EVERYTHING needed for a happy cham?

[Amanda1801]

Hi,

Colin (whos start in life was poor!) is getting his new pad next week, and I'd just like to make sure that I have everything he will need!

His new vivarium will be a 2ft x 2ft x 4ft reptibreeze

To go in it for decor I have...
several artificial strips of leaves (silk and plastic)
fake branches and vines
a 4ft ficus

For feeding:
Several small feeding cups that will be placed around the vivarium and different ones used each feeding to encourage him to "hunt".
Veg clips (aquarium style) for hanging fresh leaves etc.

Lighting: 60W incandescent spot light (may have to re-evaluate this when I have the
set up sorted as its currently working well in a 2ft tall tank)
reptisun 5.0 UV bulb (18")
Ordinary low energy bulb (emits v. little heat, but use for lighting when the heat lamp isn't on)

Misting/water
I use a handheld mister, and aim it onto the plastic leaves at the moment as they hold the watter better for drinking. I'll aim to get them to drip into the ficus in the new set up.

Any comments/suggestions/constructive criticisms or anything I'm forgetting?!

 

[jannb]

You might find my blog useful.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[carol5208]

I would get yourself a dripper so you can provide water throughout most of the day besides the mistings. I use one of the "Little Drippers" and it works well. They also sell the "Big Dripper"

 

[Amanda1801]

I would get yourself a dripper so you can provide water throughout most of the day besides the mistings. I use one of the "Little Drippers" and it works well. They also sell the "Big Dripper"

Oh I forgot about that, I have one, it's like a log looking thing that attaches as part of the decor inside but is hollowed out for water (has a lid!) and a controllable flow dripper

 

[warpdrive]

For feeding:
Several small feeding cups that will be placed around the vivarium and different ones used each feeding to encourage him to "hunt".
Veg clips (aquarium style) for hanging fresh leaves etc.

Any comments/suggestions/constructive criticisms or anything I'm forgetting?!

I highly recamend that at least at the start that you do not do this. it's not that he is dumb, but they need to have consitancy and also it will take him time to learn the new cage and feeding spot that you are providing.

I personaly only use feeding cups for babies that I may not always have the time to give them the personal attention that they need each day. in fact I highly recamend free ranging their food for "true" hunting and for my chameleons it has worked out extreamly well for me.

even when raising my baby Quads, I free range their food besides the feeder cup.
(to be honest, as much as I like to use feeder cups, it always turns out that once I see them hunting well, the cups wind up never being used again unless I'm in a rush to feed and that's it. empty for 29 days out of the month.)

adding too many feeder cups in the begining may work out well for you but I personaly just don't see the need for it and with any troubled chameleon that may be going into a new environment is more then likely the worse idea.

above all, I wish you lots of luck.

Harry

edit: I also don't know anyone who uses clips like that for greens and fruit. they use feeder cups. just how are they to remove fruit and greens from the clips I don't know. but maybe I just don't understand. they are not not saltwater fish that will pick at it. they need to be able to remove the food easy.

 

[Silkyslim]

Oh I forgot about that, I have one, it's like a log looking thing that attaches as part of the decor inside but is hollowed out for water (has a lid!) and a controllable flow dripper

What is this thing you speak of? Can you provide a link to one? I been thinking about installing a dripper in my chams free range and if the thing looks like a log I am totally game to buy one myself.

 

[Amanda1801]

What is this thing you speak of? Can you provide a link to one? I been thinking about installing a dripper in my chams free range and if the thing looks like a log I am totally game to buy one myself.

http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...dishes-422/lucky-reptile-dripper--245558.html

Thats what I got!

 

[Amanda1801]

I highly recamend that at least at the start that you do not do this. it's not that he is dumb, but they need to have consitancy and also it will take him time to learn the new cage and feeding spot that you are providing.

I personaly only use feeding cups for babies that I may not always have the time to give them the personal attention that they need each day. in fact I highly recamend free ranging their food for "true" hunting and for my chameleons it has worked out extreamly well for me.

even when raising my baby Quads, I free range their food besides the feeder cup.
(to be honest, as much as I like to use feeder cups, it always turns out that once I see them hunting well, the cups wind up never being used again unless I'm in a rush to feed and that's it. empty for 29 days out of the month.)

adding too many feeder cups in the begining may work out well for you but I personaly just don't see the need for it and with any troubled chameleon that may be going into a new environment is more then likely the worse idea.

above all, I wish you lots of luck.

Harry

edit: I also don't know anyone who uses clips like that for greens and fruit. they use feeder cups. just how are they to remove fruit and greens from the clips I don't know. but maybe I just don't understand. they are not not saltwater fish that will pick at it. they need to be able to remove the food easy.

Because of his MBD hes quite slow at moving about and stuff so getting free range food for him is difficult at times, hence why I came up with the multiple (like 2-4 max) feeding cups. Also I find that if he sees where you put the food, he goes straight for it, so it shouldn't take him too long to get the hang of it (although he is infact pretty dumb!)

Also I was going to just use the clip to clip leaves in for him to eat as he would from a live plant - how is veg provided in a feeder cup (how cut up and stuff) - whether he will even eat it is another matter because he's never seen a real leaf before (until he got his new ficus which he will have in his new pad!)

 

[warpdrive]

Because of his MBD hes quite slow at moving about and stuff so getting free range food for him is difficult at times, hence why I came up with the multiple (like 2-4 max) feeding cups. Also I find that if he sees where you put the food, he goes straight for it, so it shouldn't take him too long to get the hang of it (although he is infact pretty dumb!)

Also I was going to just use the clip to clip leaves in for him to eat as he would from a live plant - how is veg provided in a feeder cup (how cut up and stuff) - whether he will even eat it is another matter because he's never seen a real leaf before (until he got his new ficus which he will have in his new pad!)

I was unaware of your cham's condition before I was pointed to that post from another member. now that I have some info as to the chameleon's health, and god help you with him...I'm so deeply sorry that you have to go through this.

I still highly recamend the same advice...I didn't read what anyone said on that thread as I'm going through a crises. but I did look at the photos for as long as I could stand it while on the phone with that other forum member...then I had to walk away because I got too upset with what you were sold.

originaly you didn't post the seller...if you still didn't, then please do right away and if Brad bans you for doing so, regardless of the forum rules he can ban my rear behind as well. I have been robed from site sponcers before (highly respected sponcers too) and I wouldn't be able to post what happened on here because of the rules and you wont be getting any help from me now. (so ban me Brad for telling this person to do something that is against the rules and you'll lose a well respected forum member who is always willing to help.)
(yet, I wasn't baned for posting the photo's and history of a chameleon I got from a site sponcer, and in the end I helped save the live of a chameleon on the verge of death apon arival. now that female is so healthy that I was just able to breed her a year later. so I dought that you will be baned.)

this cham needs highly detailed care that I can't go into in vast detail on this forum.
but it may need a net to suport it up high, and plenty of other things that needs to be spoken over the phone to give you a lot of details on how to fully care for it. since after or durring my sugestions on the phone, you'll be able to continue asking questions and if needed I can clarify anything you need right away.

I'm no pro and don't know everything. also, sometimes, no matter what or in who's care, the health of an animal is in God's hands if it will make it. but I'm willing to do anything to help you and you'll need all the help you can get.

above all, this animal needs to see a vet right now.

please, please, PM me and I'll give you my phone number.

I will pray for you and the cham.

Harry
forget the dripper unless he can walk well. forget a big cage as he will die right away in it.

 

[Amanda1801]

Thanks for your concern I chose to do this for him and he is a pleasure to have so theres no need to be sorry! While I'd love to have another, healthy cham, Colin is taking up the majority of my time and financial resources at the moment, so won't have another one for a little while!

I got him from a randomer who had him advertised in a classifieds paper. I was going to take him on the condition that he was healthy after a trip to my vet, but seeing the state he was in, I took him right away - figured he was better off with me as someone with zero experience and knowledge but willing to learn, than his previous ignorant owner.

He is doing really well, I've had him a month now, and he's gaining weight nicely and becoming stronger etc. He has a specific treatment plan from my vet and his MBD is monitored by x-rays and such. He's doing well and is very happy now

He moves about fine, had no accidents so far, so I think he's ready for a bigger vivarium now. Plus, having more room to move about and such will work his tiny little muscles and allow him to gain strength and continue to improve further.

I like to think that his health and care is in my hands rather than God's, along with the assistance of my vet - and like I said, he's doing very well, and everyone is very pleased with his progress!

Amanda

 

[summoner12]

Automated misting can really help keep a cham well hydrated and help keep cage humidity where it needs to be.