him 10 every couple days until he gets bigger. I've only had him 2 days, I've feed him once and he didn't eat all of the crickets. I only saw him eat one.
Supplements - Flukers High-Calcium Cricket Diet, Fluker's Calcium with Vitamin D3 (dusted the first feeding)
Watering - Dripper and misting a few times a day... I have seen him drink off leaves
Fecal Description - Haven't seen definite feces, but there was some off white, something in there... maybe urite?
Current Problem - Sleeps a lot, only saw him eat one cricket (he may have had more, but there are a few still in the cage), not as active as I've heard that a hatchling should be.

 

[kicsylany]

Hi, that baby is defenetly very young, about 3-5 weeks old I guess. Don't worry, it is not the end of the world , I just had 48 of them and everyone says the first 2 weeks are the critical one. Your setup seems fine, is the UV compact or linear? I think he just need a bit of time to settle and will eat a lot soon. I don't agree to feed him with every other day, they need food every day and as much as they can eat and also if there are just about 2 crickets in the cage it will be hard for him to find them bec. they hiding very weel. Try to put some crickets in a plastic cup or just make sure there are enough in the cage for him. In that 48 babies I had 5-6 of them which weren't that active and didn't grow as quick as the other but after the big ones gone they do better. hope I could help a bit, have a nice day

 

[jannb]

Temp. is way to high. Keep it at 80 for a baby. You probably want need a basking light at all or a very low (15 to 25 watt) high over the cage. He should eat allot everyday. He might need to be in a plastic tub to be able to find his food better.

 

[PedroANDAshley]

I noticed you posted that you had a swirled bulb for uvb in the other post in your other thread.
Change it NOW!
I had one for pedro and Im almost 100% it was why he was keeping one of his eyes closed.
After I changed it to a liner bulb (the long ones) littlerly a day or less after he stopped the behiavor.
Pedro is five months, I dont want to imagine what it might to to a hatchling.
Any ways ask lots of questions and do lots of research and he should be fine.
I have no experience with hatchlings but im sure he shouldnt be sleeping at all during the day.
Its not normal for any cham to sleep in the day.

 

[ajacobson]

Thanks for all of the replies! I will go get a different UV and basking bulb today. I will try cup feeding also! I better head out and get some things. Thanks again for all the great advice, I'll let you know how these changes work out.

 

[ajacobson]

Well I got him a linear UVB bulb and the temp is 80 degrees exactly in there now. I put in a cup of crickets, but I thought the cup was too big, so I used the container that they put mealworms in. I cut that cup in half, but he doesn't seem interested in them. Could be because he was too busy showing me his mad colors and gaping at me...I've still caught him with his eyes shut a few times. Then I mist in there and he wakes up. Not sure what else to do.


PS I finally saw a poop, it was dark with white. I've heard that is good? Oh and he is 2-3 weeks old according to the place we got him...

 

[jannb]

Where do you live? Maybe one of the experienced member here might be able to help you with him. Eyes closed is a bad sign and if he does not eat he will die. Once they keep their eyes closed all the time they can not see to eat. I would try free range crickets and put some in a cup. What size cricked are you feeding? He needs pinheads. If the crickets are too big he wont eat them. At two to three weeks I'd have him in a 12 inch high bin.

 

[ajacobson]

Jann, I live in Las Vegas. I have crickets free-roaming and in the cup. He lets them walk right by his face and on his tail and doesn't do anything. I am feeding him pinheads, although sometimes a bigger ones sneak in. As for the bin: any tips on set up for one of those? I'll move him asap if you let me know. Thanks!

 

[ajacobson]

UPDATE:
I took Thomas out of his cage (he hissed a little, but didn't change colors). He got on my thumb, and I held a small cup with a cricket inside it under him. He was watching it, then suddenly the tongue flew out and he ate it right on my hand. I'm so happy I got him to eat! He only ate one cricket though, it was a decent sized one, but still...only one. I offered more, and he chose to crawl up my entire arm so I put him back in my cage. I don't mind hand feeding him everyday, but he is still only eating one cricket. Thats 1 cricket every other day since I've had him. Any tips/suggestions? I was thinking of getting some flightless flies for him too...

 

[ajacobson]

Update

UPDATE!
Thomas is doing well now. I got him cup-feeding, and now he is eating really well. His poops and urine look healthy and I see him drinking. I took all the advice you all gave me, so THANKS! He's about 4-5 weeks now and looking good.

Thanks again!

 

[laurie]

I didn't even see your thread until now. I am happy to hear Thomas is doing well. One of our sponsors is in las Vegas, Tiki Tiki Reptiles, give Chad or Darci a call, if you run into problems, as they know tons about baby veiled. Or PM any of us. Welcome and keep up the good work.