Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon, approx. 10 months old. I've had him for 2 weeks?
Handling - Rarely, he is very aggressive when disturbed?
Feeding - Locusts as the pet shop had been, though this is the problem I need help with, you can see the size of these in one of the attached pictures just behind Freddie (top of the wall).
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Carrot just now until I see him eat at which point I will do some research on the best strategies for gut loading
Supplements - Exo terra calcium + D3 - again he hasn't eaten anything yet so this is something I will do more reading on?
Watering - Enclosure has an automated misting and dripping system. Misted morning afternoon and early evening for 7 mins each time. Dripper works 3 times a day at similar intervals but stays on for 1 hour each time. Water is run through a water filter similar to that you'd use on a front loaded water dispenser on a fridge.
Fecal Description - I will attach picture of most recent stool and urine?
History - This guys about 10 months old. he was returned to the pet shop and has been there for about a month. I don't think the previous owner was good with him purely based on his temperament. His crest is broken suggesting a fall?? Anytime you approach he moves quickly away after a territorial display. I think he may have been handled too regularly and based on his attitude possibly snatched out of his previous enclosure as and when previous owner chose??
Cage Info:
Cage Type - The cage has been built into an upstairs cupboard (images attached. its approx. 31 x 31 x 57 inches with large mesh screens on two of the sides
Lighting - Two 20w Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 uvb strip bulbs that are 24 inches long, 100w exo terra daytime basking spot bulb, 40w exo terra night time ceramic bulb. daytime uvb and basking currently run 8 am - 6 pm, night time 6pm - 8 am. Both controlled by their own microclimate thermostat (dimmer for day pulse for night)
Temperature - Average daytime temp 29 degrees C, night time 21 degrees C. reading taken nearer top of enclosure. Basking spot around 34 degrees. lowest recorded is 12 degrees at the very bottom of enclosure (it has been unusually cold here recently) though as the term is regulated by thermostats there is always somewhere available at the average temps I've mentioned.
Humidity - Approx. 45% which raises to 85% when being misted
Plants - 3 live plants, one photos, one fictus and one HOWEA FORSTERIANA - which I have read are non toxic.
Placement - Cupboard is in centre of house on top floor. one side faces the landing, the others into spare bedroom. I chose this place as it is in the main air circulation zone in the house. Full cupboard is approx. 100 inches and the enclosure as mentioned above sits at the top of this
Location - Manchester, England
Current Problem - I've had him two weeks and I don't believe he's eaten anything. Hand feeding seems too stressful for him and he just gets defensive (though this is how the pet shop said they were feeding(I don't know if I believe them) I have placed about 8 locusts in with him for the 4 days and their numbers appear to be the same.
I've not bugged him - just left him to it, handled to get him into enclosure, then one further time after 10 days when cleaning which again he didn't like so put him back after 1 min.
Just looking for any tips that any of you experienced keepers have.
This is the second chameleon I have owned - the first was a female veiled who died approx. 7 months due to being egg bound. I've spent 2 months out, done a lot of reading, build a brand new enclosure for the chameleons benefit (ie not so I get the best views etc, I've really tried to create an environment as natural as possible, no expense spared (its has better water than I drink!) and I really want to get this right - any advise at all would be greatly received
Thank you all
Simon
Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon, approx. 10 months old. I've had him for 2 weeks?
Handling - Rarely, he is very aggressive when disturbed?
Feeding - Locusts as the pet shop had been, though this is the problem I need help with, you can see the size of these in one of the attached pictures just behind Freddie (top of the wall).
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Carrot just now until I see him eat at which point I will do some research on the best strategies for gut loading
Supplements - Exo terra calcium + D3 - again he hasn't eaten anything yet so this is something I will do more reading on?
Watering - Enclosure has an automated misting and dripping system. Misted morning afternoon and early evening for 7 mins each time. Dripper works 3 times a day at similar intervals but stays on for 1 hour each time. Water is run through a water filter similar to that you'd use on a front loaded water dispenser on a fridge.
Fecal Description - I will attach picture of most recent stool and urine?
History - This guys about 10 months old. he was returned to the pet shop and has been there for about a month. I don't think the previous owner was good with him purely based on his temperament. His crest is broken suggesting a fall?? Anytime you approach he moves quickly away after a territorial display. I think he may have been handled too regularly and based on his attitude possibly snatched out of his previous enclosure as and when previous owner chose??
Cage Info:
Cage Type - The cage has been built into an upstairs cupboard (images attached. its approx. 31 x 31 x 57 inches with large mesh screens on two of the sides
Lighting - Two 20w Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 uvb strip bulbs that are 24 inches long, 100w exo terra daytime basking spot bulb, 40w exo terra night time ceramic bulb. daytime uvb and basking currently run 8 am - 6 pm, night time 6pm - 8 am. Both controlled by their own microclimate thermostat (dimmer for day pulse for night)
Temperature - Average daytime temp 29 degrees C, night time 21 degrees C. reading taken nearer top of enclosure. Basking spot around 34 degrees. lowest recorded is 12 degrees at the very bottom of enclosure (it has been unusually cold here recently) though as the term is regulated by thermostats there is always somewhere available at the average temps I've mentioned.
Humidity - Approx. 45% which raises to 85% when being misted
Plants - 3 live plants, one photos, one fictus and one HOWEA FORSTERIANA - which I have read are non toxic.
Placement - Cupboard is in centre of house on top floor. one side faces the landing, the others into spare bedroom. I chose this place as it is in the main air circulation zone in the house. Full cupboard is approx. 100 inches and the enclosure as mentioned above sits at the top of this
Location - Manchester, England
Current Problem - I've had him two weeks and I don't believe he's eaten anything. Hand feeding seems too stressful for him and he just gets defensive (though this is how the pet shop said they were feeding(I don't know if I believe them) I have placed about 8 locusts in with him for the 4 days and their numbers appear to be the same.
I've not bugged him - just left him to it, handled to get him into enclosure, then one further time after 10 days when cleaning which again he didn't like so put him back after 1 min.
Just looking for any tips that any of you experienced keepers have.
This is the second chameleon I have owned - the first was a female veiled who died approx. 7 months due to being egg bound. I've spent 2 months out, done a lot of reading, build a brand new enclosure for the chameleons benefit (ie not so I get the best views etc, I've really tried to create an environment as natural as possible, no expense spared (its has better water than I drink!) and I really want to get this right - any advise at all would be greatly received
Thank you all
Simon