First time chameleon owner

[Reptar jr]

Hey everyone,

I just purchased my first chameleon ever, it is a female veiled, still currently unnamed. I purchased her from my local pet store so I am not too sure of the age but I am going to estimate it at around two months or so. I have had her for about three weeks now, she has already been through a shed cycle which went very smooth and took less than a day. She has been eating gutloaded crickets dusted with calcium w/o d3 every feeding, and she is an excellent hunter. I release the crickets free range and she eats around 12-20 crickets a day. Right now I have her in a small reptibreeze enclosure and I am in the process of building her a permanent enclosure that will be about 2x2x4. I have read up on laying bins, supplementation, husbandry and pretty much every other aspect and feel as if I have been providing the best care possible so far. However, I would love any advice on things that I should be sure to do, look for, or any general advice. Thanks and sorry if I left anything out, please ask if you have any questions.

Lane

 

[Solid Snake]

Welcome!
To you and her
Glad you found us
I recomend reading through the blogs on here. They are full of great information.

If you want a full assesment of her enclosure, and care so far, you can fill out our "how to ask for help" form.

Always ask any questions you may have, and again, welcome

(heres the form I referenced to)

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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[thephotoprincess]

She is a cutie! Congratulations!

 

[Whatcamo]

Congrats good looking baby

 

[Olimpia]

Congrats!

I used to have a female veiled, and she was great. Do you know how to keep her from producing any/as many eggs? http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html This is a great help!

 

[PantherEnvy]

You are in the right place. Welcome. Your female looks proud with her "puffiness".

 

[ataraxia]

Congrats and welcome to the forums!@

 

[Reptar jr]

Thanks for the comments so far everyone. As asked in one of the replies here is a more official form of how I've been taking care of her.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
-Veiled Chameleon, female (no noticeable tarsal spurs), I have had her for about three weeks.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
- In order to get her more acquainted with me I have been handling her about one a day, if she shows signs of stress then I place her back in her enclosure. She usually stays relatively calm though.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
-I've been feeding her well hydrated and gut loaded crickets around 12-25 per day depending on how hungry she is at each feeding. I usually do about three feeding sessions throughout the day and provide her with as many crickets as she will take in a five to ten minute span. I have been gut loading the crickets with a dry gut load product from flukers farm that is high in calcium, as well as greens and assorted vegetables. They are also provided water, in a non-drownable form.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
-I am currently using zoo med repti calcium without D3 every feeding, I also use rep-cal brand herptivite and calcium w d3 once every other 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 little dripper I use, as well as a spray bottle that I use to mist the enclosure with. I usually mist 2 or 3 times a day for about two minutes a piece depending on the humidity in the enclosure. I see her drinking pretty much everytime I mist the enclosure, as well as cleaning her eye turrets.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
-Brown cylindrical, with white urea as well. My cham hasn't been tested for parasites.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
-she has gone from five grams to nine grams since I've had her.

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
-Repti Breeze screen cage small size 16x16x20
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
-18" hood with 5.0 uvb light, also a heat lamp 40w. The lights are on from 8 to 8 every day.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
-Basking temp of about 80, floor temp of about 70, lowest overnight temp of about 60-65. I use a thermometer to measure the basking temp and nightly temps.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
-Try to maintain 50% through misting, I use an analog hygrometer to measure humidity.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
-Haven't been able to find any suitable live plants yet.
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?
-on top of a dresser, on the wall of my room, not near the fan or vent. Cage is visible from my door so not too much traffic but she can see me come and go.
Location - Where are you geographically located?
-Southeast US, Georgia

 

[laurie]

I am thinking on a scale of 1 to 10 you are hitting a 10. Welcome to the forum, you will be a great member and excellent example of how a new keeper should care for a Cham. I am very glad you joined us.

 

[Solid Snake]

I am thinking on a scale of 1 to 10 you are hitting a 10. Welcome to the forum, you will be a great member and excellent example of how a new keeper should care for a Cham. I am very glad you joined us.

I wasnt really asking, as much as offering I guess
...BUT...
I agree! Great job! Good luck on a name for her

 

[Reptar jr]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, its good to be assured you are doing everything right. At what age do veileds typically reach full adult coloration? Also does anyone else have any estimation or guess as to how old my baby is? And lastly, does anyone have any suggestions as far as names?

 

[Solid Snake]

Reptar sounds good
I would name him Bart

 

[Reptar jr]

Well Reptar was originally the name I was going to use, but I didn't think it was too fitting once I realized I had a baby girl not a baby boy. I think it could still work for her though.

 

[Solid Snake]

Oh
Well, Reptar could still work IMO.
I would name her Elli.

 

[Reptar jr]

Thanks for the suggestions. I just want something that captures her personality so I may just wait a few more weeks.