Brand new Chameleon Parent

[Kieonii]

I just purchased Our first male veiled Chameleon (about 4 months old) last week. He is a Christmas present for my 5 year old son, though I admit he's as much for me as as my son. I've wanted one since I was his age. Any advice to a newbie will be much appriciated. I've already read a couple books but first hand experience is always helpfull.

Kieonii

PS His encosure at the moment is smaller then I'd like. Will be upgrading in a few months. What is the best live plant to have in there with him. So far everything Ive looked at is too flimsy, It wont support his wheight. Currently have fake vines/leaves and a small Golden Pothos in there with him (which he seems to enjoy snacking on)

 

[nightanole]

SUCKER!!!!


But anyway. for trees pothos can take alot of abuse combined with sticks held up with tacks mounted cross ways on screen cages. Umbrella trees work good to if you dont hit them too much with the door or your hand.

Since he is 4 months old id shoot right for the big boy cage of an extra large 24x24x48 from lll reptile.

You can make it pretty plan on the bottom so he can hunt his food, and its easier to spot clean.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-49688/index26.html#post911106



PS i deal with 5 year olds all the time with lizards. I try to tell them that the lizard is happiest when you dont move around much. I also never have more then 2 5 year olds around at a time, it seems the spontaneous activity level is the log of the amount of children in the room. I also make sure they are sitting or at least have carpet/grass under them. They will drop the lizard as it crawls up the arm, or pitches. Id also advise getting a 10" stainless feeder tong, its easier for the kids, and easier to feed the lizard in a 2ft deep cage.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004H1MV5A

 

[Kieonii]

Thanks, Thats really helpful. As soon as I recover from Christmas breaking the bank that is about the size I was thinking. Didnt think about the tongs. I agree with you about the amount of kids. Typically I dont have too many kids over besides me 8 yr old niece. And he will know that he is not to hold him unless I am in the room to help take him out and supervise.

Ive read that they dont like being help too much anyhow. Mine however mostly doesnt seem to mind. He comes out without fuss. Ive read that their color reflects their mood but I cant seem to find any spesifics on what type of color measn what to them (besides Black=Angry/non receptive). For instance, Draco (his temp name till my son chooses one on Christmas) Is typically brownish with green and rust spots, however when Ive held him he turned a really pretty light yellow, and another time, bright green. Not sure if this means he his stressed or content. Any thoughts? No rocking or gaping either.

 

[Olimpia]

Hi, welcome to chameleons and to the forum!

Would it be possible for you to post a photo of your new little chameleon? We are suckers for photos and it helps us help you if you have questions about color or whatnot.

But it's typical for a chameleon to be sort of a duller version of themselves in their cages, since they are calm, and to get brighter when they are fired up (excited, threatening, showing off to a female, etc.) and very dark when basking or angry.

 

[nightanole]

Normally spots,stripes, high contrast mean angry or stressed, and bands/light colors means happy. For body language, thin with tail out while walking is good, completely scrunched up,flat, with a curled tail as bad. With the kids i just keep track of the tail. As long as his tail is stretch out while walking and getting petted he is find. However when he is done, he will start curling his tail up while he is walking. That means hes ok, but touch time is over and its time to go back in the cage.

PS since he is 4 months, in 60-90 days you will experience "teenage veiled syndrome". At that point i would try to hand/tong feed him as much as possible to win him over. I would also be very careful around kids at that point in life because he will be come very cage aggressive( never let anyone other than the prime care taker remove him from the cage, outside the cage he should be normal). A shed or 2 after that (additional month or 2) he should be an adult and hopefully turn back into a handleable cham.

 

[Kieonii]

. This is the only pic I have so far. He is at my moms until Christmas. That's good to know, about the color changing. Teenager huh? I can do moody, lol. Hand feeding is def doable. I'm not squeamish. Thank you guys do much. Good info

 

[Grant619]

New chameleon owner also

Hey yall grant from san diego got what was told a 1 year old veiled about 9" long healthy i guess eats on a regular moves around his cage but looks to have a bum arm he also shakes a little while walking. Any ideas other then the ones on here would be cool.

 

[Kieonii]

That's so sad. A lot of the reading Ive found mentioned that lack of calcium could result in those symptoms. I'm a rookie but the books suggested dusting crickets in calcium and gut loading them with high calcium foods (such as kale/carrot)
before feeding to your Cham. Also natural sunlight. Hopefully he improves.

 

[April19872006]

Is this color normal?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAAAAACE/Qhs6bHYaB1U/I/20121217_141938.jpg