Help New With Graceful Cameleon!

[cshepconner]

So i went to Pet Supplies Plus today and they sold me supposedly everything i needed for this chameleon. When i get home i read so much more stuff i need and i don't even have a cage big enough i guess. Can someone please tell me exactly what i need so i can keep this lizard alive. So far i have a moss they sold me for the bottom, vines and leaves that go up the cage, a bowl to catch water, water dropper at the top which runs down the leaves, and a 13 watt UVB coil bulb attached to a light dome. They told me itd eat a couple crickets a day but since it just got to the store i wouldnt need to feed it today. Help please! o yah right now its a 10 gallon tank i believe..i already know i need a larger one im working on it as we speak.

 

[Meow Kitty]

So i went to Pet Supplies Plus today and they sold me supposedly everything i needed for this chameleon. When i get home i read so much more stuff i need and i don't even have a cage big enough i guess. Can someone please tell me exactly what i need so i can keep this lizard alive. So far i have a moss they sold me for the bottom, vines and leaves that go up the cage, a bowl to catch water, water dropper at the top which runs down the leaves, and a 13 watt UVB coil bulb attached to a light dome. They told me itd eat a couple crickets a day but since it just got to the store i wouldnt need to feed it today. Help please! o yah right now its a 10 gallon tank i believe..i already know i need a larger one im working on it as we speak.

what specieise is it , name the brands of the bulbs, u need a screen cage not a aquirium for most setups (except pygmys)

 

[cshepconner]

its a Graceful chameleon, the name of the bulb im using is Zillia topical series 25 13 watt coil bulb, and the lady told me to turn the aquarium on the side so that what would be the top is now one side and he can climb up it

Do I have to have a basking bulb running also?

heres a pic

 

[carol5208]

Take that bulb back and get a reptisun 5.0 tube light. Use like a 40 watt regular housebulb for basking. An aquarium is not going to work as it is not have proper ventilation. You need a terrarium or a screen cage. Do you know if you have a female or male? Most pet stores know NOTHING about chameleons. I believe the Gracefuls stay smaller than the Veilds and the females are smaller than the males so we need to see a picture of your chameleon. It could be a Veild. I have been in pet stores that are selling Veilds as Gracefuls. There is alot of things you are going to need. We can help you. Let see what kindof chameleonyou have first. The reptisun or reptiglo 5.0 is the preferred light you need even if you end up having a graceful.

 

[cshepconner]

alright now i have a repti sun 5.0 and a basking light set up. is there any other immediate attentions for now/ btw thanks carol5208 for the advice on the lights

 

[carol5208]

great! The lighting is crucial to their health and well being. Can you post a pic of your chameleon?

 

[Robyrango]

I'll remove the moss from the bottom and get some real plants too!

 

[okiroo]

heres a blog i wrote for new users - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/okiroo/532-chameleon-basic-info.html

 

[CNorton]

Any updates on your graceful?

 

[kinyonga]

Here's some information I hope will help you with things like supplements, gutloading, etc....
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

A wide variety of insects (crickets, locusts, silkworms, superworms, tomato worms, phoenix worms, butter worms, once in a while waxworms, etc.) that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.

Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.

Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[showjet95]

Chameleons have been in the pet industry for so long now, and it baffles me that PET STORES, with reptile sections STILL know nothing about chameleons or their basic husbandry! Its so sad.