Graceful w/odd white spots! Plz help!!

[GracefulFrank10]

I've had my graceful for about 3 weeks now. My main problem is keeping the cages humidity up. I built my own screen cage because I wasn't happy with the pvc one I bought and wanted more room for Frank (the chameleon). Ive read reviews on just about all himidifiers and they all seemed not worth the money...but i cannot get his humidity above 65% ever since switching cages. Anyways, he (I think it's a male, if someone could tell me from the pics that would be greatly appreciated too) has been showing white spots for the past week, I thought it was shedding so I bought this spray to hydrate his skin and supposed to help and ease the shedding process...well if someone could tell me what it is that would be great. Also I can't get him to eat worms or fruit, only crickets. The guy at the reptile store told me to feed him 10 to 15 every other day, and another guy told me 15 to 20 everyday? I know this is alot but I want him to be happy PLEASE HELP!

 

[Carlton]

Ive read reviews on just about all himidifiers and they all seemed not worth the money...but i cannot get his humidity above 65% ever since switching cages. Anyways, he (I think it's a male, if someone could tell me from the pics that would be greatly appreciated too) has been showing white spots for the past week, I thought it was shedding so I bought this spray to hydrate his skin and supposed to help and ease the shedding process...well if someone could tell me what it is that would be great. Also I can't get him to eat worms or fruit, only crickets. The guy at the reptile store told me to feed him 10 to 15 every other day, and another guy told me 15 to 20 everyday? I know this is alot but I want him to be happy PLEASE HELP!

Several ideas...

Before trying a humidifier (don't bother with the ones for terrariums...they are the types that don't perform that well. The ultrasonic types for rooms work better), try attaching some clear plastic sheeting on several sides of your screen cage and add more live plants. The more surfaces there are to catch and hold misting droplets the longer your cage will stay humid. The plastic will slow down air exchange and will slow down drying. You don't need to "seal" the cage obviously, but it will help a lot. The humidity level shouldn't stay high constantly anyway. There should be drier periods and wetter periods throughout a 24-hour cycle.

The shedding sprays are not necessary. They simply add more junk to the skin surface. Raising the humidity and misting more often will help him shed.

I don't think gracefuls are a species that eats fruit or veggies so don't expect it. Worms don't move around as much as crickets so they probably don't attract his attention much. The number of crickets daily depends a lot the size of the crickets. If you are feeding him juvenile crickets you can feed him more. Is he full grown? If so you can feed him well one day and just a snack the next. Also, diversify his diet with tomato hornworms (cultured, not picked off a tomato plant), silkworms, roaches, flies, etc. Check the forum sponsors for sources for these.

About the white spotting...is your misting water high in minerals? Almost looks like hard water spotting. If you gently rub the white areas does the white flake or rub off?

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I have a graceful. His name is Tate and he's two years old. Yours looks to be full grown but it's hard to tell from the pictures. Where dd you get him? The males have a spur on their back heels just like the male veileds. Tate does the wild thing when he sheds. He is so funny. He's a very picky eater and I have used a humiditifier on him but we stay pretty humid in FL so I haven't had one on him lately. Carlton gave you some good advise above. Let us know if there's anything else we can help you with. I've attached a care sheet for you below.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/senegal/

Here's Tate shedding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gytAzfR36CI

 

[Carlton]

Welcome to the forums. I have a graceful. His name is Tate and he's two years old. Yours looks to be full grown but it's hard to tell from the pictures. Where dd you get him? The males have a spur on their back heels just like the male veileds. Tate does the wild thing when he sheds. He is so funny. He's a very picky eater and I have used a humiditifier on him but we stay pretty humid in FL so I haven't had one on him lately. Carlton gave you some good advise above. Let us know if there's anything else we can help you with. I've attached a care sheet for you below.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/senegal/

Here's Tate shedding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gytAzfR36CI

I'm so glad I don't have to shed my skin. It looks so itchy and miserable.

 

[jannb]

I'm so glad I don't have to shed my skin. It looks so itchy and miserable.

Tate takes it harder that any chameleon that I've seen shed.

 

[Carlton]

Tate takes it harder that any chameleon that I've seen shed.

When watching mine shed their eye turrets it would make me cringe to see their eyes moving with those pieces of loose skin flapping around. That has got to be the worst!

 

[GracefulFrank10]

Thanks for all the help!!! Well, I guess Frank is a girl, so that's awkward lol. Yeah I tried to find some horn worms at a few pet stores but none had them. I bought frank at lll reptile in oceanside california. I'll defiantly try the room humidifier and plastic on the sides. Being in california it's hard to keep humidity. I think the spots are from water misting because it's not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. I use like bottled spring water? Is that bad? I figured it had to be better than faucet water.

Again thanks for all the help!!!

 

[jannb]

Thanks for all the help!!! Well, I guess Frank is a girl, so that's awkward lol. Yeah I tried to find some horn worms at a few pet stores but none had them. I bought frank at lll reptile in oceanside california. I'll defiantly try the room humidifier and plastic on the sides. Being in california it's hard to keep humidity. I think the spots are from water misting because it's not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. I use like bottled spring water? Is that bad? I figured it had to be better than faucet water.

Again thanks for all the help!!!

A good place to buy a variety of feeders for just one chameleon is
Lindasgonebuggy.com Linda has variety packs where you can get 4 or 5 different feeders for $20.00. If you don't see a pack that you want just email her and she will let you mix and match. My little Tate's favorite is hornworms and silkworms.

 

[Carlton]

Thanks for all the help!!! Well, I guess Frank is a girl, so that's awkward lol. Yeah I tried to find some horn worms at a few pet stores but none had them. I bought frank at lll reptile in oceanside california. I'll defiantly try the room humidifier and plastic on the sides. Being in california it's hard to keep humidity. I think the spots are from water misting because it's not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. I use like bottled spring water? Is that bad? I figured it had to be better than faucet water.

Again thanks for all the help!!!

The spring water isn't bad, but it probably does have mineral content that might make it "hard". So called hard water that's high in calcium tastes better to most folks. Do you see white build up on your cage leaves? If so, that's it. BTW, if your tap water isn't chlorinated its OK to use too, as its supposedly safe for consumption. You can de-activate the chlorine by aging the water. Set it out in an open bucket overnight. If the tap water is treated with chloramine you'll need to use a herp-safe water treatment before using. Check with your local municipal water utility to see what they add to it.

As this is a female, you should read about preparing an egg laying bin just in case she's gravid. Many freshly imported chams are. There are articles under the Resources tab to check out. Gracefuls are such lovely chams and so underrated.

And, BTW, Frank won't get offended about "his" name. He can't hear you anyway

 

[bobcochran]

Or if you're buying water any way, don't buy spring water buy distilled water it has no salts in it and cost the same. I don't think I'd use it all the time, because like humans lizards need some minerals too.

 

[nickypav]

is this a flapneck? he looks like it. if so, 6-8 every other day will be just fine (depending on age) but dont trip about feeding it too much. i used to feed mine 4 or 5 every other day and ive had him for over 2 years. Also throw some real plants in the cage it helps with humidity. Ive noticed that just spraying his cage once or twice a day is fine, but plastic sheets are good to like the first person commented on. best of luck

 

[nickypav]

also if it is a flapneck they wont eat fruit or veggies. try wax worms, small super worms, meal or hornworms. i mainly feed mine just crickets though, depends how much money or time i have to get some other stuff!

 

[nickypav]

also i had no idea graceful was a type of chameleon i thought it was its name haha but they are both native to Africa and very similar