Husbandry Check Please :)

Beman

Social Media Manager
Staff member
Hi everyone. Beman has been really healthy, active, with a strong grip but I would like to have a husbandry check done. My only worry has been his eating decline the last 6 weeks. I have gotten feedback that it is normal for it to curb back as they mature but it has been quite shocking to go from massive eating to only 6-7 feeders at most every other day. I think Beman will end up being on the smaller side for a Male Veiled probably due to genetics being a petco baby. He is 16 inches long from tip of nose to end of tail and 109 grams at 9 months old. I would love feedback to hear if this decline in eating is normal for others that have raised them from juveniles to adults. It is my only real worry and I do weigh him each week to make sure he is staying steady or gaining. Pictures of cage and Beman taken in the last 2 days.

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon, In my care for 5 months. Now about 9 months old at 109 grams.
  • Handling - He comes out to me everyday.
  • Feeding - Every other day feeding schedule. Silkworms 3-4 medium to large sized. Lost interest in Dubia but I am trying to get back on them gut loaded with Arcadia Insect Fuel (2 medium to large). 1-2 superworms gut loaded with Arcadia Insect fuel. Has lost interest in crickets and BSFL. Hornworms 2 times a week along with the occasional wax worm as a treat. His eating has curbed way back in the last 6 weeks. He is eating about 6-7 feeders ever other day. But is continuing to gain weight.
  • Supplements - Arcadia Calcium Pro Mg every 3rd feed, and Arcadia Earth Pro A Vitamins nearly every feed. Calcium D-3 from light conversion and I am using a solarmeter for weekly UVI levels to ensure there are no issues. He also gets natural sun time as many days a week as the weather allows.
  • Watering - Little dripper, Mistking, and fogger. Misting for 30 seconds 60 minutes prior to lights on at 6:30am, 2 minutes 30 minutes after lights on at 7am, 3 minutes at 12:15pm, 2 minutes at 5pm prior to lights off at 6:30pm, and 30 seconds at 10 pm. Using a reptile fogger which comes on for 6 minutes for the afternoon misting session of 4 minutes (heat lamp turns off for this misting/fogging session). Then on from 12am-4am while all lights are off. Following Bill Strands natural hydration approach. He likes to drink directly from his little dripper tube as well as from the leaves of his pothos. I see him do this everyday.
  • Fecal Description - Looks fully digested and solid. Urate is bright white no discoloration. Tested for parasites in December and came back negative.
  • History - My impulse buy from Petco... Has been very healthy since I got him. He saw a Vet for a full check up and got a clean bill of health in January.

Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - Dragon Strand Clearside. 24 inches deep x 30 inches wide x 48 inches tall. Sits on top of a 30 in tall cabinet.
  • Lighting - quad T5 linear system from light your reptiles. 1 12% UVB, 1 plant pro bulb, and 2 daylight bulbs. Fluckers dimable dome light with a 75 watt exo terra basking bulb. Lights are 7 inches away from highest basking spot. Achieving a 3-5 UVI level at basking. 6:30am All lights on. Heat lamp off at noon for afternoon misting and fogger and is back on 15 minutes after the cycle finishes at 12:35pm. All lights off at 6:30pm. By about 5:45pm he is already settled into his sleeping spot.
  • Temperature - Basking spot is 85 degrees. Middle of cage is 75 and bottom of cage is 69 degrees. Lowest overnight temp is 67 degrees. I measure with a wired in temp gauge at basking plus I have two additional unwired one middle right and the other bottom left of cage. I have a temp gun as well. I am waiting for a thermostat to arrive to hook the heat light up to to maintain constant heat level as it does not stay steady with the heat in the house turning on so I am constantly dimming the heat bulb up or down to keep it at 85.
  • Humidity - 55-80%. 70% being the high over night. Stays at a pretty steady 60% and shoots up to about 75-80% right after misting. 2 humidity gauges one placed top right with high low recordings and one in bottom left of cage.
  • Plants - 3 pothos plants. 1 njoy pothos, 1 golden pothos, and one marble queen. My cage has a drip easy try so I can not have weight sitting on it. The pothos seem to work the best for the planters I have that attach to the dragon ledges. Plus he loves them.
  • Placement - Across from my desk. Not near any fans or air vents. The table is 30 inches that it sits on so the top of the cage is about 6 and a half feet from the floor.
  • Location - Northern California on the coast.
cage3-23-19_2.JPG 3-21-19.JPG
 
The biggest take away for me from your husbandry is that he is indeed gaining weight. Everything seems great and I don't think that there is anything your doing to cause the appetite reduction. For any keeper it would be an obvious cause of concern when they aren't feeding. I'm sure he is stoked for warmer days and more sunshine.Beman going from Petco to paradise!
 
The biggest take away for me from your husbandry is that he is indeed gaining weight. Everything seems great and I don't think that there is anything your doing to cause the appetite reduction. For any keeper it would be an obvious cause of concern when they aren't feeding. I'm sure he is stoked for warmer days and more sunshine.Beman going from Petco to paradise!
Thanks hun. It is a bit of a shock when they are taking down 15-20 feeders at 4 months and then it drops off to 12 each day. But then when you switch them to every other day feeding and it is a standstill on trying to get them to eat it is like a what the heck is going on moment. lol
 
I definitely agree, the biggest thing is that he gains weight and isn't over weight, its perfectly normal for an adult to go off of 6-7 every other day, my cham personally only eats 5-8 depending on his mood, would you give him an extra worm for me? the stunning boy is in great care! Petco babies aren't all small but in fact I'm 99% sure Apollo was bought from Petco but went through any owners to get to me, as least the first guy I think told the second guy that told the third guy that told me if you get that. they come in all different shapes and sizes if you buy from Petco... not that its good to buy from and chain petstore. no matter the size Beman is one amazing and lucky boy!
 
I definitely agree, the biggest thing is that he gains weight and isn't over weight, its perfectly normal for an adult to go off of 6-7 every other day, my cham personally only eats 5-8 depending on his mood, would you give him an extra worm for me? the stunning boy is in great care! Petco babies aren't all small but in fact I'm 99% sure Apollo was bought from Petco but went through any owners to get to me, as least the first guy I think told the second guy that told the third guy that told me if you get that. they come in all different shapes and sizes if you buy from Petco... not that its good to buy from and chain petstore. no matter the size Beman is one amazing and lucky boy!
Wow 4 owners poor guy. He’s lucky you found him
 
I definitely agree, the biggest thing is that he gains weight and isn't over weight, its perfectly normal for an adult to go off of 6-7 every other day, my cham personally only eats 5-8 depending on his mood, would you give him an extra worm for me? the stunning boy is in great care! Petco babies aren't all small but in fact I'm 99% sure Apollo was bought from Petco but went through any owners to get to me, as least the first guy I think told the second guy that told the third guy that told me if you get that. they come in all different shapes and sizes if you buy from Petco... not that its good to buy from and chain petstore. no matter the size Beman is one amazing and lucky boy!
Ok I just think I really over worry lol. He has only eaten 3 silks today. :( I am hoping he will eat the 2 dubia and 2 superworms that are in there. It is always a relief being new to hear from others their experience. This is one of those reading does not make up for first hand experience keeping Chams.
 
Hi everyone. Beman has been really healthy, active, with a strong grip but I would like to have a husbandry check done. My only worry has been his eating decline the last 6 weeks. I have gotten feedback that it is normal for it to curb back as they mature but it has been quite shocking to go from massive eating to only 6-7 feeders at most every other day. I think Beman will end up being on the smaller side for a Male Veiled probably due to genetics being a petco baby. He is 16 inches long from tip of nose to end of tail and 109 grams at 9 months old. I would love feedback to hear if this decline in eating is normal for others that have raised them from juveniles to adults. It is my only real worry and I do weigh him each week to make sure he is staying steady or gaining. Pictures of cage and Beman taken in the last 2 days.

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - Male Veiled Chameleon, In my care for 5 months. Now about 9 months old at 109 grams.
  • Handling - He comes out to me everyday.
  • Feeding - Every other day feeding schedule. Silkworms 3-4 medium to large sized. Lost interest in Dubia but I am trying to get back on them gut loaded with Arcadia Insect Fuel (2 medium to large). 1-2 superworms gut loaded with Arcadia Insect fuel. Has lost interest in crickets and BSFL. Hornworms 2 times a week along with the occasional wax worm as a treat. His eating has curbed way back in the last 6 weeks. He is eating about 6-7 feeders ever other day. But is continuing to gain weight.
  • Supplements - Arcadia Calcium Pro Mg every 3rd feed, and Arcadia Earth Pro A Vitamins nearly every feed. Calcium D-3 from light conversion and I am using a solarmeter for weekly UVI levels to ensure there are no issues. He also gets natural sun time as many days a week as the weather allows.
  • Watering - Little dripper, Mistking, and fogger. Misting for 30 seconds 60 minutes prior to lights on at 6:30am, 2 minutes 30 minutes after lights on at 7am, 3 minutes at 12:15pm, 2 minutes at 5pm prior to lights off at 6:30pm, and 30 seconds at 10 pm. Using a reptile fogger which comes on for 6 minutes for the afternoon misting session of 4 minutes (heat lamp turns off for this misting/fogging session). Then on from 12am-4am while all lights are off. Following Bill Strands natural hydration approach. He likes to drink directly from his little dripper tube as well as from the leaves of his pothos. I see him do this everyday.
  • Fecal Description - Looks fully digested and solid. Urate is bright white no discoloration. Tested for parasites in December and came back negative.
  • History - My impulse buy from Petco... Has been very healthy since I got him. He saw a Vet for a full check up and got a clean bill of health in January.

Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - Dragon Strand Clearside. 24 inches deep x 30 inches wide x 48 inches tall. Sits on top of a 30 in tall cabinet.
  • Lighting - quad T5 linear system from light your reptiles. 1 12% UVB, 1 plant pro bulb, and 2 daylight bulbs. Fluckers dimable dome light with a 75 watt exo terra basking bulb. Lights are 7 inches away from highest basking spot. Achieving a 3-5 UVI level at basking. 6:30am All lights on. Heat lamp off at noon for afternoon misting and fogger and is back on 15 minutes after the cycle finishes at 12:35pm. All lights off at 6:30pm. By about 5:45pm he is already settled into his sleeping spot.
  • Temperature - Basking spot is 85 degrees. Middle of cage is 75 and bottom of cage is 69 degrees. Lowest overnight temp is 67 degrees. I measure with a wired in temp gauge at basking plus I have two additional unwired one middle right and the other bottom left of cage. I have a temp gun as well. I am waiting for a thermostat to arrive to hook the heat light up to to maintain constant heat level as it does not stay steady with the heat in the house turning on so I am constantly dimming the heat bulb up or down to keep it at 85.
  • Humidity - 55-80%. 70% being the high over night. Stays at a pretty steady 60% and shoots up to about 75-80% right after misting. 2 humidity gauges one placed top right with high low recordings and one in bottom left of cage.
  • Plants - 3 pothos plants. 1 njoy pothos, 1 golden pothos, and one marble queen. My cage has a drip easy try so I can not have weight sitting on it. The pothos seem to work the best for the planters I have that attach to the dragon ledges. Plus he loves them.
  • Placement - Across from my desk. Not near any fans or air vents. The table is 30 inches that it sits on so the top of the cage is about 6 and a half feet from the floor.
  • Location - Northern California on the coast.
@Beman
Godrick has dropped off in is consumption of feeders too. He's 6 months old now and he only really wants to eat once a day. His urates and poop are still normal and he's still eating about 10 to 12 feeders most days...but sometimes he only eats 6 to 8... if i try the twice a day schedule he used to be on, he just doesnt eat at all the second feeding.
 
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You're doing fine and you know it! (Hope that doesn't sound wrong).

Bob was exactly the same and still kept or gained weight on just 6-7 items every other day. Sometimes he seems hungry and doubles that, some days he only has 1/2 of that.

I'm sure they just like to see us stressing about everything.
Thank you for that... I have come a long way in 5 months. Pretty crazy how much I had no clue about and how wrong I was in my husbandry the first 2 weeks I had him. I have a strong base of knowledge now but I still don't know as much as I would like. Since he is my first Cham I have nothing to compare to and so I get nervous lol.
I enjoy learning from everyone here. It really makes a difference being able to connect with keepers that have the experience and knowledge I do not have.

That makes me feel better that more or less then 6-7 is pretty normal. :)
 
@Beman
Godrick has dropped off in is consumption of feeders too. He's 6 months old now and he only really wants to eat once a day. His urates and poop are still normal and he's still eating about 10 to 12 feeders most days...but sometimes he only eats 6 to 8... if i try the twice a day schedule he used to be on, he just doesnt eat at all the second feeding.
Yeah he dropped back to 12 a day by 6 months then by 7 months as I was slowly curbing him to every other day feedings I noticed his appetite and what he was willing to eat was different. So good to hear he is doing what Beman has done.
 
Yeah he dropped back to 12 a day by 6 months then by 7 months as I was slowly curbing him to every other day feedings I noticed his appetite and what he was willing to eat was different. So good to hear he is doing what Beman has done.
I'm just following King Godrick's lead as his peasant servant..lol
IMG_20190321_163321_034.jpg

This is Godrick's "Where's my treat, peasant?" Face :LOL:
Oh and he's in the middle of going dark because he hates my phone camera. LoL
 
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