Intro to me!

[Syn]

Hello! My name is Sabrina, or Syn, it's been my nickname for years.

I am a new chameleon owner, and I've been reading books about them for a while, I've always been interested!!

I previously owned 2 bearded dragons, they are cute little things.

My chameleon is *about* 7-11 months old, at least that's what the pet store told me.

I don't have a name for him yet.. I was thinking Meleon, like chameleon but just with the Meleon.. haha.

If there's anything you'd like to know, just ask! I don't mind answering questions.

EDIT: Oh, and I have a question.. sometimes when I rub my chameleon's casque, he closes his eyes and falls asleep... is this normal? Should I stop doing this? Ahhh.. haha, I'm going to feel bad if this is something bad.

EDIT: Cham Pics!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hi there and welcome!

I'm suprised your chameleon tolerates having its head rubbed. Dont know if this is a good practise or not. FYI your chameleon may become more aggressive with you as it ages, so dont be suprised if it doesnt continue to tolerate the handling.

This site is a great resource. Another is http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

If you'd like anyone here to review your current husbandry set-up, feel free to ask. There are some very knowledgable people on this forum.
Complete this info and folks can give you opinions on whether you've got it right, or could use adjustment:
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

 

[Syn]

Well I filled that out once already so I'll copy and paste what I had... don't know everything though.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - It's a LARGE ex-rabbit cage with chicken wire over it.. had to add that after he escaped once through a hole, haha! Provided a fun time looking for him. It's ABOUT 3 feet high, a foot back, 3 feet across.
Lighting - I turn on the light when I wake up and turn it off when I go to bed. It's normally the tube UVB but the UVB is broken and I'm waiting to buy another...
Temperature - 72 degrees average.
Humidity - Lately it's been 40% but I'm trying to get it up to 60%. The air's been dry lately and it caused him some eye problems.
Plants -Using a ficus? A small one.
Location - My cage is located in my living room away from all vents etc. It is on the ground.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, one month, he is an estimated 7-10 months old.
Handling - I try not to unless I'm giving him a shower or if I need to move him around.
Feeding - I feed him twice a day once when I get home and once again a few hours later.. I feed him crickets as he won't eat much else, yes they are gut loaded and yes they are calcium dusted. He does NOT like mealworms.. the only thing he likes are those crickets!!!
Supplements - Calcium dust... Don't know the brand, not home at the moment!
Watering - I mist his cage 3-5 times a day and turn on the fogger for about 20 minutes every hour or so.
Fecal Description - I don't really check that. He was checked before I bought him and he checked out fine.

 

[Syn]

Hi there and welcome!

I'm suprised your chameleon tolerates having its head rubbed. Dont know if this is a good practise or not. FYI your chameleon may become more aggressive with you as it ages, so dont be suprised if it doesnt continue to tolerate the handling.

Well I hand feed him, he always crawls onto my hand when I stick my hand in his cage slowly, I have the crickets in another cage so he always expects food when he sees my hands.

 

[Julirs]

Would love to see a picture of how you made a rabbit cage work out-

You need the UVB tube as soon as possible, no compact UVB. You also need a heat lamp. If he is actually 7-10 months old then you should have a basking spot about 90 degrees.

 

[Syn]

Would love to see a picture of how you made a rabbit cage work out-

You need the UVB tube as soon as possible, no compact UVB. You also need a heat lamp. If he is actually 7-10 months old then you should have a basking spot about 90 degrees.

Oh yes of course. I'm trying my best to get that tube, but the UVB holder broke. I will try to get pictures soon, my camera doesn't have the best quality.. The best I can do is use my camera phone for now haha! Oh yeah, the basking area is hotter than 72 degrees... I checked this morning and it was 88. Hmm. Guess I'll have to get a stronger heat lamp?

 

[Syn]

P.S. Your site is awesome.

 

[BocaJan]

88 deg is fine for a basking place. I wouldn't get it any hotter.

 

[Syn]

88 deg is fine for a basking place. I wouldn't get it any hotter.

I was hoping that would be good enough but as I was told on the other thread they are very delicate creatures and need specific temperatures etc.

 

[Syn]

Cham pics updated Sorry about the mess, I've been moving things around.

 

[Julirs]

Cham looks good, cage needs a few improvements. Ditch the substrate-it is dangerous by way of possible impaction and has to be a soupy mess after you mist. Fill the cage with more live plants. And of course replace that UVB bulb ASAP.

 

[Syn]

Cham looks good, cage needs a few improvements. Ditch the substrate-it is dangerous by way of possible impaction and has to be a soupy mess after you mist. Fill the cage with more live plants. And of course replace that UVB bulb ASAP.

Soupy mess? It's repti-bark.. was recommended by the guy who sold me the cham. Doesn't get soupy, really.. what should I replace it with?

@Plants - I took some of the plants out to clean them out, I have about 2 live plants (one of which you can kind of see).

UVB bulb should be replaced within the week. Thanks. :3

 

[Fred]

Hi welcome!! So where do u live? This site and the link that sandrachameleon provided u with is most all of the info u will need to keep a happy heath y chameleon!! Definatly get a new UVB light ASAP!! Online is probably your cheapest option since u also need the light fixture too, and some more live plants, best to get at a private nursery, but u will need to follow the instruction on another link on how to wash and repot the plants before u put them in the cage. When u can a good aluminum screen enclosure is safest and will keep crickets in too!! u can find them online for under $100.00, good luck, glad to have u!!

 

[Syn]

Hi welcome!! So where do u live? This site and the link that sandrachameleon provided u with is most all of the info u will need to keep a happy heath y chameleon!! Definatly get a new UVB light ASAP!! Online is probably your cheapest option since u also need the light fixture too, and some more live plants, best to get at a private nursery, but u will need to follow the instruction on another link on how to wash and repot the plants before u put them in the cage. When u can a good aluminum screen enclosure is safest and will keep crickets in too!! u can find them online for under $100.00, good luck, glad to have u!!

Yeah it's a good website.

Can't really get stuff online, no credit card. I'm workin' on it!

Plants... got 'em, just not in there atm.

I'm making a pvc pipe + screen cage myself.

EDIT: I'm hoping 3ft tall 2ft wide 2ft back is big enough?

 

[Fred]

I understand!! Awesome making ur own cage!! Check out the enclosure section, just browse thru some posts you'll get some great ideas on stuff like drainage, stands (since the higher off the ground the better!) etc. post some pics for us when u finish. So u didn't say where u live (like state- not necessarly your 911 address- if u don't mind sharing

 

[Syn]

I understand!! Awesome making ur own cage!! Check out the enclosure section, just browse thru some posts you'll get some great ideas on stuff like drainage, stands (since the higher off the ground the better!) etc. post some pics for us when u finish. So u didn't say where u live (like state- not necessarly your 911 address- if u don't mind sharing

Well I'm a newbie at making cages (as you can tell from the ex-rabbit cage lmao!)

I won't be making it until I can get some help with it, though.

I live in Arizona. Phoenix metro.

I will be sure to look for it before I start making it.

 

[Syn]

Also - I'm looking for the "glossary" of cham talk, if there is one.

Kind of like what 1.1 and 0.1 mean on signatures, stuff like that.

I'm a bad searcher. I'll keep looking in the meantime.

EDIT: no luck. D:

 

[Julirs]

1.1 is 1 male and 1 female
2.3.5 would be 2 males and 3 females and 5 unknown (babies)

 

[Syn]

Thanks Julirs! Makes a lot more sense now - wow some people have a ton of chams. :O

Edit: From post 12 -

Soupy mess? It's repti-bark.. was recommended by the guy who sold me the cham. Doesn't get soupy, really.. what should I replace it with?

@Plants - I took some of the plants out to clean them out, I have about 2 live plants (one of which you can kind of see).

UVB bulb should be replaced within the week. Thanks. :3

 

[Chase]

Syn, there are people who can sex your Beardie if you want, take a picture of the tail by the pooper.