Cage location

[sticky2010]

Hello, I rescently purchased a 1 year old veiled chameleon and now working on getting him a bigger cage. I might be building it myself, something 2x2x4 size wise. live plants, etc.

I have the UV light and red lamp on all day however, the cage is sitting on my table near a big window facing south and the chameleon seems to move where the sunlight is instead of bulbs. He turns and flattens his body and towards the sunlight.

SO.... my question is this... if he is absorbing natural sunlight through out the day, bout 6 hours. Does he still need the UV bulb on all day as well, or at all?

I live in Sacramento CA btw, the sun here is very strong btw.

 

[kinyonga]

If the sunlight you are talking about is passing through glass then the UVB in it is doing no good.

 

[sandrachameleon]

UVB does not pass through glass.
Why a red lamp? The basking area should have a white / normal light bulb ( you are trying to emulate the colour of a sunbeam).

Be cautious of having the enclosure near a window, it may get too hot - watch the temperatures and make sure there is a gradient from top to bottom.

 

[renzo0684]

Fill this out please!

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[sticky2010]

Fill this out please!
Chameleon: 1 yo old male Veiled Chameleon. Ive had him since last friday.

Handling - Only once to clean the cage, placed him on my ficus tree where he sleept overnight inside the house.

Feeding - Crickets from petsmart, and gave him a few superworms. (I also have silkworm eggs on order.) I feed him bout 10 crickets a day and there is no schedule right now. Since I just bought the insects, the ones I gave him right away did not have time to be feed. Other ones are eatting bread, greens, potatoes, carrot, and orange cubes. The worms are eatting greens and crackers and orange cubes.

Supplements - Cal-Stron... I have not yet used it but planning on using it bout 2 times/day.

Watering - This one is tricky... When I picked him up a few days ago, the ficus tree he came with is mostly gone... he ate all the yound leaves. I have 15 gallons of purified water at home for my tropical plants. Soon as I brough him home I sprayed him from the bottle, and I noticed him drinking from the leaf (good sign)... The next few days I spray him about 4 times per day because my water bottle wont spray for several minutes (valve locks up), but I dont see him moving towards the leaves and drinking anymore. He just keeps opening his mouth when the mist is falling. I warm up the water now so when the mist hits it not a shock to him.

Fecal Descript- When I cleaned the cage, I noticed little turds that looked more like leaves.... I think its from all the ficus leaves the chameleon consumed. Tested? No idea...

History - Obviously not much since I just picked him up.... however the guy I purchased it from said he bought him from a local reptile shop, raised him to this age just fine. He also mentioned that he lets him out of the cage to walk around the house.
When I was in their house, I noticed it was kinda dirty and roomates, drumset etc... I figured the chameleon would be more social, but he is not. Does not like to be handled, turns away.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - the cage is 16x16x28... screen all sides. Located in my kitched by a huge window. Yes I know its too small for his age, I am going to be building one thats 2x3x4 feet this weekend maybe.

Lighting -I have a UVB 26w made by Exoerra Repti Glo 5.0 UVB and a 50w Heat Glo red lamp. Both sit on top of the cage.
Light Schedule is from 7am-7pm ish

Temperature -its about 80F during the day with about 50% humidity in my living room. The floor is probably same as room temp, and upper portion is around 85-90, depending on how close to the red lamp.
Overnight temps drop to about 65ish and about 67 in the kitchen.

Plants - Ficus... is the only plant left in there, i took the nasty looking plastick thing out that was just dangling there.

Placement -Kitchen by a big window on top of a table, il update with photos.

Location - Sacramento ,California

Current Problem -
1. Why do I no longer see him drinking water from the leaves?
2. Why does he move down in the cage where the sunlight hits him instead of the lamps above. And when his down there, he positions his body perpendicular to the sun and spreads his body into a leaf shape..
3. When I open the cage and drop a few crickets in there, he moves with lightning speed and eats them like he's been starving for days..
4. What is the best way to move him from the cage whel I clean it, how do I handle him without upseting him too much? When is the best time?
QUOTE]

 

[sticky2010]

any ideas?

Fill this out please!
Chameleon: 1 yo old male Veiled Chameleon. Ive had him since last friday.

Handling - Only once to clean the cage, placed him on my ficus tree where he sleept overnight inside the house.

Feeding - Crickets from petsmart, and gave him a few superworms. (I also have silkworm eggs on order.) I feed him bout 10 crickets a day and there is no schedule right now. Since I just bought the insects, the ones I gave him right away did not have time to be feed. Other ones are eatting bread, greens, potatoes, carrot, and orange cubes. The worms are eatting greens and crackers and orange cubes.

Supplements - Cal-Stron... I have not yet used it but planning on using it bout 2 times/day.

Watering - This one is tricky... When I picked him up a few days ago, the ficus tree he came with is mostly gone... he ate all the yound leaves. I have 15 gallons of purified water at home for my tropical plants. Soon as I brough him home I sprayed him from the bottle, and I noticed him drinking from the leaf (good sign)... The next few days I spray him about 4 times per day because my water bottle wont spray for several minutes (valve locks up), but I dont see him moving towards the leaves and drinking anymore. He just keeps opening his mouth when the mist is falling. I warm up the water now so when the mist hits it not a shock to him.

Fecal Descript- When I cleaned the cage, I noticed little turds that looked more like leaves.... I think its from all the ficus leaves the chameleon consumed. Tested? No idea...

History - Obviously not much since I just picked him up.... however the guy I purchased it from said he bought him from a local reptile shop, raised him to this age just fine. He also mentioned that he lets him out of the cage to walk around the house.
When I was in their house, I noticed it was kinda dirty and roomates, drumset etc... I figured the chameleon would be more social, but he is not. Does not like to be handled, turns away.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - the cage is 16x16x28... screen all sides. Located in my kitched by a huge window. Yes I know its too small for his age, I am going to be building one thats 2x3x4 feet this weekend maybe.

Lighting -I have a UVB 26w made by Exoerra Repti Glo 5.0 UVB and a 50w Heat Glo red lamp. Both sit on top of the cage.
Light Schedule is from 7am-7pm ish

Temperature -its about 80F during the day with about 50% humidity in my living room. The floor is probably same as room temp, and upper portion is around 85-90, depending on how close to the red lamp.
Overnight temps drop to about 65ish and about 67 in the kitchen.

Plants - Ficus... is the only plant left in there, i took the nasty looking plastick thing out that was just dangling there.

Placement -Kitchen by a big window on top of a table, il update with photos.

Location - Sacramento ,California

Current Problem -
1. Why do I no longer see him drinking water from the leaves?
2. Why does he move down in the cage where the sunlight hits him instead of the lamps above. And when his down there, he positions his body perpendicular to the sun and spreads his body into a leaf shape..
3. When I open the cage and drop a few crickets in there, he moves with lightning speed and eats them like he's been starving for days..
4. What is the best way to move him from the cage whel I clean it, how do I handle him without upseting him too much? When is the best time?
QUOTE]

 

[summoner12]

I have chams outside right now and late in the evening they are getting sun and there isn't any UVB left (sun is too low) in the light and they still 'bask' in the light. I also have chams inside that will move to the light coming in through the window. As others have said, UVB will not pass through glass, so why do they bask? I am not really sure. I think it has more to do with the light being 'real'. It is instinct to bask in it, so they do.

You should remove the red lamp and use a normal household lamp in the 50-75W range.

Some chams are closet drinkers. If the urates (the pee) is white, don't worry that you don't see him drink. If you'd like to maybe help him drink, put HOT water into the misting bottle. When the water comes out it should be 'warm' and the cham might be more inclined to drink.

How much do you feed? A healthy appetite isn't bad. If the cham is young, it will prolly eat all day if you'd let it. As chams get older they 'slow down'. A cham that is over 14 months old shouldn't be over fed. Maybe feeding every other day, and only 6-8 large crickets each feeding. Be sure to dust the crickets with the correct supplements.

Moving the cham... depends on the cham. If the cham is docile you can kinda just move him as you need. If the cham is agitated easily, try using a stick. I like to put a hand behind the cham and 'scare' it out onto a stick or hand. If you are spot cleaning, opening the cage and wiping it down with the cham inside should be just fine.

Edit: I didn't notice this at first.... but it looks like you are using a coil UVB lamp. You should also change that out for a linear lamp. The compact lamps aka CFL's are not a good choice of lamp. These lamps have had issues and might be part of the reason your cham is lower in the cage. CFL lamps have been known to kill chams. These types of lamps put out high concentrations of UVB and also in ranges of the UVB spectrum that isn't found in nature. If you would like to learn more about lighting check out the UV Guide website. There is a lot to take in, but take your time. You can also take a look at a recent article in the Chameleon eZine.

 

[sticky2010]

I feed charlie about 4-10 dusted crickets, sometimes a superworm as a snack. I tried slicing up apples and some letuce, no effect...
He did however successfuly produce several large dark turds and one white one,... I assume thats from hydration?
Going to ride my bike to partents' house today and start building a new 2.5x2.5x4 cage, made of wood and stainless metal.

I have chams outside right now and late in the evening they are getting sun and there isn't any UVB left (sun is too low) in the light and they still 'bask' in the light. I also have chams inside that will move to the light coming in through the window. As others have said, UVB will not pass through glass, so why do they bask? I am not really sure. I think it has more to do with the light being 'real'. It is instinct to bask in it, so they do.

You should remove the red lamp and use a normal household lamp in the 50-75W range.

Some chams are closet drinkers. If the urates (the pee) is white, don't worry that you don't see him drink. If you'd like to maybe help him drink, put HOT water into the misting bottle. When the water comes out it should be 'warm' and the cham might be more inclined to drink.

How much do you feed? A healthy appetite isn't bad. If the cham is young, it will prolly eat all day if you'd let it. As chams get older they 'slow down'. A cham that is over 14 months old shouldn't be over fed. Maybe feeding every other day, and only 6-8 large crickets each feeding. Be sure to dust the crickets with the correct supplements.

Moving the cham... depends on the cham. If the cham is docile you can kinda just move him as you need. If the cham is agitated easily, try using a stick. I like to put a hand behind the cham and 'scare' it out onto a stick or hand. If you are spot cleaning, opening the cage and wiping it down with the cham inside should be just fine.

Edit: I didn't notice this at first.... but it looks like you are using a coil UVB lamp. You should also change that out for a linear lamp. The compact lamps aka CFL's are not a good choice of lamp. These lamps have had issues and might be part of the reason your cham is lower in the cage. CFL lamps have been known to kill chams. These types of lamps put out high concentrations of UVB and also in ranges of the UVB spectrum that isn't found in nature. If you would like to learn more about lighting check out the UV Guide website. There is a lot to take in, but take your time. You can also take a look at a recent article in the Chameleon eZine.