Black/grey chameleon- Sick?

[katzemrak]

We recently got a veiled chameleon from Petco, they said that the chameleon is a male but we're unable to find spurs, and so we're wondering if our chameleon is a female or male?

Also, Julian was very green when we first got him but he's recently been a dark dark grey for the past couple of days. He's drinking from a bowl, he did it today which we didn't think he could do. His urate and feces is white with the normal brown. He's seemed to have very little white spots at times, I'm not sure when he's supposed to be shedding.

He also usually just walks out of his cage and onto people, but recently hasn't been. He's eating fine, 5-7 crickets a day, sprayed with a calcium. He's misted 2-4 times a day manually. He's climbing normally, but his beautiful green colors are gone.

Is he just stressed or perhaps close to shedding? Or if he is a she close to laying eggs?

He also has a uv light above his tank which is an open air tank, as well as a red basking light. Both lights are specific for reptiles/chams.

Any advice/help will be much appreciated.

We've read a lot of different things on this forum and otherwise, and it gets a tad bit confusing.

We know that he needs more foliage for hiding, and we went to home depot to try and find a plant that is compatible with chameleons, but they were mostly all too big.

We've only had him for about a week and a half and we handled him at first, and let him walk all around and he seemed to really like it.

 

[carol5208]

If you post the back of the feet we can tell you for sure. Please read the link I am attaching. Your set up needs improvement for sure. Foilage is a top priority as he probably is feeling very vulnerable being in the open. More vines and branches also. Remove the mulch at the bottom. That is very dangerous for your chameleon if injested.

 

[ashutt19]

Your cage needs a lot of work. You need to get more plants in there for it to hide in. Like a hanging pathos. Which will help with humidity. He shouldn't need any type of bowl for him to drink from. Regular mistings should have him drinking and also a dripper.

Can't tell the sex. We need a shot at the backof the foot to tell.

He/she legs do not look quite right. Maybe Mbd. Someone with more experience can chime in on that.

Lucky u came to the right place. Make sure you read the care sheets and we can get you on your way to a happy and healthy Cham.

Here's the care sheet link
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[carol5208]

sorry forgot the link!
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[carol5208]

Your cage needs a lot of work. You need to get more plants in there for it to hide in. Like a hanging pathos. Which will help with humidity. He shouldn't need any type of bowl for him to drink from. Regular mistings should have him drinking and also a dripper.
I do not see anything wrong with the legs, and definitely not MBD(metabolic bone disease)
Can't tell the sex. We need a shot at the backof the foot to tell.

He/she legs do not look quite right. Maybe Mbd. Someone with more experience can chime in on that.

Lucky u came to the right place. Make sure you read the care sheets and we can get you on your way to a happy and healthy Cham.

Here's the care sheet link
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

I do not see anything wrong with the legs, and definitely not MBD(metabolic bone disease)

 

[ashutt19]

I do not see anything wrong with the legs, and definitely not MBD(metabolic bone disease)

It was the 2nd picture that got me curious. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[windex]

I agree, no MBD appears to be present, looks good.. The enclosure on the other hand needs A LOT of work.. The bark on the floor needs to be removed, more vines/branches need to be added, a live plant would be great but even some fake pythos vines woven through the branches and vines would help a lot with creating cover and shade..
Is that a bookshelf speaker right behind the enclosure? If it is I would move that ASAP too, I doubt he has the same music tastes as you, the vibrations will piss him right off
Don't leave the red basking bulb on at night either, if the night temps are going down below 55ish at night, get a ceramic heat emitter bulb instead.
For daytime basking, just use a regular incandescent light bulb, You will have to play around with the wattage and distance for the basking spot to get the proper temps

 

[Lathis]

First, a few things you are doing correctly:

1. Screen cage
2. Coming here for advice!

Pet stores are notorious for giving the wrong advice and selling the wrong supplies for chameleons. Their care is much different from many other lizards. It can be a lot to take in; don't get discouraged - everything is fixable. Take it one step at a time.

A few things you can do right now at minimal to no cost:

1. Get rid of the bark on the bottom. It grows all sorts of nastiness and will make your chameleon sick. Plus some chameleons will eat it and it may block their intestines.
2. Remove the water bowl. Chameleons prefer dripping/moving water and some chameleons will not drink from bowls at all. Chameleons like to poop in standing water, water bowls grow bacteria, and crickets fall in them an drown.
3. Get a "Little Dripper" ($7 at most pet stores) or make a dripper from a plastic cup with small holes poked in the bottom. Set it on top of the cage and let it drip. You may have to put down paper towels until you set up a drainage system.
4. Get rid of the red light. Use a normal 60 or 75 watt house bulb or a 25W halogen bulb (if you have one of the minihalogen lamps) for a basking spot.
5. Chameleons can see red light, so no lights should be on at night at all. If the house stays above 55*F, your chameleon will be fine. They like a temperature drop at night.
6. Move the speakers. Chameleons are sensitive to vibration, and the vibration from the speaker will cause stress.
7. If you leave your lights on late, get a dark cloth to cover the cage.

A few things you need to do that may cost you a little money:

1. Go to a hardware store or Walmart and get a plant . Look for a "Golden Pothos" or an "Umbrella Plant" but a "Ficus Benjamina" would also be okay. - something bushy that you chameleon can hide in. Many types of house plants are toxic; veiled chameleons will nibble on plants, so if you have any questions on whether something is safe, you can ask here. Plants may cost from $10 to $25 each. Wash off the leaves with warm water and cover the dirt with large rocks so your chameleon cannot eat the dirt.
2. Do you have a UVB lamp? You MUST have one, if not. You should buy the long tube kind if you can. Get a 5.0 strength. The fixture (ballast) may cost about $15 and the tube will cost about $20. The tube should last about 6 months and then needs to be replaced.
3. Get some more of those bendy vines ($10 to $20 each) or if you can, get some free sticks. Clean off the bark and bake in the oven at 350*F for 30 mins. Make lots of pathways about 6-8" apart for your chameleon to climb on both horizontal and vertical.
4. Get a digital temperature and humidity gauge. Not the dial kind, they are notoriously inaccurate. I found one at a pet store for $12.

A few questions for you:

1. Are you supplementing your chameleon? If so, with what brands and how often?
2. What types of bugs are you currently offering? What types of fruit? How often?
3. What are the temperatures in your cage at the basking spot and at the bottom? What is the humidity?
4. How often do you spray your chameleon?

Here are some EXCELLENT resources to get you started:

1. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
2. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/enclosures/
3. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/

Like I said, it can be overwhelming. One step at a time. The grey/brown color means that your chameleon is stressed out which can lead directly toward your chameleon getting sick or dying. I bet when you put a plant and more branches in the cage, he will perk up quite a bit. Don't get discouraged - the care sheet is your new Bible. It will give you all the basics.

Dig into this list, do a LOT of reading here on the forum, and remember that we are here to help you. Best of luck!

 

[nick barta]

First, a few things you are doing correctly:

1. Screen cage
2. Coming here for advice!

Pet stores are notorious for giving the wrong advice and selling the wrong supplies for chameleons. Their care is much different from many other lizards. It can be a lot to take in; don't get discouraged - everything is fixable. Take it one step at a time.

A few things you can do right now at minimal to no cost:

1. Get rid of the bark on the bottom. It grows all sorts of nastiness and will make your chameleon sick. Plus some chameleons will eat it and it may block their intestines.
2. Remove the water bowl. Chameleons prefer dripping/moving water and some chameleons will not drink from bowls at all. Chameleons like to poop in standing water, water bowls grow bacteria, and crickets fall in them an drown.
3. Get a "Little Dripper" ($7 at most pet stores) or make a dripper from a plastic cup with small holes poked in the bottom. Set it on top of the cage and let it drip. You may have to put down paper towels until you set up a drainage system.
4. Get rid of the red light. Use a normal 60 or 75 watt house bulb or a 25W halogen bulb (if you have one of the minihalogen lamps) for a basking spot.
5. Chameleons can see red light, so no lights should be on at night at all. If the house stays above 55*F, your chameleon will be fine. They like a temperature drop at night.
6. Move the speakers. Chameleons are sensitive to vibration, and the vibration from the speaker will cause stress.
7. If you leave your lights on late, get a dark cloth to cover the cage.

A few things you need to do that may cost you a little money:

1. Go to a hardware store or Walmart and get a plant . Look for a "Golden Pothos" or an "Umbrella Plant" but a "Ficus Benjamina" would also be okay. - something bushy that you chameleon can hide in. Many types of house plants are toxic; veiled chameleons will nibble on plants, so if you have any questions on whether something is safe, you can ask here. Plants may cost from $10 to $25 each. Wash off the leaves with warm water and cover the dirt with large rocks so your chameleon cannot eat the dirt.
2. Do you have a UVB lamp? You MUST have one, if not. You should buy the long tube kind if you can. Get a 5.0 strength. The fixture (ballast) may cost about $15 and the tube will cost about $20. The tube should last about 6 months and then needs to be replaced.
3. Get some more of those bendy vines ($10 to $20 each) or if you can, get some free sticks. Clean off the bark and bake in the oven at 350*F for 30 mins. Make lots of pathways about 6-8" apart for your chameleon to climb on both horizontal and vertical.
4. Get a digital temperature and humidity gauge. Not the dial kind, they are notoriously inaccurate. I found one at a pet store for $12.

A few questions for you:

1. Are you supplementing your chameleon? If so, with what brands and how often?
2. What types of bugs are you currently offering? What types of fruit? How often?
3. What are the temperatures in your cage at the basking spot and at the bottom? What is the humidity?
4. How often do you spray your chameleon?

Here are some EXCELLENT resources to get you started:

1. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
2. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/enclosures/
3. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/

Like I said, it can be overwhelming. One step at a time. The grey/brown color means that your chameleon is stressed out which can lead directly toward your chameleon getting sick or dying. I bet when you put a plant and more branches in the cage, he will perk up quite a bit. Don't get discouraged - the care sheet is your new Bible. It will give you all the basics.

Dig into this list, do a LOT of reading here on the forum, and remember that we are here to help you. Best of luck!

Well thought out post, one of the best i have seen.

Nick

 

[katzemrak]

If you post the back of the feet we can tell you for sure. Please read the link I am attaching. Your set up needs improvement for sure. Foilage is a top priority as he probably is feeling very vulnerable being in the open. More vines and branches also. Remove the mulch at the bottom. That is very dangerous for your chameleon if injested.

I'll try and upload a photo tomorrow as my lil man is sleeping now. We've been definitely looking around for some foliage but wasn't sure what would fit, we'll look at more vines and branches for sure and take out the mulch, thank you!

 

[katzemrak]

I agree, no MBD appears to be present, looks good.. The enclosure on the other hand needs A LOT of work.. The bark on the floor needs to be removed, more vines/branches need to be added, a live plant would be great but even some fake pythos vines woven through the branches and vines would help a lot with creating cover and shade..
Is that a bookshelf speaker right behind the enclosure? If it is I would move that ASAP too, I doubt he has the same music tastes as you, the vibrations will piss him right off
Don't leave the red basking bulb on at night either, if the night temps are going down below 55ish at night, get a ceramic heat emitter bulb instead.
For daytime basking, just use a regular incandescent light bulb, You will have to play around with the wattage and distance for the basking spot to get the proper temps

We'll definitely work on the enclosure, thank you so much! That "bookshelf speaker" is actually a very old radio that doesn't work, so that's nothing to worry about. We turn off all the lights at night and the temps are staying around 70

 

[katzemrak]

First, a few things you are doing correctly:

1. Screen cage
2. Coming here for advice!

Pet stores are notorious for giving the wrong advice and selling the wrong supplies for chameleons. Their care is much different from many other lizards. It can be a lot to take in; don't get discouraged - everything is fixable. Take it one step at a time.

A few things you can do right now at minimal to no cost:

1. Get rid of the bark on the bottom. It grows all sorts of nastiness and will make your chameleon sick. Plus some chameleons will eat it and it may block their intestines.
2. Remove the water bowl. Chameleons prefer dripping/moving water and some chameleons will not drink from bowls at all. Chameleons like to poop in standing water, water bowls grow bacteria, and crickets fall in them an drown.
3. Get a "Little Dripper" ($7 at most pet stores) or make a dripper from a plastic cup with small holes poked in the bottom. Set it on top of the cage and let it drip. You may have to put down paper towels until you set up a drainage system.
4. Get rid of the red light. Use a normal 60 or 75 watt house bulb or a 25W halogen bulb (if you have one of the minihalogen lamps) for a basking spot.
5. Chameleons can see red light, so no lights should be on at night at all. If the house stays above 55*F, your chameleon will be fine. They like a temperature drop at night.
6. Move the speakers. Chameleons are sensitive to vibration, and the vibration from the speaker will cause stress.
7. If you leave your lights on late, get a dark cloth to cover the cage.

A few things you need to do that may cost you a little money:

1. Go to a hardware store or Walmart and get a plant . Look for a "Golden Pothos" or an "Umbrella Plant" but a "Ficus Benjamina" would also be okay. - something bushy that you chameleon can hide in. Many types of house plants are toxic; veiled chameleons will nibble on plants, so if you have any questions on whether something is safe, you can ask here. Plants may cost from $10 to $25 each. Wash off the leaves with warm water and cover the dirt with large rocks so your chameleon cannot eat the dirt.
2. Do you have a UVB lamp? You MUST have one, if not. You should buy the long tube kind if you can. Get a 5.0 strength. The fixture (ballast) may cost about $15 and the tube will cost about $20. The tube should last about 6 months and then needs to be replaced.
3. Get some more of those bendy vines ($10 to $20 each) or if you can, get some free sticks. Clean off the bark and bake in the oven at 350*F for 30 mins. Make lots of pathways about 6-8" apart for your chameleon to climb on both horizontal and vertical.
4. Get a digital temperature and humidity gauge. Not the dial kind, they are notoriously inaccurate. I found one at a pet store for $12.

A few questions for you:

1. Are you supplementing your chameleon? If so, with what brands and how often?
2. What types of bugs are you currently offering? What types of fruit? How often?
3. What are the temperatures in your cage at the basking spot and at the bottom? What is the humidity?
4. How often do you spray your chameleon?

*We use Zilla Calcium supplement food spray which is used daily on his crickets
*Bugs are gutloaded crickets and meal worms (once in a while) we're unsure of what fruit he will eat.
*Temperature is 80 during the day, and 70 at night, humidity is in the 40-50s range
*We spray him 2-3 times a day depending on how the humidity looks

Thank you so much for all of the help! We were worried that he was getting sick or something.

We had a smaller tank for him before, a 15 gallon two side open air tank, and he would dig into the ground, is that normal??

Thank you!

 

[katzemrak]

O, and yes we do have UVB lighting, right now we have two, although I think we're returning one of them.

 

[SRTtoZ]

Digging at the bottom? You may have a female on your hands.

 

[Lathis]

How is your little *lady* doing? Any updates?
Do you have the info for setting up a laying bin for her, just in case?