Feeding

[jj1214]

So I got a baby veiled chameleon last week and have been feeding him 5-6 pinhead crickets everyday. Is this enough? Should I feed multiple times a day?

 

[reptilover]

So I got a baby veiled chameleon last week and have been feeding him 5-6 pinhead crickets everyday. Is this enough? Should I feed multiple times a day?

Juvys and pinheads. Put 15-20 in there and remove uneaten at night. They find ur sleeping cham to be a good chew toy

 

[reptilover]

Are u dusting with supplements? Can we see ur setup? Ur care schedual? There's a great HOW TO ASK FOR HELP form thats good for all new members so were on board with what u got going on.
Welcome to CF better than Disney land

 

[jj1214]

I dust the crickets with supplements once a week with Fluker's Calciumhosphorus 2:1. I try to feed him everyday around the same time.
Where is that how to ask for help located?

 

[reptilover]

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.


COPY AND PASTE WITH UR ANSWERS

 

[jj1214]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon (Houdini) - Veiled, male, couple months (not exactly sure). He has been in my care for ~22 days
Handling - I take him out once a day for feeding so no more than 10 min.
Feeding - 5-6 pinhead crickets, gut loaded with Zilla Gut load cricket and insect food, around 10-11am everyday
Supplements - I dust the crickets once a week with Fluker's Calcium: Phosphorus 2:1
Watering - I made my own drip system and I mist about 2-3 times a day for 20-30 seconds. I have not seen him drink but I've seen him by the water.
Fecal Description - Kind of looks like bird poop, dark brown/black with some white. No testing done.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - 10 gal. glass tank with screen top. 12in tall, 20in wide, 10in deep. (Temporary until he gets bigger have a much larger screen cage waiting for him).
Lighting - Basking/Heat light (cant remember details about it), Exo Terra Repti Glo 13w 5.0 UVB. Turn lights on at 9am and turn them of at 9m, 12 hrs.
Temperature - 70-80 degrees, about 60-70 over night
Humidity - Average between 60-80%. Mist 2-3 times a day, use substrate (Zilla Jungle Mix Fir & Sphagnum Peat Moss and Zilla Lizard Litter Terrarium Moss Beaked Moss) to hold in moisture/humidity. Measured using Reptology Life Science Hygrometer.
Plants - No live plants, fake vines and branches.
Placement - Located in my bedroom on top of my dresser(4.5 ft). Placed away from vents and fan.
Location - Illinois

Current Problem - Feeding 5-6 crickets a day but, he didn't want to eat today and has been acting strange, closing eyes a lot.

 

[reptilover]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon (Houdini) - Veiled, male, couple months (not exactly sure). He has been in my care for ~22 days
Handling - I take him out once a day for feeding so no more than 10 min.
Feeding - 5-6 pinhead crickets, gut loaded with Zilla Gut load cricket and insect food, around 10-11am everyday
Supplements - I dust the crickets once a week with Fluker's Calcium: Phosphorus 2:1
Watering - I made my own drip system and I mist about 2-3 times a day for 20-30 seconds. I have not seen him drink but I've seen him by the water.
Fecal Description - Kind of looks like bird poop, dark brown/black with some white. No testing done.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - 10 gal. glass tank with screen top. 12in tall, 20in wide, 10in deep. (Temporary until he gets bigger have a much larger screen cage waiting for him).
Lighting - Basking/Heat light (cant remember details about it), Exo Terra Repti Glo 13w 5.0 UVB. Turn lights on at 9am and turn them of at 9m, 12 hrs.
Temperature - 70-80 degrees, about 60-70 over night
Humidity - Average between 60-80%. Mist 2-3 times a day, use substrate (Zilla Jungle Mix Fir & Sphagnum Peat Moss and Zilla Lizard Litter Terrarium Moss Beaked Moss) to hold in moisture/humidity. Measured using Reptology Life Science Hygrometer.
Plants - No live plants, fake vines and branches.
Placement - Located in my bedroom on top of my dresser(4.5 ft). Placed away from vents and fan.
Location - Illinois

Current Problem - Feeding 5-6 crickets a day but, he didn't want to eat today and has been acting strange, closing eyes a lot.

Okay. We will start with supplementing.. phosphorus free calcium without d3 every feeder
Every day a very light dusting. Phosphorus free calcium with d3 one day a month some do two. And a multivit once a month some do once every 2 months. I started with supplementing for I believe it may relate to ur problem. Some have discovered a repashy calcium plus supplement that is all in one. Use it every feeder every day nothing else.

Ur lighting Is correct.

I heavily recommend no substrate at all! Can cause Impaction and can hold excess mister leading yo upper respiratory infection..

I will respond more soon I'm worki.f and busy and I see these items need immediate attention.

I also recommend a small fan blowing Near the top of te tank that u know isn't Ideal. He needs fresh air. Stale air can cause problems.. in the white portions of the poop do u see yellows or orange colorations?

 

[reptilover]

I see u remove him for feeding... Why is this exactly?

 

[jj1214]

I see u remove him for feeding... Why is this exactly?

the people at the pet store suggested I place him in a container with the crickets to feed him since they're so small.

No orange or yellow in white parts of poop.
So no substrate, what should I line the floor with?
What kind of multiviti is best?

 

[reptilover]

the people at the pet store suggested I place him in a container with the crickets to feed him since they're so small.

No orange or yellow in white parts of poop.
So no substrate, what should I line the floor with?
What kind of multiviti is best?

Orange and yellow In poop is dehydration. Ur cham Is old enough to eat small crickets. Remove the substrate leave It bare and dry It at night. Live plants such as pothos will help with humidity and can be cleaned and repoted in organic dirt covered I with rocks larger than the cham can eat.. put 20 small crickets in his cage with no substrate tgey won't get lost and he may prefer to eat them there. Also try wax worms silk worms meal worms if he doesnt start eating. I'd lije a pic of ur cham and setup

 

[reptilover]

Supplementing... Most crucial part of getting ur cham up and running.. does ur calcium have D3? He needs no d3 daily and with d3 monthly.

Gutloading ur insects is also important. Feeding ur crickets nutrients u want In ur cham. a good starter Is carrots leafy greens romaine lettuce mustard greens collars greens dandilion leafs (pesticide free) apple slices for moisture. Things like that. U can find decent commercial gutloads but its limited.
Search sandrachameleon. She's the resident gutload master. She's got blogs on gutloading that are Awsome to say the least

 

[reptilover]

I know its alot to take In just take it a step at a time. Find a good vet in ur area witg cham experiece.

 

[jj1214]

the calcium dust I have has phosphorus and d3

 

[DavidBuchan]

Wow, he's tiny! Very cute, but a pet store shouldn't really sell a Cham that young..............Welcome to the forum
Anyway, here's a great basic caresheet I always recommend to new owners with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

 

[reptilover]

the calcium dust I have has phosphorus and d3

Wow he is tiny lil guy. Treasure it he grows fast.

Use ur d3 one time a month.
Get plain calcium with no d3 i like rep-cal brand. And a multivit I like herptivite. Also once a month

VERY LIGHT dusting. The color of the cricket should bearly change. Get the substrate out of there and first thinf in the mornig put 15-20 pinheads in there he will get em. Count em on there way In and at night flush as many out as u can.. much easier with no substrate. He neees more air circulation as well a small fan will do for now. U can also take a Eudora cup or solo cup cut It down a bit and put it inbthere with a branch leading Into it and put him near it so he sees there in there. He looks hydrated so that's good. Ur misting about right for a glass cage. With screen up it to 2-4 minutes of spraying. I and many use a chemical hand pump sprayer bit not ur priority right now. If crickers get out and on the floor and he snaps em he can get substrate in his mouth which can lead to Impaction.. no good.

So cute

 

[jj1214]

Thanks this is all very helpful.

 

[reptilover]

Wow, he's tiny! Very cute, but a pet store shouldn't really sell a Cham that young..............Welcome to the forum
Anyway, here's a great basic caresheet I always recommend to new owners with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

Thank u David! I was waiting the whole time for someone to step In and give me a hand

 

[DavidBuchan]

Thank u David! I was waiting the whole time for someone to step In and give me a hand

Lol, you were doing such a good job I almost didn't........saw the pics though and had to say how tiny and cute he was at least

 

[reptilover]

Lol, you were doing such a good job I almost didn't........saw the pics though and had to say how tiny and cute he was at least

I appreciate it. Very much. I've tried hard and put in many hours since my join date when I was a beginner with my first cham male veiled that was an impulse buy. I strive to provide accurate info. Cause I battled so much inaccurate info when I got frankie.

 

[carol5208]

I would not use a fish tank to house a chameleon. Get a screen cage or a terraium. They both provide proper ventilation. A screen cage preferably. A fish tank does not.