]hi, with help from the pet shop lady i bought all the stuff she said was right but my veiled cham is always dark brown in his viv! he is 6 weeks old, he is in a medium repti-breeze & has a 60w basking light with highest spot 95.F and a 5.0 uvb , the lady told me i could just put the uvb into a desklamp so i did & attached the basking light to the side, now im afraid somethings really wrong ?! please help !
is my setup really wrong?! cham isnt happy!!
- Thread starter Fredx
- Start date
TheLivingLegend
New Member
Desk lamp? Are you using a compact coil uvb? If so take it out immediately. He might be stressed a bit its been a big day for him. Look up all the info you can on your chameleon here. DO NOT ask pet stores, or even reptile stores on how to care for you cham. My cham was really dark her first day. Remember chams are poorly cared for in pet store cuz unless the employee has experience with reptiles himself, they dont know, and go off store policy which is not always in the cham's best interest. Basking light should be on top of cage not on side, all lamps kept out of cage for chams safety. Make sure he is plenty hydrated, one way to tell if you cham is dehydrated is the top of their head will sink in along with their eyes. Stress will also cause this, stress will make them sick to the point they die and it doesnt take a whole lot.
cigdoll
New Member
With the information you provided, I would recommend replacing your 60w basking bulb with a 25w or no basking lamp at all due to the age of your cham; and if you are using the Reptisun 5.0 coil bulb then switch it to a Reptisun 5.0 T8 florescent tube. Also if you are going to have a basking lamp, I would suggest putting the lamp on top of the cage pointing down and not pointing horizontally from the side(not sure what you mean by "side"). If you want more suggestions/opinions with your enclosure setup, please fill out How to ask for help and that would make it easier for us to help you.
slinko9
New Member
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
Read this right away!!!!! My Guy is the same age, go get a nice pathos or Ficus for him to boot around in!!!!
I havent really heard anything good yet about the compact UVB bulbs,,,but then I dont know much about them,,,,but a Zoo-med or Reptiglo 5.0 tube bulb with a nice reflector canopy seems to be the way to go!!!
Keep the temperature 75ish thru out the cage until he is about 4 months old then you start inceasing basking temps!!!!
Get yourself some way to mist the cage down a couple times a day,,,,giving the plants a good soaking,,,,so that there are drips coming off the leaves,,,,this is how your little guy drinks!!!! You could also make yourself a dripper,,,,by poking a hole in the bottom of a plastic cup and filling it with water and let it drip on a top leaf letting the drops find their way to the bottom,,,,Gotta keep the humidity around 60!!!
Get yourself some gutload to feed your crickets,,,,and some calcium powder to shake them up in before you feed your cham,,,I feed mine in a cup as I have had bad experiences with free range feeding in the past!!!!
Use calcium with D3 twice a month and a vitamin supplement twice a month!!!!
That should help for now!!!! Other than that,,,when your on your computer,,,,for the next little while,,,,make sure you are researching cham husbandry,,,,it is essential to have an understanding of it!!!!!!!
Good Luck!!!
You`re gunna love the forums!!!!
Cheerz!!!!
Read this right away!!!!! My Guy is the same age, go get a nice pathos or Ficus for him to boot around in!!!!
I havent really heard anything good yet about the compact UVB bulbs,,,but then I dont know much about them,,,,but a Zoo-med or Reptiglo 5.0 tube bulb with a nice reflector canopy seems to be the way to go!!!
Keep the temperature 75ish thru out the cage until he is about 4 months old then you start inceasing basking temps!!!!
Get yourself some way to mist the cage down a couple times a day,,,,giving the plants a good soaking,,,,so that there are drips coming off the leaves,,,,this is how your little guy drinks!!!! You could also make yourself a dripper,,,,by poking a hole in the bottom of a plastic cup and filling it with water and let it drip on a top leaf letting the drops find their way to the bottom,,,,Gotta keep the humidity around 60!!!
Get yourself some gutload to feed your crickets,,,,and some calcium powder to shake them up in before you feed your cham,,,I feed mine in a cup as I have had bad experiences with free range feeding in the past!!!!
Use calcium with D3 twice a month and a vitamin supplement twice a month!!!!
That should help for now!!!! Other than that,,,when your on your computer,,,,for the next little while,,,,make sure you are researching cham husbandry,,,,it is essential to have an understanding of it!!!!!!!
Good Luck!!!
You`re gunna love the forums!!!!
Cheerz!!!!
Lathelia
Established Member
75? Did you mean 85?
thanks for the replies, yes it is a compact coil bulb, you suggest taking it away? i wont have the chance to visit the petshop till friday, what is wrong with the compact bulb? and hes in a reptibreeze so not even sure how to attach a tube bulb?? ahh i sound so dumb sorry, everything was just kinda forced onto me & its confusing!
Lamour
New Member
I'd suggest altering temps a little maybe and putting his lights on the top of the cage aiming downwards. What is the rest of the enclosure like? (Like humidity, plants, vines, etc.)
I'm also wondering why a coil is not good. I know a tube is better at providing more light and uvb but I don't think there is anything wrong with coils
I'm also wondering why a coil is not good. I know a tube is better at providing more light and uvb but I don't think there is anything wrong with coils
buddy912
Member
for his age it is definitely too hot for him. compact bulbs can break and have bad bad stuff in them n if it gets inhaled in it is not good. u can use a reg house bulb n go to home depot or lowes n buy a silver dome light fixture thingy(sorry dont know right name) painters use them they have clamps on them but u can just sit it on top of screen n if it gets too hot raise the light a bit u dont wanna burn him and yes he can get burned. as far as the tube light u can but a fixture for them and that sits right on the screen as well and the tube lights dont get hot so it will be safe that is just for his sun light but is very important to have. u can buy an aquarium fixture n just put the tube uvb light in there according to size, they run a bit cheaper then the reptile hoods n work just the same. just make sure u get right uvb buld tho! misting is good too he will like to see the water drops n maybe drink form the leaves they do not recognize standing water so a bowl of water will do u no good.
misting also helps with the humidity. this is a great place to learn and everyone is so helpful! 
dont be afraid to ask.... thats how u learn! and every day there is a new cool lesson to be learned! 
good luck. try to post some picteres they always help also there is a "ask for help" form to fill out u should and place it in the clinic someone will check it out n give u pointer where needed if needed... good luck!! .
sorry for the late rpely but ive been watching fred & what ive noticed is only when he is under the basking lamp he is dark, when hes in other parts of his viv he is green and when he comes out hes bright green, here is a pic of his setup (uvb on top, basking light in middle)
sorry for the late rpely but ive been watching fred & what ive noticed is only when he is under the basking lamp he is dark, when hes in other parts of his viv he is green and when he comes out hes bright green, here is a pic of his setup (uvb on top, basking light in middle)
squeekz1992
New Member
He could definitely use some more foliage
As for the coil bulb, there has be a lot of debate on whether or not they are safe. However, They are 100% safe now. In my experience, I used a coil bulb with my first cham and he did perfectly fine with it, but now, with my new baby, I am using a linear bulb, and the difference is night and day. I would recommend the linear bulb, just from the difference I've seen. It is entirely up to you which bulb you use, the coil bulbs are safe now, but they don't cover as much of the cage as the linear bulbs do, which is the downfall when I have compared them.
If he is only dark under the basking spot, then he's just soaking up the rays
they darken their color to attract the most rays He's very cute btw.
As for the coil bulb, there has be a lot of debate on whether or not they are safe. However, They are 100% safe now. In my experience, I used a coil bulb with my first cham and he did perfectly fine with it, but now, with my new baby, I am using a linear bulb, and the difference is night and day. I would recommend the linear bulb, just from the difference I've seen. It is entirely up to you which bulb you use, the coil bulbs are safe now, but they don't cover as much of the cage as the linear bulbs do, which is the downfall when I have compared them.
If he is only dark under the basking spot, then he's just soaking up the rays
they darken their color to attract the most rays He's very cute btw.
squeekz1992
New Member
What kind of substrate are you using??
sorry for the late rpely but ive been watching fred & what ive noticed is only when he is under the basking lamp he is dark, when hes in other parts of his viv he is green and when he comes out hes bright green, here is a pic of his setup (uvb on top, basking light in middle)
From mistakes that I made and advice received, I would get rid of the substrate. My baby veiled tries to eat everything! Some more plants may make him feel more secure, also. Also, you said 6 weeks old
? He is lots bigger than my little guy and he is almost 3 months old. Does this seem right to all of you? (I know, a pet shop would never give incorrect information, but...)
squeekz1992
New Member
From mistakes that I made and advice received, I would get rid of the substrate. My baby veiled tries to eat everything! Some more plants may make him feel more secure, also. Also, you said 6 weeks old
Actually, I would age him at 4 or 5, maybe even 6 months old.
natureboy86
New Member
Like others have stated it is better to get a tube uvb bulb, this was the uv rays spread throughout the enclosure, giving your cham as much replica 'sunlight' exposure as possible. Also, place the basking lamp ontop of enclosure, pointing down. This will keep the top of the enclosure nice a warm, while the temperature decreases towards the bottom of the cage. This gives the most natural enviroment possible for your cham, and gives him/her the ability to escape the heat if desired.
Next, is that bark on the bottom of your enclosure? If so, get rid of it asap. Either have nothing at the bottom, or maybe some paper towels. If a cham latches a cricket that's latched to the bark, it can do some serious damage to your chams insides. I'd also probably throw some more greens in there as well. Maybe a live umbrella plant, which would give it some more places to hide and give it more privacy.
Next, is that bark on the bottom of your enclosure? If so, get rid of it asap. Either have nothing at the bottom, or maybe some paper towels. If a cham latches a cricket that's latched to the bark, it can do some serious damage to your chams insides. I'd also probably throw some more greens in there as well. Maybe a live umbrella plant, which would give it some more places to hide and give it more privacy.
Ulrich
New Member
Pretty Cham you have there. Welcome to the addiction. Few observations:
1. I would triple the amount of foliage. They feel better in a denser green environment. Get a pothos or another vine like passion flower and maybe a plant with stems and branches: hibiscus, ficus, schefferela might do.
2. From the picture it looks like the basking light is on the side. If so, I would seriously put the basking spot on top of the cage. Sun comes from above in nature and this is how they would look for it. Putting the basking spot on the side reduces the temperature gradient in the cage. Usually the cage should be the coolest at the floor.
3. Substrate is difficult as said before. I personally use soil at the floor (as my cage bottoms are DIY planter boxes. Others use nothing and this might be better for beginners as well.
1. I would triple the amount of foliage. They feel better in a denser green environment. Get a pothos or another vine like passion flower and maybe a plant with stems and branches: hibiscus, ficus, schefferela might do.
2. From the picture it looks like the basking light is on the side. If so, I would seriously put the basking spot on top of the cage. Sun comes from above in nature and this is how they would look for it. Putting the basking spot on the side reduces the temperature gradient in the cage. Usually the cage should be the coolest at the floor.
3. Substrate is difficult as said before. I personally use soil at the floor (as my cage bottoms are DIY planter boxes. Others use nothing and this might be better for beginners as well.
That's what I was thinking, too.
One other thought, sometimes you just need to give some time to adjust to the new surroundings! As long as he is eating and drinking give it a few days.
.
Hi, he has orchid bark at the bottom a couple of people said this is ok?? And that old really!? Jesus the pet shop said he was 6 weeks a week or so before i bought him i didnt think he was that old! And i will try and get a fixture to get the basking lamp above, and ive been out trying to buy him plants but cant really seem to find anything apart from the 2 he has
and hes a very good boy havent heard him hiss or get the hump once and he comes running over to get on youre hand, so cute!
p.s looking at that photo i posted of him he looks a bit bigger than he is ill try and post a more accurate one!
Hi, he has orchid bark at the bottom a couple of people said this is ok?? And that old really!? Jesus the pet shop said he was 6 weeks a week or so before i bought him i didnt think he was that old! And i will try and get a fixture to get the basking lamp above, and ive been out trying to buy him plants but cant really seem to find anything apart from the 2 he has
and hes a very good boy havent heard him hiss or get the hump once and he comes running over to get on youre hand, so cute!p.s looking at that photo i posted of him he looks a bit bigger than he is ill try and post a more accurate one!
natureboy86
New Member
Hi, he has orchid bark at the bottom a couple of people said this is ok?? And that old really!? Jesus the pet shop said he was 6 weeks a week or so before i bought him i didnt think he was that old! And i will try and get a fixture to get the basking lamp above, and ive been out trying to buy him plants but cant really seem to find anything apart from the 2 he has
p.s looking at that photo i posted of him he looks a bit bigger than he is ill try and post a more accurate one!
Try a Lowe's, Orchard Supply, Walmart, or even a 99cent store. You can find Umbrella Plants, Money Trees, Fiscus, and many more plants for your enclosure. Just repot the plant with organic soil and wash the entire plant (maybe a sponge w/light dish soap then rinse in shower) before putting it in your cham's home.
Hi, he has orchid bark at the bottom a couple of people said this is ok?? And that old really!? Jesus the pet shop said he was 6 weeks a week or so before i bought him i didnt think he was that old! And i will try and get a fixture to get the basking lamp above, and ive been out trying to buy him plants but cant really seem to find anything apart from the 2 he has
p.s looking at that photo i posted of him he looks a bit bigger than he is ill try and post a more accurate one!
If you look at my avatar, this was about 1 month old. He's at least double that now. Substrate seems to be a breeding ground for bad things due to the constant misting. It will become more hassle than it is worth even if Fred doesn't bother with it.
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