How To...Everything

[mlw50]

Hello all,

I've been lurking on these forums, for the better part of a year, and as such have learned from what a lot of you all have posted. I'm about a monthish away from getting a cham, and I'm starting to set everything up.

Anyways, it was not exactly easy to find everything husbandry related. And one thing I'm not completely sure on, because I see so many varying schedules in so many posts, is proper feeding scheduling, gutloading and supplementation. So if you could provide me with that, I'd appreciate it. In addition, I would love if this thread became a general "How To" on everything, from setting up a cage(ie. how to attatche vines and stick to the sides) to temperature ranges for varying species; a centralized location for anyone looking to get into the hobby.

Also over the past few days, I've seen a lot of chatter about making sure the heat lamp isn't on the top of the cage, but no really good ways to do it, aside from "coffee cups" which I feel would make the lamp unsturdy, so I'd like to see and hear how everyone has dealt with that issue aswell.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr Wilson]

Hello all,

I've been lurking on these forums, for the better part of a year, and as such have learned from what a lot of you all have posted. I'm about a monthish away from getting a cham, and I'm starting to set everything up.

Anyways, it was not exactly easy to find everything husbandry related. And one thing I'm not completely sure on, because I see so many varying schedules in so many posts, is proper feeding scheduling, gutloading and supplementation. So if you could provide me with that, I'd appreciate it. In addition, I would love if this thread became a general "How To" on everything, from setting up a cage(ie. how to attatche vines and stick to the sides) to temperature ranges for varying species; a centralized location for anyone looking to get into the hobby.

Also over the past few days, I've seen a lot of chatter about making sure the heat lamp isn't on the top of the cage, but no really good ways to do it, aside from "coffee cups" which I feel would make the lamp unsturdy, so I'd like to see and hear how everyone has dealt with that issue aswell.

Thanks in advance.

Your feeding schedules are going to vary depending on the age of you cham. It will be easier to recommend a proper amount when you know how old your little guys gonna be. For the most part everyone has the same way of dusting Cal, pretty much every other day. Cal w/ D3 twice a month and for the first 6 months or so multivitamins twice a month. After 6-8 months you can dust once a month with Vit. I would recommend looking into some of the site sponsors for your cham if you haven't done so yet. See what kind of dusting schedule there currently on and follow that.

 

[Mr Wilson]

Oh yea and you can pretty much find it in every other post on here gutloading feeders with Greens (collard, mustard, kale, etc) Veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes etc).. These are just examples there are many other great things to gutload w/ just do a quick search and you find a million posts on it.

In my opinion sticky backed velcro is a cham owners best friend (even though i dont know to many people that use it.) you can cut it down to any size and use it to hold down vines, plants, drip cups. plastic sheathing (if your using it to keep humidity) and just about everything else.

And i keep my heat lamp right on top of my cage with no problems. Just make sure your cams basking spot is far enough away from the lamp so he/she doesn't burn itself. Distance will vary depending on the type of bulb your using. if your cham is walking upside down along the top of the cage it is very rare that he/she will just walk right under the lamp and get burnt. At least all my guys know "its there and its hot". As long as you not bothering them in that upside down position where they feel the need to run, they should steer clear

 

[lisa h]

Do you know what kind/age/sex you are getting? That would help with some of your questions. There is a lot to know, but the forum members here are very helpful. Your best friend right now is the "search" button. There's just so much too know, but so much is repeated over and over again.

 

[serenitystarlite]

Also over the past few days, I've seen a lot of chatter about making sure the heat lamp isn't on the top of the cage, but no really good ways to do it, aside from "coffee cups" which I feel would make the lamp unsturdy, so I'd like to see and hear how everyone has dealt with that issue aswell.

I switched my bulb from 60 watt to 40 watt and the screen no longer heats up enough to burn. I can hold my hand against it now. I was going to hang it from a plant hanger but I guess I don't need to now. I didn't get a lot of response to my thread, but I guess it has to do with what kind of screen your cage has. The hardware cloth that I used for the cages I built doesn't heat up, even with a 75 watt bulb.

 

[Seeco]

... just wing it. wing it all and when something goes wrong just post a thread here titled "URGENT -- MY CHAMELEON IS DYING" then just fill out the help form and we will save you ... maybe

 

[Elizadolots]

I highly recommend Sandrachameleon's blog for everything you could even begin to think you might want to know about proper supplementation and dealing with feeders.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/index5.html

 

[ghettomike]

i just screwed a small hook into the ceiling and hung the light by the cord from that. For attaching vines etc to the screen I would recommend buying a roll of plastic covered twist tie that you can cut at whatever length you need, that way you wont need to poke holes in your screen cage.

 

[lisa h]

... just wing it. wing it all and when something goes wrong just post a thread here titled "URGENT -- MY CHAMELEON IS DYING" then just fill out the help form and we will save you ... maybe

Hey, no need for sarcasm. He's asking advice *before* he gets the cham. We all think in different ways.

 

[camshaft]

I use the light clamp for my lamp. It causes the light to come down from an angle too, so my cham doesn't have to hold on to his vine sideways. He just cocks to the side a bit to get the full effect of the heat.