Chameleon care

[ChamSquad]

So I’ve had my chameleon for a week now, he’s a male veiled around 1 1/2 months. I handle almost every day for about 20 minuets (unless he is sun bathing). I feed 3 times a day, eating crickets(I give the crickets carrots and tomatoes). I use repticalcium supplements with d3 once a week and without d3 twice a week and herptivite vitamins once every other Monday. I use a spray bottle to mist for about 2 min 4/5 times a day. When I first got him last Friday it took him until Thursday to poop, he was still eating and drinking in between that time and I also tried a warm bath Thursday so I think that helped. I got him at reptile store downtown Toronto, he was bred there becuase the owner had the parents as well. I bought the zoo med reptibreeze chameleon kit. It came with a 20x20x30 cage, Reptisun 5.0 uvb bulb and I’m using an 100 watt incandescent light bulb(not sure if that’s too high, but his basking spot is usually around 80 Fahrenheit). So my problem is that he keeps squishing his eye against the wood or the popsicle stick bridge where he chills and I’m not sure if that’s normal becuase he seems fine after, his eyes don’t look deformed or different after.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your chameleon. I have a blog for new keepers of veiled chameleons that I’ll attach below along with a link to the forums resources which will give you even more info to keep your little man healthy.

From looking at his poop, he may be a little dehydrated. I recommend a dripper along with misting. Not having enough to drink can cause constipation. I also recommend a large variety of well gutloaded feeders. Tomatoes are not a good food to use for gutloading. Try greens, butternut squash, sweet potato and green peppers. Some small silkworms or small horns would be allot better alternative than a bath. Try lindasgonebuggie.com. Her value packs are $20 for a variety of feeders in small amounts just perfect for one chameleon. Email Linda and tell her you have a baby and she will make you a value pack of all small feeders.

Go easy on the supplements. Over supplementing can cause your chameleon’s organs to calcify. Does your chameleon get any outside time? If so he will not need much supplementing at all. I would recommend not using D3 more than twice a month ever. If he goes outside he want need any D3.

It’s most likely your lights that’s bothering his eyes. I do not like the coil bulbs and do not recommend them. How are you checking his temps? 100 watts sound way to hot for a baby and if you don’t move that ladder down or raise the lights up off the cage he can get a burn. Please check the links below for more detailed info.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-with-young-veiled-or-panther-chameleons.325/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

 

[ChamSquad]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your chameleon. I have a blog for new keepers of veiled chameleons that I’ll attach below along with a link to the forums resources which will give you even more info to keep your little man healthy.

From looking at his poop, he may be a little dehydrated. I recommend a dripper along with misting. Not having enough to drink can cause constipation. I also recommend a large variety of well gutloaded feeders. Tomatoes are not a good food to use for gutloading. Try greens, butternut squash, sweet potato and green peppers. Some small silkworms or small horns would be allot better alternative than a bath. Try lindasgonebuggie.com. Her value packs are $20 for a variety of feeders in small amounts just perfect for one chameleon. Email Linda and tell her you have a baby and she will make you a value pack of all small feeders.

Go easy on the supplements. Over supplementing can cause your chameleon’s organs to calcify. Does your chameleon get any outside time? If so he will not need much supplementing at all. I would recommend not using D3 more than twice a month ever. If he goes outside he want need any D3.

It’s most likely your lights that’s bothering his eyes. I do not like the coil bulbs and do not recommend them. How are you checking his temps? 100 watts sound way to hot for a baby and if you don’t move that ladder down or raise the lights up off the cage he can get a burn. Please check the links below for more detailed info.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-with-young-veiled-or-panther-chameleons.325/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

he does not get any outside time because it is still too cold but when its a sunny day ill let him bask in the sun light and I use a zoo med digital thermometer. if you could share your calcium plan that would be helpful. thanks

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Do not use tomatoes to gutload your crickets...tomatoes are toxic to chams. Kale...apples...carrots...dandelion grees etc. are good. Do a search in this forum on gutloading and you will find more information.

 

[leedragon]

Do not use tomatoes to gutload your crickets...tomatoes are toxic to chams. Kale...apples...carrots...dandelion grees etc. are good. Do a search in this forum on gutloading and you will find more information.

are you sure about that? as far as I know the part that is toxic is the plant and no the fruit itself.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

are you sure about that? as far as I know the part that is toxic is the plant and no the fruit itself.

No...I guess I just assumed since the plant was toxic the fruit was to. I'm bad.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/gut-loading-dos-and-donts.58787/
This link might help with the tomato question.

 

[jannb]

he does not get any outside time because it is still too cold but when its a sunny day ill let him bask in the sun light and I use a zoo med digital thermometer. if you could share your calcium plan that would be helpful. thanks

If your chameleon doesn’t get regular outside time, I recommend lightly dusting with plain calcium without D3, 5 to 6 times a week, calcium with D3 twice a month and a multivitamin twice a month. On the days you use D3 and multivitiman do not use the plain calcium.