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Nugthechameleon

Nugthechameleon

New Member
I just got my first Chameleon four days ago. It's a baby Vailed Chaneleon from Petsmart it was a Christmas Gift from a good friend. So far my little buddy seems to be ok. I got the kit they sell at Petco and a little dripper for water. Set up the artificial plants and put him in. First he was just hiding and stressing. On the second day he ate a cricket from my hand at night. I was trying to feed him with the cup but we wasn't to interested. In the third day in the morning he ate 3 crickets from my hand so I figured he was a bit more comfortable. But than I read up that live plants are better so I went to Home Depot to buy a bunch of plants for him/her?. I cleaned out the plants with dr bronners Magic soap. I'm not sure if that's the best solution but it felt right to me. Put little river rocks so he doesn't eat the dirt or anything just followed what I read up on a bit. When I put the plants in I took out the artificial one and left him with all new plants. He didn't like that cause he started to climb the mesh /screen and wouldn't go near any of the plants. So I put the artificial plant back in for him and he hid behind that. Took him out for a few minutes just to see if he/she gets use to me holding. The next morning he was walking over the new plants than I went and stressed him again by adding vines but he got use to those pretty quick. But he ate well this day about 3 in the morning and 4 at night. The next day he was on the new vines enjoying the heat light. Today he ate in the morning started sleeping on one of the new plants I hung in the cage I took him out for a bit as I usually do till he stops running and just kind of mellows out. Than I let him walk around the bed and when I later down I started to tough his head very gently and he started to fall asleep I'm hoping cause he just ate and is relaxed. So this is how it's going so far. I'm not sure what I'm doing so any tips are greatly appreciated. I want the best for this little creature so anything I should have that's a must please also drop a comment. He has a white spot in his head but I'm sure it's just dry skin. Once again just here telling my story always open to new friends and if this helped you great! Peace!
 

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Nug,

If you haven't discovered the sections......

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

Take a look at the above links and follow them to the letter. There are a few senior veiled keepers here that you will encounter as you explore the posts. You will find there advice a staple in veiled care. Research all you can and ask questions as you go. As you know, there are no "stupid questions" ever and some one will always respond to your inquiries. Hope to hear from you soon.
 
MSMorgan said:
Nug,

If you haven't discovered the sections......

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

Take a look at the above links and follow them to the letter. There are a few senior veiled keepers here that you will encounter as you explore the posts. You will find there advice a staple in veiled care. Research all you can and ask questions as you go. As you know, there are no "stupid questions" ever and some one will always respond to your inquiries. Hope to hear from you soon.
Click to expand...
Will do! Thank you!
 
Hello and welcome to the Forums!! That's a great looking guy you have there. Follow the links that MSMorgan placed in her response. They are great places for information. I will tell you that you need to put more branches in you enclosure. Having choices of what heights to sit at within the enclosure is important for thermoregulation. Also, Veiled Chameleons are notorious plant eaters. The plant that you have in the back left corner, Arrowhead Plant, is toxic. You really need to get that out of the cage as soon as possible. I would put a couple more pothos in his enclosure. The more live plants the better.
 
Hello,
Welcome to the chameleon forums!! First timer here greetings! Everyone Friends. There are great place for information follow the links and good response MSMorgan placed. Everyone on this site is so helpful and supportive and knowledgeable. Anything I can help anyone with I will because we share common worries, illnesses and needs. Every best wish----------------
stye .
 
jpowell86 said:
Hello and welcome to the Forums!! That's a great looking guy you have there. Follow the links that MSMorgan placed in her response. They are great places for information. I will tell you that you need to put more branches in you enclosure. Having choices of what heights to sit at within the enclosure is important for thermoregulation. Also, Veiled Chameleons are notorious plant eaters. The plant that you have in the back left corner, Arrowhead Plant, is toxic. You really need to get that out of the cage as soon as possible. I would put a couple more pothos in his enclosure. The more live plants the better.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Took it out right away appreciate that!
 
Congrats on your new little critter and good luck! It sounds like you are off to a great start. I'm a new member too so probably have no idea what I am talking about lolol. He's awfully cute.
 
Congratulations on your new chameleon! You're off to a great start! I'm impressed you found Chameleon Forums so quickly. Read through the care sheets and ask away.

This little baby has had quite a few changes since Christmas--new home pretty much every day as you sort out his furnishings in his cage and now being handled by a big, scary chameleon-eating monster.

Chameleons are nothing like a mammal. They really don't like to be touched or handled. They don't develop any social relationships with their own species, even with their babies or mates. Some tolerate handling better than others. Right now with all the stresses this baby has had, you should not be handling him at all.

I think you are misinterpreting your chameleon's behavior when you touched him on the head when you had him out on the bed. You thought you were doing him a favor, giving him time outside his cage on your bed. You touched his head and you interpreted his closing his eyes as being comfortable and relaxed. That's not how I see the interaction.

Here's my take:

You took a stressed (he can't not be stressed with all the changes in his life) baby away from safety (hidden in plants) and put him out in the open where a predator can snatch him up and eat him. Then you, a predator, touched his head. He stopped moving and shut down from stress or in a defensive strategy to try to hide and become a leaf.

In most cases, I think chameleons will always think of their keepers as scary monsters no matter how tame they seem. Their default response to you will be one of fear. Don't take it personally--it's part of the nature of the animal.

One other thing, I don't know how big your crickets are, but he's not eating very much. Put the crickets, lightly dusted with calcium, in the cage loose. Some chameleons won't eat out of a cup ever. Let him get used to his new home and you--weeks not days--before you try to introduce things like cup and hand feeding.

They are not the easiest pet to keep, but they sure are fun.
 
jajeanpierre said:
Congratulations on your new chameleon! You're off to a great start! I'm impressed you found Chameleon Forums so quickly. Read through the care sheets and ask away.

This little baby has had quite a few changes since Christmas--new home pretty much every day as you sort out his furnishings in his cage and now being handled by a big, scary chameleon-eating monster.

Chameleons are nothing like a mammal. They really don't like to be touched or handled. They don't develop any social relationships with their own species, even with their babies or mates. Some tolerate handling better than others. Right now with all the stresses this baby has had, you should not be handling him at all.

I think you are misinterpreting your chameleon's behavior when you touched him on the head when you had him out on the bed. You thought you were doing him a favor, giving him time outside his cage on your bed. You touched his head and you interpreted his closing his eyes as being comfortable and relaxed. That's not how I see the interaction.

Here's my take:

You took a stressed (he can't not be stressed with all the changes in his life) baby away from safety (hidden in plants) and put him out in the open where a predator can snatch him up and eat him. Then you, a predator, touched his head. He stopped moving and shut down from stress or in a defensive strategy to try to hide and become a leaf.

In most cases, I think chameleons will always think of their keepers as scary monsters no matter how tame they seem. Their default response to you will be one of fear. Don't take it personally--it's part of the nature of the animal.

One other thing, I don't know how big your crickets are, but he's not eating very much. Put the crickets, lightly dusted with calcium, in the cage loose. Some chameleons won't eat out of a cup ever. Let him get used to his new home and you--weeks not days--before you try to introduce things like cup and hand feeding.

They are not the easiest pet to keep, but they sure are fun.
Click to expand...
Thank you yeah I should let him settle in for a bit more I'll do some more reading for sure! Appreciate it
 
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