Hello all =]

[eZiO]

Hi everyone I want to say Hi! I am new to the forums and I am new to owning a chameleon. I got my first chameleon ever yesterday. He is a 5 month old Veiled. I have read a lot about how to care for a chameleon but I have some questions. I read the live plants database thread and now I know what plants to get but most places spray their plants with pesticides. Is this same for the chameleon I wouldn't think so. What should I do clean the plant change the soil or look for pesticide free plants? I want to prevent any and all harm to my new chameleon. I love this little guy =] I am so happy to finally have one and I want him to grow up nice and healthy. If you all can make any helpful suggestions please do Please and Thanks you all and I hope to soon upload some pics of my new cham.

 

[Julirs]

When you buy a new plant the best th ing is to fill a bucket with dish-soapy water-slosh the plant around in there-you can cover the pot and dirt with a plastic bag-and then rinse really, really well. Then either repot the plant using organic soil or cover with rocks that are too large to eat, or you can even use screen to cover the soil. If you answer the following questions we will make sure you are doing all of the best things for your new cham.

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?

 

[sallyb]

Hi, welcome and congratulations on your new little friend I have a female veiled cham named Gizzy who is now around 18 months old. When i buy new plants i give them a very, very good wash and then transfer them into a new pot also as you never know what insects etc may have made their home in there. Do have any pics of your little fella ? I`d love to see him.

 

[laurie]

Hello, welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of knowledgeable people her more than willing to help. You should read the thread "raising kitty the veiled chameleon" it has about all the information you could need.

 

[eZiO]

Chameleon- Veiled, Male, 5 Months, and I have had him for 3 days now
Handling- I rarely try to handle him. I want him to get used to his cage and feel comfortable
Feeding- I feed him medium sized crickets that the women at the pet store gave me. She told me to just let the crickets loose in the cage and he'll eat when he is hungry. I am going to start gut-loading after this set of crickets is gone.
Supplements- Rep-Cal Herpetive and Calcium and I dusted the first 10 crickets I threw in there.
Watering- I have a little dripper and I also mist the cage 4 to 5 times a day.
Fecal Description- His dropping are brown with some white at the end. And I am not sure if he was tested for parasites but the women at the pet shop said he was very healthy.
History- I haven't had him too long but I was told he is healthy and friendly.

Cage Type- I have Repti Breeze 18x18x36 screen cage
Lighting- I have one Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture and a a Zoo Med 100W PowersunUV Bulb
Temperature- The Temps during the day in his basking spot are from 78 to 82 and at the bottom of the cage it's about 74-76. The lowest temperature was last night because it was cool out and it was at 69. I have a Zoo Med Digital Thermometer.
Humidity- I mist the cage to maintain the humidity. The levels are between 40 and 60 percent. I have a humidity gauge in there.
Plants- I have 2 live plants in there. A money plant and an umbrella plant but today I am going to buy a Hibiscus also.
Placement- The cage is located next to my best on my nightstand. No fans or vents near my cage. The top of the cage is about 5 ft.
Location- I am located in Northern New Jersey.

If anyone here thinks I am doing something wrong or should change anything please let me know. I will do whatever is needed to keep my cham happy and healthy. Please guys give me some tips and feedback =] I will upload some pics soon.

Thanks everyone you are all great and I love reading everything on this forum.

 

[mc9423]

Don't leave crickets in there all the time unless you're cup feeding. Free ranging crickets can be harmful to your cham.

If you're using a Powersun bulb, there's no way the highest temperature is 82. Those things get *hot*! I would recommend switching to a normal incandescent house light and a linear ReptiSun 5.0 bulb instead of the MVB you have; save that for when he's an adult in a larger cage.

Do you have Calcium and Calcium w/ D3?

Take out the money plant (If you're referring to the "bamboo" kind.)

 

[eZiO]

Yes I have calcium with D3 in it.

So should I cup feed him the crickets?

It's a braided money plant is that alright? If not I will remove it no problem.

Any recommended watt for the the house bulb?

 

[mc9423]

Personally, I use a 75 watt - but I have the AC running here from March through September, so my house is always pretty cool. And I have a Panther, so temps are a bit different.

I would definitely recommend cup feeding if you want to leave the crickets in there for a while; other feeders may be fine being free ranged.

I'm not sure what a braided mnoey plant is, sorry D: I just know if its the small "bamboo" plant that its generally not recommended.

 

[eZiO]

Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis is this the same as a Braided Hibiscus?

 

[eZiO]

I took the money plant out and replaced it with a Hibiscus.

 

[eZiO]

I never seem to see my little guy drinking. Is there a well to tell if he is dehydrated?

 

[HUBSonDUBS]

Id give him some more vines, or atlest some more foilage on the upper part of the cage. See if you can prop those plants on the bottom of the cage up with something like an overturned pot, they are not doing too much for your cham on the bottom of the cage.

 

[ChamOh]

money plants are not safe.

 

[Ellron]

I never seem to see my little guy drinking. Is there a well to tell if he is dehydrated?

The little white things that come along with the feces are called urates. This how many or all reptiles expel their waste that we expel as urine. If the urates are solid white that means the reptile is hydrated. A little bit of yellow or orange at the tip is ok, but if it is really yellow or orange it means the reptile might be dehydrated. With chameleons you can look at their eyes, and if they're sunken in that is also a sign of dehydration.