lilLostduckie
New Member
So my husband and I have been very interested in keeping a chameleon. We have researched quite a bit, and I have a little experience, as my roommate had a veiled.
After researching, we decided that raising a baby wasn't quite right for our first time, and so put the word out to local stores and rescues that we were interested in a veiled or carpet juvenile to adult.
I guess we got lucky, as a store near us had one dropped off over the weekend. A male veiled, about 5-6 inches in length, but well established. We went tonight to see him, make sure he was healthy, no visible trauma, etc. He was NOT happy when we removed some ornaments to see him better, but we got a good look, and fell in love.
We started establishing a terrarium last week, though we only put the finishing touches on it Sunday. We originally started with an aluminum mesh Repti-Breeze, but unfortunately our house is just a bit too cool for that in the winter. Therefore, we purchased an enclosed tank with a mesh top after much research.
We are hoping that in the summer he will be able to enjoy an opened cage, but, for the winter at least, he will be enclosed. We have monitored the temperature and humidity levels closely yesterday and today, and are not bringing him home until Wednesday at the earliest, as we want to make sure they are maintained for him. So far, so good.
I live planted it, but some of my trees aren't quite big enough yet, so we have a few fake vines for the time being. I also decided on a waterfall, as I like it. Hopefully the sound will help stimulate him a bit, and he will enjoy a nice drink during tank misting in the mornings. My husband, being the amazing engineer he is, made the waterfall itself. It is self contained with a filtration system, as well as an easy way to empty it and replace the water for weekly cleanings.
Temperature is a happy 75-78 during the day, and humidity hovers around 60-65% with a morning misting. I am not sure what the exact temperature at night is, as my husband has the wonderful duty of getting up around 3 to check it, but he said that so far, so good!
We have a UVA/UVB strip light for day, and a blue heat bulb for night. We also have a small, ceramic bulb on 24/7 for a little extra heat, as the house will probably get cooler as the winter wears on. Darn oil heating. As I said before, we have a waterfall to help with humidity, and quite a few live plants happily enjoying the heat.
I will be posting pictures soon, we haven't decided on a name yet. We need to spend some time "with" him and see his personality first.
My only question is related to substrate. I have read quite a few articles saying that you really shouldn't include substrate, and others saying it is fine. We currently have coconut shavings in the bottom, which the smaller plants are planted in. The larger ones are in their pots. Any consensus on whether substrate is safe or not?
Still SOO excited to bring him home, hoping that the cage proves stable enough tomorrow to get him Wednesday!!
After researching, we decided that raising a baby wasn't quite right for our first time, and so put the word out to local stores and rescues that we were interested in a veiled or carpet juvenile to adult.
I guess we got lucky, as a store near us had one dropped off over the weekend. A male veiled, about 5-6 inches in length, but well established. We went tonight to see him, make sure he was healthy, no visible trauma, etc. He was NOT happy when we removed some ornaments to see him better, but we got a good look, and fell in love.
We started establishing a terrarium last week, though we only put the finishing touches on it Sunday. We originally started with an aluminum mesh Repti-Breeze, but unfortunately our house is just a bit too cool for that in the winter. Therefore, we purchased an enclosed tank with a mesh top after much research.
We are hoping that in the summer he will be able to enjoy an opened cage, but, for the winter at least, he will be enclosed. We have monitored the temperature and humidity levels closely yesterday and today, and are not bringing him home until Wednesday at the earliest, as we want to make sure they are maintained for him. So far, so good.
I live planted it, but some of my trees aren't quite big enough yet, so we have a few fake vines for the time being. I also decided on a waterfall, as I like it. Hopefully the sound will help stimulate him a bit, and he will enjoy a nice drink during tank misting in the mornings. My husband, being the amazing engineer he is, made the waterfall itself. It is self contained with a filtration system, as well as an easy way to empty it and replace the water for weekly cleanings.
Temperature is a happy 75-78 during the day, and humidity hovers around 60-65% with a morning misting. I am not sure what the exact temperature at night is, as my husband has the wonderful duty of getting up around 3 to check it, but he said that so far, so good!
We have a UVA/UVB strip light for day, and a blue heat bulb for night. We also have a small, ceramic bulb on 24/7 for a little extra heat, as the house will probably get cooler as the winter wears on. Darn oil heating. As I said before, we have a waterfall to help with humidity, and quite a few live plants happily enjoying the heat.
I will be posting pictures soon, we haven't decided on a name yet. We need to spend some time "with" him and see his personality first.
My only question is related to substrate. I have read quite a few articles saying that you really shouldn't include substrate, and others saying it is fine. We currently have coconut shavings in the bottom, which the smaller plants are planted in. The larger ones are in their pots. Any consensus on whether substrate is safe or not?
Still SOO excited to bring him home, hoping that the cage proves stable enough tomorrow to get him Wednesday!!
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