Just got my first chameleon today!

[gerrod85]

I just ordered this supplement called Repashy Superfoods Calcium Plus. According to those who are using it, this is the only supplement you will need. It just helps make things a little easier. No more confusing dusting schedules. Ebay was the best price i could find.

When you are ready for a screen cage, look at LLLreptile.com. They have really good prices on enclosures. I would make the switch asap. Nobody will recommend having a glass enclosure (except the people at petco.)

Yes you want to actually dust the crickets every time you feed him. Just put the crickets in a plastic bag with a little pinch of supplement, and shake them up. They do not need to be totally covered with the supplement. This can cause over-supplementation that could be harmful to your chameleon. Do NOT dust with Calcium+D3 every day.

You can gutload the crickets with a variety of vegetables. The following are recommended as good veggies to feed your feeders.
Collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelions, butternut squash, etc. These all have a good amount of calcium.

Hope this info helps. I am also a new Cham owner. I have done tons of research. This site is great for info on all subjects.

 

[Olimpia]

Actually the glass cage he has is perfectly fine. It offers proper ventilation and it a good size for a young baby. It will make keeping temps and humidity more stable, but it means that you have to keep an eye on the temps that much more to make sure that they are where you want them to be. But glass works well for people in cold/dry climates who have temp and humidity issues.

If you can't return the cage then I'd use it for a few months until he outgrows it. However, I'd keep the floor bare. More than anything, it's just so much easier to keep clean and dry, especially with so much misting that we do. And then upgrade to an all screen cage when it's time.

 

[KatiLemons]

what kind of lights are you using?
Also I see in your pictures what looks to be a water dish. Chameleons can't seek water out unless it is moving. Like from a dripper or from misting. When you mist, water will collect on leaves and foliage and cause small puddles or more droplets for them to see. Its supper easy to make a dripper. All you need is a cottage cheese/yogurt/sour cream tub and poke a small whole in it allowing small drops to fall into the cage.

 

[Elizadolots]

I don't see a water dish, I see a dish that has a plant coming from it....but it does beg the question: are you misting a lot? Do you have a dripper?

I really recommend a dripper. As KatiLemons says, they are easy to make and, as long as you put the dripper in the same place every day, your chameleon will learn to go there to get fresh water. In your ideal world, the water will drip from one leaf to another, to another to another.

 

[heartben]

i skimmed through the thread so forgive me if these have been asked but -
do you have a uvb bulb? also, is your heat bulb red? if so, you should consider swapping it out with a standard incandescent house bulb (or even one of those blue bulbs at the pet stores if you prefer)

also! - more sticks and climbable stuff would be good. i know someones mentioned substrate and the bowl looking thing ..

if youve only wanted one for a week, thats kind of a big move. seems like most here spent a couple months reading first. i dont doubt you can handle it but make sure you read a lot and ask questions if you need to.

 

[AndrewWelch]

I don't see a water dish, I see a dish that has a plant coming from it....but it does beg the question: are you misting a lot? Do you have a dripper?

I really recommend a dripper. As KatiLemons says, they are easy to make and, as long as you put the dripper in the same place every day, your chameleon will learn to go there to get fresh water. In your ideal world, the water will drip from one leaf to another, to another to another.

I have a mister running almost all the time, and I have a dripper running down the leaves also.

 

[AndrewWelch]

what kind of lights are you using?
Also I see in your pictures what looks to be a water dish. Chameleons can't seek water out unless it is moving. Like from a dripper or from misting. When you mist, water will collect on leaves and foliage and cause small puddles or more droplets for them to see. Its supper easy to make a dripper. All you need is a cottage cheese/yogurt/sour cream tub and poke a small whole in it allowing small drops to fall into the cage.

I have the water dish in it for when we get mealworms im going to put them in there. I have a mister running down the top and I have a dripper running down the leaves.

 

[AndrewWelch]

Actually the glass cage he has is perfectly fine. It offers proper ventilation and it a good size for a young baby. It will make keeping temps and humidity more stable, but it means that you have to keep an eye on the temps that much more to make sure that they are where you want them to be. But glass works well for people in cold/dry climates who have temp and humidity issues.

If you can't return the cage then I'd use it for a few months until he outgrows it. However, I'd keep the floor bare. More than anything, it's just so much easier to keep clean and dry, especially with so much misting that we do. And then upgrade to an all screen cage when it's time.

Well I live in Washington state where its cold almost year round so I really want to stick with a glass cage, yet dont want him to be freaking out all the time. So would it be wise to get a background and put it all around the sides except the front side where the door opens? I just dont want him to get too cold because I cant control the temperature during the day when I'm at school.

 

[amanda509]

Ill check that site out. The only reason why I had him in my hand is because I had to get him out of the petco box and into the cage, lol.?

please be careful with petco chameleons :/ i know our local petco has killed soo many of them due to the wrong ligthing, supplimentation, and i yelled at them the other day cuz they feed mealworms every day! those cause impaction...im really trying to get a job there so no more die...

 

[Olimpia]

Well I live in Washington state where its cold almost year round so I really want to stick with a glass cage, yet dont want him to be freaking out all the time. So would it be wise to get a background and put it all around the sides except the front side where the door opens? I just dont want him to get too cold because I cant control the temperature during the day when I'm at school.

No, he won't freak out in a glass enclosure. The reflections thing seems to be a bit of a myth, I really never hear of it as the legitimate reason a chameleon seems stressed/ill in coincidence with a glass cage. It always turns out to be another issue in husbandry, it seems like.

You could have him in a glass cage forever, I just don't know how big they come. But when it's time, try to find the largest terrarium style cage like the one you have now, find another one from a different brand that also allows for air flow but is a big habitat for a chameleon, or make your own with plexiglass or acrylic.

 

[KatiLemons]

If you are referring to the machine in the left of the pictures, that is not a mister. That is a Reptifogger. It will produce fog to keep humidity levels up but it will not create drops or mist of any kind for your chameleon to drink. You are gonna either need to hand mist or but an actual mister (mist king, aqua zamp, pro-mist). I would stay away from the HabbaMister which is made by the same company that makes your reptifogger. They are not good quality machines. If you want a cheaper, more dependable mister you might want to look into a Monsoon. They are farely new but work well for smaller enclosures like your terrarium.

 

[WOLVERINES135]

I have a mister running almost all the time, and I have a dripper running down the leaves also.

You do not want the mister (which looks to be a reptifogger) running all the time, only mist it 3-4 times a day and make sure it's dry before you mist again and when you turn all his lights out for him to sleep cause he'll get cold and could get sick. Also only use the dripper for about 30 mins. Every day. If it is a reptifogger you can run it all the time, just make sure your humidity doesn't get to high

 

[AndrewWelch]

please be careful with petco chameleons :/ i know our local petco has killed soo many of them due to the wrong ligthing, supplimentation, and i yelled at them the other day cuz they feed mealworms every day! those cause impaction...im really trying to get a job there so no more die...

I know Petco doesn't take much care of the pets, and I think it's a good thing that I rescued him from a certain death. Every time I looked at Jose's cage he had meal worms, but the guy said he never actually saw him eat them. Everyday I'm learning on how to take care of him better, and in time I think he will be much happier in my home then at petco where people will be tapping on the glass all day screaming at him.

 

[AndrewWelch]

i skimmed through the thread so forgive me if these have been asked but -
do you have a uvb bulb? also, is your heat bulb red? if so, you should consider swapping it out with a standard incandescent house bulb (or even one of those blue bulbs at the pet stores if you prefer)

also! - more sticks and climbable stuff would be good. i know someones mentioned substrate and the bowl looking thing ..

if youve only wanted one for a week, thats kind of a big move. seems like most here spent a couple months reading first. i dont doubt you can handle it but make sure you read a lot and ask questions if you need to.

I've put more sticks like you suggested, and he loves them! He climbs up and down them all day, thanks for the advice .

And yes we have a UV and heat bulbs, and if I'm not mistaken I turn them both off at night?

 

[hinoco1225]

Everyday I'm learning on how to take care of him better, and in time I think he will be much happier in my home then at petco where people will be tapping on the glass all day screaming at him.

Hello Andrew, and welcome to the forums! Congrats on your new little guy - he is very cute. I'm glad you rescued him too - unfortunately it does support Petco's business, but at the same time, how can we let the little ones they have keep suffering? I think the best thing to do when rescuing animals from pet stores with conditions that are less than ideal is to rescue the animal, but purchase all your supplies elsewhere. Check out our site sponsors for great places where you can order everything you'll need in the future.

 

[AndrewWelch]

Hello Andrew, and welcome to the forums! Congrats on your new little guy - he is very cute. I'm glad you rescued him too - unfortunately it does support Petco's business, but at the same time, how can we let the little ones they have keep suffering? I think the best thing to do when rescuing animals from pet stores with conditions that are less than ideal is to rescue the animal, but purchase all your supplies elsewhere. Check out our site sponsors for great places where you can order everything you'll need in the future.

He is adorable, isn't he ?
I want to order online, but unfortunately my parents are stubborn with their cards so I can't. I'm just going to look around town and figure out what the best deals are, and which are the healthiest. I really don't want to go to petco but it's really one of the only options I have .