CHScrusader
New Member
Is it normal for a 3-4 month veiled chameleon to sleep during the day? I've been noticing that he has been 'napping' for about an hour during the afternoon after he eats..
Day sleeping
- Thread starter CHScrusader
- Start date
Elizadolots
New Member
no....they aren't nappers.
You would benefit from completing the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ form. Click that link, copy the questions, paste them into a reply and add your responses. That will help people understand the situation.
Please be as specific as possible. Brand names of supplements and lights. "Fecal description" means "What does the poop look like?" Be vivid. Better: post a picture.
You would benefit from completing the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ form. Click that link, copy the questions, paste them into a reply and add your responses. That will help people understand the situation.
Please be as specific as possible. Brand names of supplements and lights. "Fecal description" means "What does the poop look like?" Be vivid. Better: post a picture.
FabrizioHC
New Member
Food comma?
But yeah, it's not good. Could you fill this out so we can help out a little more?
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.
Also, if you can, please post a picture or two of the little guy.
But yeah, it's not good. Could you fill this out so we can help out a little more?
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.
Also, if you can, please post a picture or two of the little guy.
CHScrusader
New Member
Chameleon info
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Veiled, male, about 4 months. In my car for 1 and 1/2 months
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Whenever I think of it. Once every other day
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Super worms, mealworms, Calciworms, fruit flies. About 15 small worms a day. Bowl goes in at 9 am out at 6 pm
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Tetra ReptoCal with D3 and herptivite without D3. ReptoCal once every other Wednesday herptivite twice a week.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have a mister/ bottle I spray him 3 times a day for 2 minutes. He drinks ALOT. I watch him lick the leaves.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Normal, white Urate with dark feces. Parasite tested 2 weeks ago.
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? Screen cage. Extra large reptibreeze with floor raised up from chair underneath as he grows. (24x24x48)
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 UVB strip light. And 50 watt basking bulb. 9 am to 7 pm for both
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking area.. About 88 degrees. Chill side heavily foliated, 81-83 degrees. Night temp about 71 degrees. I have gauges...
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 72-80% humidity.. By misting. I have a gauge.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes. I have a young schefflera/umbrella plant
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? In my bed room, top cage is as high as me.. 5'6".. Quiet area.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Pennsylvania. All seasons here.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. It sleeps occasionally here and there other wise it's 100% healthy.
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Veiled, male, about 4 months. In my car for 1 and 1/2 months
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Whenever I think of it. Once every other day
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Super worms, mealworms, Calciworms, fruit flies. About 15 small worms a day. Bowl goes in at 9 am out at 6 pm
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Tetra ReptoCal with D3 and herptivite without D3. ReptoCal once every other Wednesday herptivite twice a week.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have a mister/ bottle I spray him 3 times a day for 2 minutes. He drinks ALOT. I watch him lick the leaves.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Normal, white Urate with dark feces. Parasite tested 2 weeks ago.
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? Screen cage. Extra large reptibreeze with floor raised up from chair underneath as he grows. (24x24x48)
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 UVB strip light. And 50 watt basking bulb. 9 am to 7 pm for both
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking area.. About 88 degrees. Chill side heavily foliated, 81-83 degrees. Night temp about 71 degrees. I have gauges...
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 72-80% humidity.. By misting. I have a gauge.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes. I have a young schefflera/umbrella plant
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? In my bed room, top cage is as high as me.. 5'6".. Quiet area.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Pennsylvania. All seasons here.
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. It sleeps occasionally here and there other wise it's 100% healthy.
CHScrusader
New Member
Elizadolots
New Member
Great job on the form!!! And, he's adorable. I'm sure you know that.
There are always questions on the form, so don't freak out when we start asking them.
My questions are: what is the temperature at the basking spot at the top of the cage and what is the temperature at the bottom of the cage? Also, is 88 the average temperature for the cage?
I suspect your cage might be a tad on the warm side, that's why I'm asking. For a young one like that, I would suggest a basking temperature (the top 8-10 inches of the cage) of about 86 degrees falling to mid to low 70s at the bottom of the cage. When he gets a bit older you can have the temperature at the basking spot go up to 90, but you still want it to fall into the 70s at the bottom of the cage.
The temperature range is important. It lets your chameleon regulate his body temperature. If the entire cage is 88 degrees, he can never cool down and sometimes, they do need to cool down.
Oh, and I just love that you have a chair elevating the floor in the big cage...that's brilliant! I'm going to put that in my long list of "things to recommend that I've never actually done".
There are always questions on the form, so don't freak out when we start asking them.
My questions are: what is the temperature at the basking spot at the top of the cage and what is the temperature at the bottom of the cage? Also, is 88 the average temperature for the cage?
I suspect your cage might be a tad on the warm side, that's why I'm asking. For a young one like that, I would suggest a basking temperature (the top 8-10 inches of the cage) of about 86 degrees falling to mid to low 70s at the bottom of the cage. When he gets a bit older you can have the temperature at the basking spot go up to 90, but you still want it to fall into the 70s at the bottom of the cage.
The temperature range is important. It lets your chameleon regulate his body temperature. If the entire cage is 88 degrees, he can never cool down and sometimes, they do need to cool down.
Oh, and I just love that you have a chair elevating the floor in the big cage...that's brilliant! I'm going to put that in my long list of "things to recommend that I've never actually done".
blackened
New Member
I can see a few things in your chameleon husbandry that could be improved.
Feeders - If I were you I would work silkworms and/or hornworms in to your rotation as well. Maybe some crickets and/or cockroaches too?
Gutloading - I can't see any info on what you are gutloading your feeders with. If you are unfamiliar with the term or don't know exactly what to do I would start by checking out (the very wonderful) sandrachameleon's blog: link. She has a recipe for a dry gutload which can be used as a substrate for your superworms and mealworms.
Supplementation - standard supplementation schedule for a veiled chameleon is:
Plain calcium (phosphorus free & NO vitamin D3) with every feeder
Calcium with D3 once every two weeks
Multivitamin once every two weeks
Another method is to use something like Repashy Calcium plus. This is designed to use with every feeder. I'd recommend you do research in supplementation and find out what will work best for your cham and you.
The method you are using at the moment is giving your chameleon too little calcium. If continued this will result in hypocalcemia which is something you will definately want to avoid!!!
Lighting - You're using good bulbs
. However most people on this forum will recommend a 12 hours on 12 hours off schedule. Nice easy one to fix
Temperature - As elizadolots has suggested, your temps are just a bit higher than what is recommended by this forum. Basking spot should be about 82-86 for a male veiled of 4 months.
My guess is that your current problem is due to the lack of proper supplementation. Hopefully you've caught it early enough. Has your chameleon slept during the day since you got him or is it a recent development?
Feeders - If I were you I would work silkworms and/or hornworms in to your rotation as well. Maybe some crickets and/or cockroaches too?
Gutloading - I can't see any info on what you are gutloading your feeders with. If you are unfamiliar with the term or don't know exactly what to do I would start by checking out (the very wonderful) sandrachameleon's blog: link. She has a recipe for a dry gutload which can be used as a substrate for your superworms and mealworms.
Supplementation - standard supplementation schedule for a veiled chameleon is:
Plain calcium (phosphorus free & NO vitamin D3) with every feeder
Calcium with D3 once every two weeks
Multivitamin once every two weeks
Another method is to use something like Repashy Calcium plus. This is designed to use with every feeder. I'd recommend you do research in supplementation and find out what will work best for your cham and you.
The method you are using at the moment is giving your chameleon too little calcium. If continued this will result in hypocalcemia which is something you will definately want to avoid!!!
Lighting - You're using good bulbs
. However most people on this forum will recommend a 12 hours on 12 hours off schedule. Nice easy one to fix Temperature - As elizadolots has suggested, your temps are just a bit higher than what is recommended by this forum. Basking spot should be about 82-86 for a male veiled of 4 months.
My guess is that your current problem is due to the lack of proper supplementation. Hopefully you've caught it early enough. Has your chameleon slept during the day since you got him or is it a recent development?
Last edited:
CHScrusader
New Member
Yeah!! I though to myself.. Why spend all this money on gradually buying bigger cages when you can just by a extra large on and raise the floor? And so I did. It's not the best-looking but it definitely saves $$$.. And okay.. His basking spot is in the corner and that's about 87-88 degrees.. Can I just raise the bulb up from the cage? And my cool end about 78ish.. It changed hotter and colder throughout the day. Also, I will definitely check out that link of proper supplementation.. But I'm confused on the "gut loading" of worms.. I didn't think you can do that..if you feed them like a cucumber slice, do you just put it right in the worms' bedding? Thanks
CHScrusader
New Member
Ever since I got him he just closed his eyes for 20 or so minutes but then just go back to normal and play around and come to the front of the cage to come out on my shoulder.. He absolutely loves to be held (surprising) .. But I won't take him out unless he eats first or if I am going to hand feed him.
CHScrusader
New Member
Sorry.. I forgot to ask this.. Where can I get smaller silk or horn worms.. Like where do you even get them from? Any suggests websites?! Thanks.
blackened
New Member
Yeah, you can raise the bulb up until an appropriate temperature is achieved. Alternatively you could buy a lower wattage basking bulb.
Sandrachameleon gives a recipe for a dry gutload - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/575-january-2012-dry-gutload-recipe.html. It includes things like millet, barley, brewers yeast, bee pollen, spirulina, variety of nuts and seeds. For the worms I put this mix (like a powder after being ground up finely) in a tub for them and that's it. I don't add any wet food for the worms.
Hornworms and silkworms have different food from this dry gutload.
This would indicate to me that the problem was present before you received him. It doesn't sound too serious at the moment. Best advice I can give is to make the few changes suggested and be very vigilant. Keep an eye open for any more changes.
Since you're in a whole different country I'll let someone closer to you suggest some places for silkworms/hornworms.
I wish you both the very best of luck. Please let us know how you get on
CHScrusader
New Member
Definitely.. Those pictures I put up aren't too recent.. Maybe 2 weeks ago.. This one I just took of him about 15 minutes ago. Look healthy?
CHScrusader
New Member
How can I tell if he is dehydrated? I don't want the little guy to shrivel up!!!
blackened
New Member
In that pic there would appear to be dark lines around the eyes as if they are sunken in slightly. Sunken eyes are a tell of dehydration
Having said that you said his urates are white. If they are consistently white then your chameleon is well hydrated.
Possible just the lighting in the pic is off. I didn't mean to worry you
EDIT: I would, however, like to stress the importance of regular calcium with no d3 with almost every feeder. That is very important!
Having said that you said his urates are white. If they are consistently white then your chameleon is well hydrated.
Possible just the lighting in the pic is off. I didn't mean to worry you
EDIT: I would, however, like to stress the importance of regular calcium with no d3 with almost every feeder. That is very important!
CHScrusader
New Member
Consider it done!
