Could he be in the teenage years?

[WelshOneEmma]

A heater for...... Heating?

There isn't anything wrong with taking your Cham to a window for some heat basking... But he isn't getting any UVB. Plus from the pic I saw it seems he is cold...

From what we understood when we set this up, we would need a heater in the cage to cover any cold should it go below 18C at night, and this is what it was set up to do. The UVB light is a strip/linear light, 5.0 reptiglo. It is at the back of the cage, and shines in. The basking light is about 6 inches into the cage. The ambient temps of the cage are between 23-25C, and the basking light is at 30.5C. any higher he starts to gape. How does he look cold? The only pic i have of him on this thread, he is bright green and watching his food. And how can I take him to the window for basking, when the whole point of this thread is that I handled him a week ago and he went mental? I don't want to handle him anymore and stress him

 

[blackbetty]

Ive seen heaters outside to heat up a room, just never in a setup.. Some say use humidifiers, some say dont.. Everyone has their opinion.. Just asking what it was for..if there was a SPECIFIC reason for it or if it came with it when she bought it. Dude, lay off..Seriously. Its getting OLD..

Emma, You seem so nice and really care for them and thats all that counts

 

[chamelisa]

From what we understood when we set this up, we would need a heater in the cage to cover any cold should it go below 18C at night, and this is what it was set up to do. The UVB light is a strip/linear light, 5.0 reptiglo. It is at the back of the cage, and shines in. The basking light is about 6 inches into the cage. The ambient temps of the cage are between 23-25C, and the basking light is at 30.5C. any higher he starts to gape. How does he look cold? The only pic i have of him on this thread, he is bright green and watching his food. And how can I take him to the window for basking, when the whole point of this thread is that I handled him a week ago and he went mental? I don't want to handle him anymore and stress him

Hi,

This is a little off the subject too but I've seen some really nice enclosures similar to yours on the European forums. Here's a link to terrarium photos/posts. You may find some things to inspire you.

http://chameleonsvl.6.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=f7b57a7ef017e2d631af21ce0a5f2ccd

 

[chamelisa]

Have I pissed him off for life? Or is he entering his teenage years? Any ideas?

I've found that most of the time the males behave this way. It can happen off and on for years. Sometimes they get used to you and calm down to a degree, but I wouldn't say he is "pissed off for life."

There are ways that the behavior can be triggered.

I have a male that will flip out when I go to remove him from his cage. So I have to be tricky about it. I don't look at his eyes. When I take him out and if I'm not looking at his eyes, he doesn't flip out. But if I look at them, he gets defensive.

 

[summoner12]

From what we understood when we set this up, we would need a heater in the cage to cover any cold should it go below 18C at night, and this is what it was set up to do. The UVB light is a strip/linear light, 5.0 reptiglo. It is at the back of the cage, and shines in. The basking light is about 6 inches into the cage. The ambient temps of the cage are between 23-25C, and the basking light is at 30.5C. any higher he starts to gape. How does he look cold? The only pic i have of him on this thread, he is bright green and watching his food. And how can I take him to the window for basking, when the whole point of this thread is that I handled him a week ago and he went mental? I don't want to handle him anymore and stress him

I wasn't trying to make fun of you, sorry it came off that way.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

I wasn't trying to make fun of you, sorry it came off that way.

I didn't think you were trying to make fun of me. I know that we were taken for a ride when we bought the set up (as seems to be the situation with most people when they start out) but we only bought this in October, and have spent a lot of money on the set up and are trying to make the best of what we have. When we upgrade his enclosure, we will obviously look at doing things a little differently, but also have to take into account that it does get cold here, and set ups are slightly different due to the climate etc. It just gets a little frustrating when you are trying to do what everyone advises, yet you can take 10 experienced people from these forums and they seem to all disagree anyway!

 

[WelshOneEmma]

I've found that most of the time the males behave this way. It can happen off and on for years. Sometimes they get used to you and calm down to a degree, but I wouldn't say he is "pissed off for life."

There are ways that the behavior can be triggered.

I have a male that will flip out when I go to remove him from his cage. So I have to be tricky about it. I don't look at his eyes. When I take him out and if I'm not looking at his eyes, he doesn't flip out. But if I look at them, he gets defensive.

Thanks. I think I have learned my lesson with regards to how I handle him! He is still sulking at the top of the cage! I will try your tip next time we need to take him out. Thanks for the link to the European site. I think a few people on here will have issues with most of the set ups! I have an image in my mind of how i want his set up to look, so getting ideas from everyone. We are getting there. Slowly!

 

[BocaJan]

Emma, your little guy is beautiful! It seems to me that he is going from baby to juvenile. During a veiled's juvenile time they get real pissy and want to gape and hiss at everything. Feel lucky to have a veiled who can turn such pretty colors as yours. That coloring doesn't happen with most male veileds. In fact, I am trying to breed in the yellow coloring as we speak. I think it is a cool trait and something to be desired. In my experience I find that the veileds are all green when they are young, and as they age their colors change, so he's just doing what he is supposed to do.

Since most of this discussion seems to be on your cage I'm going to make just a couple of suggestions. Do as you will, I'm just brainstorming here. The big issue with a boxed cage such as yours is air flow. Since you have to wait a couple more months for a screened one, can you drill air holes in the wooden side? If your boyfriend is handy he could even cut out a chunk on each side and glue some screen over the opening to allow some air to flow. If not, how about putting some screen over the door opening and leave the door open? Mesh screen is pretty cheap and would wrap over the opening. You could secure with staples except for one side where you'd have to come up with something so you can get in and out. If all of this is impossible for you to accomplish how about a tree outside of his cage? Put it where you can keep an eye on him. This way he will get some roaming time and plenty of air.

Temperature differences should be around 75 for room temp. Under the basking lamp it should only be 10 degrees hotter, no more then 90. Nighttime temps can go down to 60. In fact, this is healthy for your cham to have it cooler at night. They sleep better and the cool down is necessary for their well being. Check your temps in all parts of your cage so your veiled has places to go to be warm and to be cool.

Lastly, if you want to keep him from climbing on the light fixtures and cords, put some screen over them. It is easy enough to do with a staple gun or a glue gun.

Modifications will require you to remove him from the cage :-D but I know you can do it! LOL Protect your hands with gloves or mitts until you get him out. He should calm down once he is removed. If you don't have a place to put him (tree???) then get a big box, put newspaper or paper towels bunched up on the bottom and throw in some sticks. Be sure he can't climb out - that will work quick and easy.

Good luck with your little guy. I love veileds and keep 4 of them.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Emma, your little guy is beautiful! It seems to me that he is going from baby to juvenile. During a veiled's juvenile time they get real pissy and want to gape and hiss at everything. Feel lucky to have a veiled who can turn such pretty colors as yours. That coloring doesn't happen with most male veileds. In fact, I am trying to breed in the yellow coloring as we speak. I think it is a cool trait and something to be desired. In my experience I find that the veileds are all green when they are young, and as they age their colors change, so he's just doing what he is supposed to do.

Since most of this discussion seems to be on your cage I'm going to make just a couple of suggestions. Do as you will, I'm just brainstorming here. The big issue with a boxed cage such as yours is air flow. Since you have to wait a couple more months for a screened one, can you drill air holes in the wooden side? If your boyfriend is handy he could even cut out a chunk on each side and glue some screen over the opening to allow some air to flow. If not, how about putting some screen over the door opening and leave the door open? Mesh screen is pretty cheap and would wrap over the opening. You could secure with staples except for one side where you'd have to come up with something so you can get in and out. If all of this is impossible for you to accomplish how about a tree outside of his cage? Put it where you can keep an eye on him. This way he will get some roaming time and plenty of air.

Temperature differences should be around 75 for room temp. Under the basking lamp it should only be 10 degrees hotter, no more then 90. Nighttime temps can go down to 60. In fact, this is healthy for your cham to have it cooler at night. They sleep better and the cool down is necessary for their well being. Check your temps in all parts of your cage so your veiled has places to go to be warm and to be cool.

Lastly, if you want to keep him from climbing on the light fixtures and cords, put some screen over them. It is easy enough to do with a staple gun or a glue gun.

Modifications will require you to remove him from the cage :-D but I know you can do it! LOL Protect your hands with gloves or mitts until you get him out. He should calm down once he is removed. If you don't have a place to put him (tree???) then get a big box, put newspaper or paper towels bunched up on the bottom and throw in some sticks. Be sure he can't climb out - that will work quick and easy.

Good luck with your little guy. I love veileds and keep 4 of them.

Thanks BocaJan! If you like the yellow, you would have loved his dad! We got to see him the day we picked Hugo up. He was huge! (I think he was about 12" plus tail) and apparently really docile. He had some lovely yellows in him. I love the orange 'eyebrows' that Hugo now has.

With regards to the cage, it does have ventilation holes in it. There are two large ones at the top right, and two large ones bottom left, to ensure airflow. We have a digital thermometer in there to keep an eye on temps. As mentioned earlier, the main temps are about 23C, with the basking light 30.5C (we have learnt his tolerances here, and anything above 30.5C is too hot for him). The temps go down to about 18C at night, so although we have the heater, it has never kicked in. We are looking for some more plants to go in, but it is taking time as we want to put a variety in there. Since we have put the extra vines in, he isn't climbing on the wires as much. Considering he currently sheds every 2 weeks, i think he will be quite big, so we will be getting a bigger enclosure, and will make sure we do everything right then! Good job I get a bonus this month!

 

[blackbetty]

It just gets a little frustrating when you are trying to do what everyone advises, yet you can take 10 experienced people from these forums and they seem to all disagree anyway!

Trust me, I know ALL about this.. Funny thing was, when He made the comment, I thought it was directed at ME, not you...So Im not why he apologized to you..

Everyone can be helpful, even those who don't have the Senior experience.. We all start new somewhere, but just because we are new on here, doesnt mean we are new to the chameleon world., so do not disregard someone because of it. Everyone is going to do things differently for what suits their needs. I think you are doing wonderfully and I apologize if any of my questions seemed harsh. I know the UK setups are much different from here and Im always curious to explore them. Everyone says NO glass in the Us but yet the majority of the UK are glass and that acceptable for them, so Im just always confused as to why? Like I aid, I think he seems happy.. and you seem to truly want the best and thats the best kind of chameleon keeper there is. Extra big smile, Have a Great day!

Boca: You rock.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Trust me, I know ALL about this.. Funny thing was, when He made the comment, I thought it was directed at ME, not you...So Im not why he apologized to you..

Everyone can be helpful, even those who don't have the Senior experience.. We all start new somewhere, but just because we are new on here, doesnt mean we are new to the chameleon world., so do not disregard someone because of it. Everyone is going to do things differently for what suits their needs. I think you are doing wonderfully and I apologize if any of my questions seemed harsh. I know the UK setups are much different from here and Im always curious to explore them. Everyone says NO glass in the Us but yet the majority of the UK are glass and that acceptable for them, so Im just always confused as to why? Like I aid, I think he seems happy.. and you seem to truly want the best and thats the best kind of chameleon keeper there is. Extra big smile, Have a Great day!

Boca: You rock.

Thanks Amanda! I am feeling a bit better today (guess i was a little sensitive yesterday!). I will do what it takes to get things right, and will happily take advice. I think some people forget that things in the UK are quite different! I have been looking at some of the European set-ups on the link that BocaJan gave me, but not keen on a lot of those. I need to find a balance between US style and European style! He has eaten about 6 large crickets today, so i think he is starting to come out of his grump!

 

[blackbetty]

Anytime. I am still curious why UK setups and US setups are so different. Are the materials not available over there to create the kind of viv we have here? Someday I'll get over there to find out myself.. Glad to hear he is eating. What are you able to feedhim? Do you have access to superworms or dubia roaches? He is quite handsome.. Leo got me ont he chin,,,REALLY good, so I know all about grumpy.. still freaked out when I try to move him to clean or feed him, but he will get used to you and chill out.. (or at least Im crossing fingers he does for ya). It can be hard ot get hammered and defenses go up..Just know that YOU are doing all you can and feel good about it and that's what counts.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

I don't know why the set-ups over here are so different. Maybe the temperatures and humidity play a role? After we had bought this one, we did find a kind of fabric screen one, with plastic frame, but it felt very flimsy to me. I have an image in my mind of how I want his enclosure to look, so I am working towards that.

When we first got him he was being fed crickets (eating about 20-25 a day) and we have now introduced locusts, which he seems to like, but fill him up a bit more. He maybe has about 8 locusts and then 10-12 crickets a day, so even though he's eaten 8 crickets today, you can see he is still stropping!

I haven't seen dubias here, but have seen morio worms, which is what I think you call super worms? I don't think he's big enough for those yet!

 

[blackbetty]

Did they look something like this: http://www.reptarium.com/

Many of us have those and they are quite sturdy and spacious. Leo has one that i think is 175 gallons.

I suppose weather would play a bit of a part, but Im still wondering if our style just hasnt made its way over there yet, or had a big enough influence to change the norm...

 

[summoner12]

I didn't think you were trying to make fun of me. I know that we were taken for a ride when we bought the set up (as seems to be the situation with most people when they start out) but we only bought this in October, and have spent a lot of money on the set up and are trying to make the best of what we have. When we upgrade his enclosure, we will obviously look at doing things a little differently, but also have to take into account that it does get cold here, and set ups are slightly different due to the climate etc. It just gets a little frustrating when you are trying to do what everyone advises, yet you can take 10 experienced people from these forums and they seem to all disagree anyway!

I think most of the 10 people you ask will give you the same answer. I wouldn't rely on post count as a means of measuring someones knowledge. It is a good indicator of participation.

As for your cage I have suggested to people in the uK to make plastic sides that can be removed from the cage when the weather is a bit nicer. I have not heard back from anyone to find out if they've tried it or if it works. You are essentially making a convertible cage.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

they might be something like that. I can't really tell from the website. we took the set up out of the box and did not like it at all. It was really flimsy. We will keep looking for the perfect set up!

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Well, he finally came out from the back of the tank today and has been basking. The last few times we have seen him he has been thin and brown (he only came out to hunt). Today, he is back to his greens (admittedly quite dark) and is looking HUGE! I think I just have a stroppy man on my hands!

 

[blackbetty]

Great to hear!!!!!!!!!!!! We all get a little shy sometimes

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Well he is back on his basing spot today (bless him, he is shedding again, which may explain the slight decrease in appetite). We have also bought another ficus, a schefflera, two dracaena's and a fern to go in the enclosure as well. That should help until we get the bigger cage.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

Ok, so we have washed etc the new plants and put them in. It is obviously quite full at the bottom half. We are trying to think of how to hang some plants from the top, as it is a solid roof, so we are working on this. Thoughts on how it currently is?