chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
i just adopted my veiled chameleon 2 days ago, hes not eating (besides the leaves + i know its normal for a chameleon to not eat when they first go to a new place), but does he look okay?
is my chameleon adapting okay?
- Thread starter chameleon_lover_nj
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GrannyK
Chameleon Enthusiast
You can try making or getting a feeder run out of a plastic container companies sell them magnetic like frams chams .
I would also remove the bark from the bottom, without a fully bioactive bottom you risk moisture retention and bacteria growth. Bare bottom is best with your set up.
Good luck with your Cham. If you can get a closer photo of just the Cham it will be easier to assess his condition.
Welcome to the forum your in good hands! Ask as many questions as you need, these are complex creatures lol
I would also remove the bark from the bottom, without a fully bioactive bottom you risk moisture retention and bacteria growth. Bare bottom is best with your set up.
Good luck with your Cham. If you can get a closer photo of just the Cham it will be easier to assess his condition.
Welcome to the forum your in good hands! Ask as many questions as you need, these are complex creatures lol
GrannyK
Chameleon Enthusiast
From the photo you may have a lady and not a boy, if that’s the case we entered a whole new ballgame. Beautiful, but needs extra care.
Question: do you see a spur (nub) on the back back of the feet? If not, you have a female my friend! If you’re not sure take a pic of the back of the back foot and post here, we’ll confirm.
Question: do you see a spur (nub) on the back back of the feet? If not, you have a female my friend! If you’re not sure take a pic of the back of the back foot and post here, we’ll confirm.
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
here are some pics!You can try making or getting a feeder run out of a plastic container companies sell them magnetic like frams chams .
I would also remove the bark from the bottom, without a fully bioactive bottom you risk moisture retention and bacteria growth. Bare bottom is best with your set up.
Good luck with your Cham. If you can get a closer photo of just the Cham it will be easier to assess his condition.
Welcome to the forum your in good hands! Ask as many questions as you need, these are complex creatures lol
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chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
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GrannyK
Chameleon Enthusiast
I believe that’s a girl, I’m calling in a more experienced veiled keepers. @MissSkittles @ehdee6 can you confirm?
I’m going to say health wise it looks good, maybe a little thin but overall OK really
I’m going to say health wise it looks good, maybe a little thin but overall OK really
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Honestly its not that bad of a setup.
You have ground cover, but u have a veiled. They like to nom nom on plant like things.
U also have a girl. So you get to decide if you want to have a nesting box/pot in the cage all year around.
But over all the setup looks good and so does the grill.
Next adventure will be how she likes to feed. Some will eat from the bottom in that bowl you got. Some will prefer "feeder runs" on the side of the cage. I ended up with a feeder plastic shoe box at the bottom with sticks across it for one that really wanted to hunt.
You have ground cover, but u have a veiled. They like to nom nom on plant like things.
U also have a girl. So you get to decide if you want to have a nesting box/pot in the cage all year around.
But over all the setup looks good and so does the grill.
Next adventure will be how she likes to feed. Some will eat from the bottom in that bowl you got. Some will prefer "feeder runs" on the side of the cage. I ended up with a feeder plastic shoe box at the bottom with sticks across it for one that really wanted to hunt.
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
unfortunately, this is another one of my current issues. she/he keeps climbing on the mesh and wont eat!!!I believe that’s a girl, I’m calling in a more experienced veiled keepers. @MissSkittles @ehdee6 can you confirm?
I’m going to say health wise it looks good, maybe a little thin but overall OK really
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GrannyK
Chameleon Enthusiast
She will screen walk for a bit if it’s a new enclosure, once it’s set comfortable that should stop. As for eating, what are you offering?
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hi and welcome. 
Adding another confirmation that you have a pretty little girl. She looks to have already developed or is in the process of developing her big girl colors and patterns. This is my blog on the care of female veileds. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/veiled-chameleon-laying-101.2488/ Definitely from now prepare a lay bin and make it a permanent part of her enclosure. You also want to ensure that your husbandry is as correct as possible to help prevent any serious problems down the road.
Since you just got her, she does need some time to adjust to her new home. I also suggest a feeding station. While there are several variations available, I like and use the shooting gallery style. https://tkchameleons.com/products/shooting-gallery?variant=30018608595032 For a girl, the small size is perfect. You can make your own version, as many of us do. However you do it, just make sure that the feeding station remains in the same area so she always knows where her food will be and it needs to be visible from and around the same level as basking branch or slightly below. If she is still not eating in a day or so, I’d suggest getting a fecal done to check for parasites, which is more common than you’d think. A veterinary wellness visit is needed in order to have the vet run the fecal test.
Another area I agree is unless you are full bioactive, with adequate separated drainage layer and clean up crew, no substrate on the bottom is best.
I do hope I’ve been of some help. If you have any other questions, or would like to have your husbandry double checked, just ask away. Very happy to have you here.
Adding another confirmation that you have a pretty little girl. She looks to have already developed or is in the process of developing her big girl colors and patterns. This is my blog on the care of female veileds. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/veiled-chameleon-laying-101.2488/ Definitely from now prepare a lay bin and make it a permanent part of her enclosure. You also want to ensure that your husbandry is as correct as possible to help prevent any serious problems down the road.Since you just got her, she does need some time to adjust to her new home. I also suggest a feeding station. While there are several variations available, I like and use the shooting gallery style. https://tkchameleons.com/products/shooting-gallery?variant=30018608595032 For a girl, the small size is perfect. You can make your own version, as many of us do. However you do it, just make sure that the feeding station remains in the same area so she always knows where her food will be and it needs to be visible from and around the same level as basking branch or slightly below. If she is still not eating in a day or so, I’d suggest getting a fecal done to check for parasites, which is more common than you’d think. A veterinary wellness visit is needed in order to have the vet run the fecal test.
Another area I agree is unless you are full bioactive, with adequate separated drainage layer and clean up crew, no substrate on the bottom is best.
I do hope I’ve been of some help. If you have any other questions, or would like to have your husbandry double checked, just ask away. Very happy to have you here.
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
ah okay good to know! ive offered crickets, mealworms and im otw to go grab hornworms!
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
update: they were out of stock of hornworms
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Mealworms aren’t the greatest staple feeder. Hornworms are wonderful hydrating treats that almost no reptile can refuse. I have a wild caught veiled who is slightly picky, but when he sees any type of wormy feeder, he is there! I’m attaching the feeder and gutloading graphics for you. Many of us obtain our feeders from online vendors. Those who sponsor the forum are terrific and many offer variety packs. https://www.chameleonforums.com/sponsors/?tag=food If by chance you are in Florida (or adjacent state) https://lindasgonebuggie.myshopify.com/ is a great buggy vendor with great prices. For grasshoppers, there are only two sources that I am aware of - Khai Phan on FaceBook and https://dragonhoppers.com/
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
at the moment, im really just trying to get her to eat
shes refusing to eatwhen i got her, they told me that she was a very good eater and had a good appetite. i really believe its because of the new environmentHi and welcome.
Since you just got her, she does need some time to adjust to her new home. I also suggest a feeding station. While there are several variations available, I like and use the shooting gallery style. https://tkchameleons.com/products/shooting-gallery?variant=30018608595032 For a girl, the small size is perfect. You can make your own version, as many of us do. However you do it, just make sure that the feeding station remains in the same area so she always knows where her food will be and it needs to be visible from and around the same level as basking branch or slightly below. If she is still not eating in a day or so, I’d suggest getting a fecal done to check for parasites, which is more common than you’d think. A veterinary wellness visit is needed in order to have the vet run the fecal test.
Another area I agree is unless you are full bioactive, with adequate separated drainage layer and clean up crew, no substrate on the bottom is best.
I do hope I’ve been of some help. If you have any other questions, or would like to have your husbandry double checked, just ask away. Very happy to have you here.
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
also, she has been nibbling on the leaves in her enclosure so im sure its not that.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Could be worse. These cost more than a burrito in my areaupdate: they were out of stock of hornworms
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
dude WHAT? and only for one????? geez
ehdee6
Chameleon Enthusiast
Just popping in to say welcome, that's a pretty little miss you have! By looking at her feet, it also looks like she has a bit of the translucent piebald (pie) morph. (Pic of one below) 
You've gotten the best advice you can get, these people are amazing, they've helped me keep my girl happy and healthy. I've had mine for 18 months, she's 3 months away from being 2... We're all here to answer any questions.
You've gotten the best advice you can get, these people are amazing, they've helped me keep my girl happy and healthy. I've had mine for 18 months, she's 3 months away from being 2... We're all here to answer any questions.
chameleon_lover_nj
New Member
hello! thank you so much! and i didnt know thats what the white stuff on her feet is called! when you brought your girl home, did she struggle with eating or acclamation?
ehdee6
Chameleon Enthusiast
I certainly did have my struggles with making sure she eats and getting her settled.
She ate very little for the first 2 weeks; getting a dedicated feeding dish helped her realize where to expect food, though.
She was only roughly 3 months old when I brought her home. So everything was a huge learning curve for the both of us!
She's also never laid eggs with the advice given here to control the heat and feeding schedule. Your girl looks like a juvenile, and once you're sure she's eating regularly, it's probably ok for her to go a day or two without feeding on a normal schedule.
Here's mine when I got her, and recently:
Sassy colors:
Normal colors 1 min later lol...
