VC Floki
New Member
Hello, I am new to this Forum. Floki is our first lizard and he is a Veiled Chameleon and he is about 4 or 5 months old. We are aware this is not a beginner lizard, but we have a strong local VC support network. My wife and I are both professionals in our late 30's with no kids, but we do have an old dog and cat at home. We did tons of research online and talking to our local reptile store before we decided to purchase Floki in Dec of 2020. Currently he lives in an aquarium with a screened top and this is a temporary home. We were told that a baby VC needs to hone in on their hunting skills in a smaller enclosure before they get put into a larger unit. I am looking into making my own cage with at least 3 sides being screens. I haven't pinned down the exact size of the cage, but it will be at least 3 feet by 3 feet and at least 4 feet tall. But before I start to finalize this, I would appreciate some feedback from others about what kind of plants can go in it. I am hoping to have some kind of live plant in it. I will also have ways to connect a rope inside so that he can walk on it, and a way that will make it so that it can easily be changed to create different paths. I understand this is a big undertaking, but during these COVID times, I find myself with more time on my hands then usual. We are open to any comments that can help us improve the life of Floki.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Currently he is in an 25L aquarium with a screen top. Currently building an adult enclosure, see initial help inquiry.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? When I went to Reptile Kingdom I explained the current Aquarium and future Cage and bought what they said I would need in Dec 2020. Both Heat Light and UVB light are ZooMed. Heat light is “Deluxe Porcelain Clamp Light” and we have a 34” T5 High output Reptisun Terrarium Hood. The UVB light sits on top of his aquarium and he has a spot to rest about 6 inchs from the UVB. I have the Heat Lamp clamped above his aquarium about 6 inchs with a resting spot just below him to lay under. If he basks to long under this spot he will lay with his mouth open. I am aware that the UVB light bulb will probably need to be checked or replaced after 12 months of use. Both lights get turned on at the same time everyday and remain on for about 12 hours.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Daytime range is between 75 to 80 at the top of his aquarium, and we have a ZooMed Digital Combo Thermometer well as a Digital Thermometer Laser. The temperature directly under his basking heat lamp is pretty steady at 85 during the day. Nightime temp drops to 67 to 75.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Daytime humidity is typically between 30% and 80%, and nighttime his humidity may drop a little lower then that. In his new home I will have a mister or a fogger, open to suggestions
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? None right now, but his new home will have this.
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? The aquarium is currently 3 ft off the floor, near a huge big window, so he gets extra sun that way.
Location - Where are you geographically located? I live in a small town outside of Niagara Falls in Canada.
- Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Male veiled chameleon. Approximate age, 5 months. Has been in my care for 1 months.
- Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Right now a few times a week, as his temporary aquarium is high maintenance.
- Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Right now he eats about 8-10 small to med size crickets a day. Any crickets he does not eat get removed from his cage before lights outs.
- Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I use Repti Calcium powder on my crickets every other day. This has calcium and D3. Click HERE for more info. I also have a very nice setup for the crickets and they get Gut loaded with either Apples, Carrots or potato’s. I will be using the gutloading method of blending and freezing as per the care sheet found on this forum.
- Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Currently we spray his cage when the lights go on and lights go off. We have seen Floki drink before. I have a sensor inside his cage.
- Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? poop is brown and firm, but still moist, urine is mostly clear
- 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? Currently he is in an 25L aquarium with a screen top. Currently building an adult enclosure, see initial help inquiry.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? When I went to Reptile Kingdom I explained the current Aquarium and future Cage and bought what they said I would need in Dec 2020. Both Heat Light and UVB light are ZooMed. Heat light is “Deluxe Porcelain Clamp Light” and we have a 34” T5 High output Reptisun Terrarium Hood. The UVB light sits on top of his aquarium and he has a spot to rest about 6 inchs from the UVB. I have the Heat Lamp clamped above his aquarium about 6 inchs with a resting spot just below him to lay under. If he basks to long under this spot he will lay with his mouth open. I am aware that the UVB light bulb will probably need to be checked or replaced after 12 months of use. Both lights get turned on at the same time everyday and remain on for about 12 hours.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Daytime range is between 75 to 80 at the top of his aquarium, and we have a ZooMed Digital Combo Thermometer well as a Digital Thermometer Laser. The temperature directly under his basking heat lamp is pretty steady at 85 during the day. Nightime temp drops to 67 to 75.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Daytime humidity is typically between 30% and 80%, and nighttime his humidity may drop a little lower then that. In his new home I will have a mister or a fogger, open to suggestions
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? None right now, but his new home will have this.
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? The aquarium is currently 3 ft off the floor, near a huge big window, so he gets extra sun that way.
Location - Where are you geographically located? I live in a small town outside of Niagara Falls in Canada.
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