Heckcham
New Member
Hello all-
I'm new to chameleons and the forums and have a few questions and naturally would love any feedback on my setup. First, the details....
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - Jackson, about 8 months (i think, will find out more today at work) got him on Saturday (three days ago).
• Handling - I only handle him about once a day, and only if he accepts the offer of an outstretched hand. That said, I've done some rearranging in the habitat recently and have had to move him once or twice.
• Feeding - Feeding large crickets bought at PetSmart. About 10 every other day, and I'd say he eats about one third of those (based on what I find dead, or escape, etc). I've seen him eat Sunday, Tuesday, and today. Pretty neat!!
• Supplements - I have the crickets dusted at PetSmart. Have done it once (first batch of crickets on Sunday) and plan to do it about once a week. I'll have to get details on the brand today.
• Watering (THIS is where my concern lies)- I have a waterfall in the habitat, but that's mostly used to catch the drips. I have a plastic container on top of the habitat (see pics below, the container drips from the right of the basking light) with three pinholes in it and I fill that twice a day and let it drip out into the waterfall or onto the substrate under the waterfall. I mist at least 6 times per day and before leaving for work mop up the excess water with towels that collects outside the substrate. I have the substrate separated from the rest of the tank (see pic) with some flat rocks. Figured this would help manage the excess water. I do not see him drink often but did catch him under the drips opening and closing his mouth. The other day he drank right from the spritz bottle, but has refused to do so yesterday and today thus far. I'm seeing him doing lots of exploring but also occasionally trying to get to the ground, which worries me that he may be dehydrated. Today I plan on picking up an eyedropper to try to drip on his nose, but I already tried that today with luke warm water (using a turkey baster), but no luck. As I type he just descended to the substrate behind the waterfall. Advice here would be appreciated....is he just shy?
• Fecal Description - Poo was solid and brown, urine was in mucous and white. Fecal was expelled this morning (man, that didn't look fun...) and have not seen urine in the last 24 hrs.
• History - None
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Glass w screen top, I keep the front open when he is supervised to maximize airflow. Have a fan that blows into the corner where the habitat is (Fan is across the room tho) 18x18x24
• Lighting - Zoo med fixture w Repti Glo 5.0 15w UVB and Flukers fixture with 75w basking bulb. I turn on the UVB at 7am, the basking at 8am, then the basking off around 8pm, and the UVB off one hour after that. Is this correct?
• Temperature - Ambient temp (halfway up, left side) is between 68-80, Grabbing a digital w probe today to measure his basking temp. I haev the branch where he can bask about 6 inches below the lamp. Will edit in the basking temp when I get the thermo. I have a hygro and thermo on the left side halfway up, adding more.
• Humidity - Humidity never below 40, usually closer to 60, cranks up to 75+ when I do the morning and evening mistings.
• Plants - Lots of fake vines, one small Pothos and one small Ficus.
• Placement - Living room...large room, fan on other side of room pointing towards habitat, medium traffic area, it's in the corner by my chair so I go by it a lot. Top of cage at about 5'
• Location - 15m W of Chicago, IL
Current Problem - Concerned about hydration mostly, but want to be sure I'm doing right by my new buddy.
His horns are slightly deformed, but that's how he came into the store, and part of the reason he was often overlooked, but also much of the reason I decided to take him.
As an aside: I also have SEVEN cats
Pictures attached, thanks a ton for this great resource!!
I'm new to chameleons and the forums and have a few questions and naturally would love any feedback on my setup. First, the details....
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - Jackson, about 8 months (i think, will find out more today at work) got him on Saturday (three days ago).
• Handling - I only handle him about once a day, and only if he accepts the offer of an outstretched hand. That said, I've done some rearranging in the habitat recently and have had to move him once or twice.
• Feeding - Feeding large crickets bought at PetSmart. About 10 every other day, and I'd say he eats about one third of those (based on what I find dead, or escape, etc). I've seen him eat Sunday, Tuesday, and today. Pretty neat!!
• Supplements - I have the crickets dusted at PetSmart. Have done it once (first batch of crickets on Sunday) and plan to do it about once a week. I'll have to get details on the brand today.
• Watering (THIS is where my concern lies)- I have a waterfall in the habitat, but that's mostly used to catch the drips. I have a plastic container on top of the habitat (see pics below, the container drips from the right of the basking light) with three pinholes in it and I fill that twice a day and let it drip out into the waterfall or onto the substrate under the waterfall. I mist at least 6 times per day and before leaving for work mop up the excess water with towels that collects outside the substrate. I have the substrate separated from the rest of the tank (see pic) with some flat rocks. Figured this would help manage the excess water. I do not see him drink often but did catch him under the drips opening and closing his mouth. The other day he drank right from the spritz bottle, but has refused to do so yesterday and today thus far. I'm seeing him doing lots of exploring but also occasionally trying to get to the ground, which worries me that he may be dehydrated. Today I plan on picking up an eyedropper to try to drip on his nose, but I already tried that today with luke warm water (using a turkey baster), but no luck. As I type he just descended to the substrate behind the waterfall. Advice here would be appreciated....is he just shy?
• Fecal Description - Poo was solid and brown, urine was in mucous and white. Fecal was expelled this morning (man, that didn't look fun...) and have not seen urine in the last 24 hrs.
• History - None
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Glass w screen top, I keep the front open when he is supervised to maximize airflow. Have a fan that blows into the corner where the habitat is (Fan is across the room tho) 18x18x24
• Lighting - Zoo med fixture w Repti Glo 5.0 15w UVB and Flukers fixture with 75w basking bulb. I turn on the UVB at 7am, the basking at 8am, then the basking off around 8pm, and the UVB off one hour after that. Is this correct?
• Temperature - Ambient temp (halfway up, left side) is between 68-80, Grabbing a digital w probe today to measure his basking temp. I haev the branch where he can bask about 6 inches below the lamp. Will edit in the basking temp when I get the thermo. I have a hygro and thermo on the left side halfway up, adding more.
• Humidity - Humidity never below 40, usually closer to 60, cranks up to 75+ when I do the morning and evening mistings.
• Plants - Lots of fake vines, one small Pothos and one small Ficus.
• Placement - Living room...large room, fan on other side of room pointing towards habitat, medium traffic area, it's in the corner by my chair so I go by it a lot. Top of cage at about 5'
• Location - 15m W of Chicago, IL
Current Problem - Concerned about hydration mostly, but want to be sure I'm doing right by my new buddy.
His horns are slightly deformed, but that's how he came into the store, and part of the reason he was often overlooked, but also much of the reason I decided to take him.
As an aside: I also have SEVEN cats
Pictures attached, thanks a ton for this great resource!!
