Hello, I'm new!

Trillian

New Member
I 'rescued' a chameleon from Craigslist yesterday, been on the prowl for one for months, and I'd much rather rescue one than buy one and risk supporting the WC trade. I bought two from a reptile expo in November without doing any research first, just trusted the guy who was taking my money, and they were WC and all the research I did during their brief stay with me only managed to prolong their decline slightly.

But now I've learned my lesson the hard way! My latest addition is a Senegal (fairly sure) and female. She's a good size, possibly a bit on the skinny side, but moving about and looking alert so far. She's in a glass vivarium, just because we had a large one spare, which I was panicked about after reading up on suitable enclosures, but this article makes a lot of sense: http://chameleonnews.com/10JulAndersonGlass.html so I think with the addition of more densely planted foliage I think she'll be okay in there.

She took a couple of mealworms from my hand yesterday and I caught a cranefly this morning that she'll probably be stalking later. I'm following the acclimitisation guidelines on chameleonnews.com, which is a really helpful resource.

I also have two Russian tortoises (Spartacus and Maximus), three crested geckos, and a Rankins dragon. I'd add the numbers thing that you guys use, but I'm not sure what it is, m.f.u/k?!

I recently moved from the UK to New York and spent *mumble mumble* thousand dollars moving my menagerie, which ended up costing as much as moving a house full of furniture! But they are my babies and I couldn't bear to part with them, though I did have to give away my fish (some of whom were 10+ years old) and our stick insects, which aren't allowed to be kept as pets here.

So, howdy! And any advice welcome!
 
Here's a pic of her:
2012-04-28_12-57-10_395.jpg
 
Hey welcome :) Glad you joined the forums. She does look a bit sunken-eyed so hydrating her is crucial. Hope you find all you need :)
 
I'm misting the tank by hand regularly, hoping she'll take the initiative and lick a few leaves. Any better ways to hydrate her? Read something about showering them in warm water regularly to hydrate them, have you tried this?
 
She is pretty dehydrated, you may want to install a drip system, have you seen her drink?
 
She is pretty dehydrated, you may want to install a drip system, have you seen her drink?

No, I haven't actually. I've seen mixed ideas about the drip systems versus regular misting. Do you think that regular water droplets into a dish will encourage her to drink? I've mostly been leaving her to her own devices as she settles in, she stays the colour above most of the time, but develops faint brown spots when I open the viv door, so I figure she's not impressed with being messed about with too much!
 
I'm misting the tank by hand regularly, hoping she'll take the initiative and lick a few leaves. Any better ways to hydrate her? Read something about showering them in warm water regularly to hydrate them, have you tried this?

Yes showering is a good hydrater. Put her on a plant on the floor of the shower with slightly above room temp aiming at the wall so she gets the back splash not direct spray. 15 to 20 minutes. I rarly hear of a cham liking It for the first few times. Also once every few days or a week don't want to over stress her. Hornworms or silk worms are food for hydration and should only be fed as treats. I use a syringe and inject some crickets here amd there with water and hand feed em. How does her urates in her poop look? Nice and white? Or some yellow and orange? the poop portion shoukd be dark brown semi soid not runny and not a rock
 
No, I haven't actually. I've seen mixed ideas about the drip systems versus regular misting. Do you think that regular water droplets into a dish will encourage her to drink? I've mostly been leaving her to her own devices as she settles in, she stays the colour above most of the time, but develops faint brown spots when I open the viv door, so I figure she's not impressed with being messed about with too much!

Yea dark can mean cold or stressing. In ur case she's just freaked a bit. It'll be okay lol. U should have a drip going most of the day into a dish or whatever. and with that also two to three misting a day. Heavy misting till her eye turrets fill back up.
 
For the dripper you could poke a whole in a plastic jug and fill it up with ice, and as the ice melts the water drips out.
 
No poop yet, but I'll keep looking! I only got her yesterday, so she's been through a lot in 24 hours, and I have no idea how she was kept before. Should I shower her as a priority today or would it be better to wait another day or two as she familiarises herself with her new home?
 
No poop yet, but I'll keep looking! I only got her yesterday, so she's been through a lot in 24 hours, and I have no idea how she was kept before. Should I shower her as a priority today or would it be better to wait another day or two as she familiarises herself with her new home?

Imma let a senior answer that. That may be to much stress but personally I would keep trying to get water in her for a day or two before showering. U can try using something to drip little bits of water on her nose. Not directly into her mouth that can be dangerous
 
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