Help me keep Pascal happy and healthy!!

[squeekz1992]

I've been reading a bunch about chameleons lately, and I did my research before I got Pascal, but I just want to be like completely sure I'm giving him the best care possible cause he's my baby!!

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -
The species: Veiled Chameleon, sex: Male, and age of your chameleon: 8 months. How long has it been in your care? Since he was 6 weeks old
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Very frequently, he sits on the door and stares at me till i get him out I know it's not reccommended becase of the stress, but since he wants it I get him out, and i don't try unless he is at the door.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Primarily Crickets and Waxworms What amount? 10 each What is the schedule? alternating daily How are you gut-loading your feeders? Flukers gutloading high calcium diet and thirst quencher high calcium, papaya, and rivershrimp, often oats and potatoes and celery
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Flukers calcium. Every Feeding. Any vitamin reccommendations??
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Mostly a waterfall. How often and how long to you mist? 1x a day, not longer than 5 minutes Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes mostly from the waterfall.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Brown, consistency seems normal. Urate is almost white.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Not to my knowledge.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He loves to be out, loves basking, moves around alot like he's looking for something, most of the time he ends up on the door.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) Screen. What are the dimensions? 24X 24X 48
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Exoterra 100W 75% intensity14 hours, 7am to 9 pm.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? It ranges from 90 during the day to 60 at night, basking spot is 100. Lowest overnight temp? 60-70 How do you measure these temps? Thermometer (Exoterra)
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? 80% How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Waterfall and misting What do you use to measure humidity? Hygrometer (exoterra)
Plants - Are you using live plants? Yes. If so, what kind? A ficus and a bamboo
Placement - Where is your cage located? Next to my bed. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? A fan but it's almost never on. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 5 Ft at the top
Location - Where are you geographically located? Indiana

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

There's not really a problem i just want to know if i need to change anything to keep my baby healthy and happy.

I just took him off the waxworms as of this morning because he is storing excess chub in his casque.

 

[Pilotman800]

I've been reading a bunch about chameleons lately, and I did my research before I got Pascal, but I just want to be like completely sure I'm giving him the best care possible cause he's my baby!!

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -
The species: Veiled Chameleon, sex: Male, and age of your chameleon: 8 months. How long has it been in your care? Since he was 6 weeks old
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Very frequently, he sits on the door and stares at me till i get him out I know it's not reccommended becase of the stress, but since he wants it I get him out, and i don't try unless he is at the door.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Primarily Crickets and Waxworms What amount? 10 each What is the schedule? alternating daily Waxworms should only be used as a treat, no more than once or twice a week. They are high in fat and low in calcium. Instead of using waxworms, you should replace them with dubia roaches, or probably Phoenix worms. They are high in nutrients. How are you gut-loading your feeders? Flukers gutloading high calcium diet and thirst quencher high calcium, papaya, and rivershrimp, often oats and potatoes and celery
Although your gutloading isn't that bad, I would still add a bit more variety. Im going to attach Sandrachameleons blog about gutloading for you. She is a genius and it is very helpful!
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html You could also use Repashy bug burger which is designed to be a single gutload.


Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Flukers calcium. Every Feeding. Any vitamin reccommendations?? You need Calcium WITHOUT D3 every feeding, calcium WITH d3 twice a month, and a multivitamin twice a month as well. You could also just get Repashy Calcium plus which is all in one and is meant to be used every day.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Mostly a waterfall. How often and how long to you mist? 1x a day, not longer than 5 minutes Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes mostly from the waterfall.Waterfalls are NOT recommended unless you clean it out yourself EVERY day. They are known to breed bacteria and can get your cham sick. Some chams like to poop in them as well. I would recommend taking it out, adding a dripper, and upping the mistings a bit.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Brown, consistency seems normal. Urate is almost white.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Not to my knowledge.You should get a fecal done every few months to be safe.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He loves to be out, loves basking, moves around alot like he's looking for something, most of the time he ends up on the door.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) Screen. What are the dimensions? 24X 24X 48
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Exoterra 100W 75% intensity14 hours, 7am to 9 pm.
Is this a UVB light? If not, you need to get one ASAP. Most of us on here use a Reptisun 5.0. Keep in mind UVB bulbs need replacing every 6-8 months or so. It is also recommended to keep the lights on for 12 hours a day.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? It ranges from 90 during the day to 60 at night, basking spot is 100.
100 for a basking spot is very hot. You should lower it to about 85. As for the normal temp, try and keep it around 77-79.
Lowest overnight temp? 60-70 How do you measure these temps? Thermometer (Exoterra)
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? 80% How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Waterfall and misting What do you use to measure humidity? Hygrometer (exoterra)
Plants - Are you using live plants? Yes. If so, what kind? A ficus and a bamboo
Placement - Where is your cage located? Next to my bed. Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? A fan but it's almost never on. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 5 Ft at the top
Location - Where are you geographically located? Indiana

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

There's not really a problem i just want to know if i need to change anything to keep my baby healthy and happy.

I just took him off the waxworms as of this morning because he is storing excess chub in his casque.
Thats good! Try and replace it with something healthy! Could you upload a photo of his cage?

Answers are in red. Hope I helped!

 

[squeekz1992]

Answers are in red. Hope I helped!

Thanks! That did help a bit.

I do have a UVB.
As for gutloading, that's just what I have in there as of right now, it changes like everyweek, the crickets are almost as spoiled as Pascal
D3? How do i know it has/ doesnt have d3?
My waterfall is definitely cleaned everyday.

I can get a pic uplaoded later today, tomorrow at the latest! Thanks again!

 

[carol5208]

what kind of UVB light are you using? So since 6 weeks old, you have never used any kind of calcium with d3 or a multivitamin you are saying? Please post some pictures of your chameleon. As you are probably going to find out, waterfalls are frowned up on here on the forum. Unless you are super super consistent with cleaning and your cham NEVER poops in there, then I guess it is ok. I wouldn't have one in my cage personally. So at 8 months you are feeding (or just were) feeding 10 crickets and 10 waxworms? Over feeding here. Waxworms are about the highest content of fat of any worms so cutback totally on those. I would replace with silkworms. I would cutback on your lighting, especially now with the time change. Try and mimic the outdoors. You don't need any more than 12 hours a day. I cut back to 10 or 11 hrs when it starts getting dark early. So you are saying your overal cage temp is 90 and basking 100. Wow, that is hot. Do you ever see him gaping? Are you sure your temperature gauges are correct? Most of us keep our chams in the mid 70 range ambient and baskings in the 80 -90 degree range depending on chameleon and age. For an 8 month old i would have basking around 85 degrees or a little higher. Lets see some pics of your chameleon so we can make sure he is healthy. There alot of things here you have done different than the norm. Just curious where you did your research?

 

[squeekz1992]

Reptisun, I don't have the box anymore so idk anything else about that sorry. He's perfectly healthy, i can get some pictures though. Please post some pictures of your chameleon. He seems to like the waterfall, i clean it everyday. He wouldn't drink when i was just misting, he's stubborn. I was just feeding him what made him happy, but now he's cut off of waxworms. Alright, i can cut back on his lights. So you are saying your overal cage temp is 90 and basking 100. No he never gapes, he loves it. I can put the temps lower.

 

[squeekz1992]

He has a burn on his casque, but that happened a day ago when i moved his basking spot up, i have since moved it back down.

 

[carol5208]

he looks good from the pictures! I would just try some more variety in your feeders. Get your other supplements that you need. Some silkworms, hornworms, maybe some moths etc. Hey, if everything you have been doing seems to be working then keep doing what you are doing. As far as the temps, if he is not gaping and seems to be thriving, then I would leave as is I guess. Again, are you sure your temp gauge is accurate? Do you use an analog or digital?

 

[squeekz1992]

he looks good from the pictures! I would just try some more variety in your feeders. Get your other supplements that you need. Some silkworms, hornworms, maybe some moths etc. Hey, if everything you have been doing seems to be working then keep doing what you are doing. As far as the temps, if he is not gaping and seems to be thriving, then I would leave as is I guess. Again, are you sure your temp gauge is accurate? Do you use an analog or digital?

Alrighty! I read my calcium thing, it does have D3 and it says to be used everyday. I think my gauges might be off, so i bought a new one, this one is digital so I';; put that in and see if it changes anyhting! thanks for the advice

 

[carol5208]

Alrighty! I read my calcium thing, it does have D3 and it says to be used everyday. I think my gauges might be off, so i bought a new one, this one is digital so I';; put that in and see if it changes anyhting! thanks for the advice

NO, do NOT use the d3 everyday. You chameleon may look and act fine now but overdosing on d3 may effect him later. what brand of calcium with d3 are you using? It is important because each one contains different concentrations of it. Most of us use calcium without d3 at every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month and the multi twice a month. This has been proven successful as we have the experience to back it up. Your chameleon is still young and you don't know what effect over time the excessive d3 may cause. Things that may be happening on the inside of your chameleon, not the outside.

 

[squeekz1992]

NO, do NOT use the d3 everyday. You chameleon may look and act fine now but overdosing on d3 may effect him later. what brand of calcium with d3 are you using? It is important because each one contains different concentrations of it. Most of us use calcium without d3 at every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month and the multi twice a month. This has been proven successful as we have the experience to back it up. Your chameleon is still young and you don't know what effect over time the excessive d3 may cause. Things that may be happening on the inside of your chameleon, not the outside.

Okay. It just says flukers calcium. I don't want to hurt him, I've just been doing what i've been told.