Looking for help with new veiled chameleon.

[Aajvell93]

Hey everyone,
I am looking into purchasing a new veiled chameleon and am in the process of doing my research. My reason for coming to a forum rather than online reading is because with my beardie I was given some false information from Internet readings. All of the best advice I was given was through a similar bearded dragon forum with experienced owners.
So, over the next few months I would like to get the best information and work on getting all of my supplies ready. This will not be my first reptile, I currently have a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. So I have some experience.
I am going to go over everything I know so far and I am open to all advice!
So I have read that I should provide a screen/mesh enclosure rather than glass. What size is recommended?

Lighting- I have read a 5.0 UVB and temps of 95 to low hundreds. Is this correct? If so, what type of UVB is recommended? (Coil bulb or fluorescent tube?)

Humidity- should not be a problem since I live in South Carolina. I have trouble keeping my two in a low humidity as it is, so having a reptile requiring higher humidity should be fairly easy.

Feeding- I currently have a dubia roach colony that I use, are these good for chameleons as well? I also get crickets, super worms, wax worms (that are just used for treats), and mealworms.
As far as dusting I have calcium with AND without D3 available and reptivite multivitamins which I already use. From my understanding chameleons don't need to have the D3 since they have UVB lighting. How often are they to be dusted?

Handling- I also understand that they don't care to be handled. Anyone have experience with one who enjoys it? Nothing crazy, I just enjoy walking around with them on my shoulder, going for walks, sitting out in the sun. Do they enjoy/benefit being outside in the natural sunlight like my beardie does?

Thank you in advance for any advice and if anyone has any reputable care sheets/videos I would greatly appreciate if you could share any links with me!

 

[Aajvell93]

Hey everyone,
I am looking into purchasing a new veiled chameleon and am in the process of doing my research. My reason for coming to a forum rather than online reading is because with my beardie I was given some false information from Internet readings. All of the best advice I was given was through a similar bearded dragon forum with experienced owners.
So, over the next few months I would like to get the best information and work on getting all of my supplies ready. This will not be my first reptile, I currently have a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. So I have some experience.
I am going to go over everything I know so far and I am open to all advice!
So I have read that I should provide a screen/mesh enclosure rather than glass. What size is recommended?

Lighting- I have read a 5.0 UVB and temps of 95 to low hundreds. Is this correct? If so, what type of UVB is recommended? (Coil bulb or fluorescent tube?)

Humidity- should not be a problem since I live in South Carolina. I have trouble keeping my two in a low humidity as it is, so having a reptile requiring higher humidity should be fairly easy.

Feeding- I currently have a dubia roach colony that I use, are these good for chameleons as well? I also get crickets, super worms, wax worms (that are just used for treats), and mealworms.
As far as dusting I have calcium with AND without D3 available and reptivite multivitamins which I already use. From my understanding chameleons don't need to have the D3 since they have UVB lighting. How often are they to be dusted?

Handling- I also understand that they don't care to be handled. Anyone have experience with one who enjoys it? Nothing crazy, I just enjoy walking around with them on my shoulder, going for walks, sitting out in the sun. Do they enjoy/benefit being outside in the natural sunlight like my beardie does?

Thank you in advance for any advice and if anyone has any reputable care sheets/videos I would greatly appreciate if you could share any links with me!

I also forgot to ask, what would be the recommended substrate?

 

[Dirtydominican77]

I also forgot to ask, what would be the recommended substrate?

No substrate is required, bare bottom

 

[Dirtydominican77]

You also don't need to get it that hot. Mid 80's maybe low 90's, but that may push it. As for natural sunlight..... the more the merrier they'll thrive, just like your bearded.

 

[Dirtydominican77]

Haven't been in SC in a long time. what is your weather like? If it stays warm for most of the year, You can keep your vailed outdoors for most of the year.

Feeding: as young juveniles should be fed every day, lightly dusted with calcium. Oh and of course GUTLOAD your feeders with good food. Multivitamin about twice a month, you should be good.


Oh, duh. The forum also has a great resource posting that will help greatly. Check it out.

 

[Aajvell93]

Haven't been in SC in a long time. what is your weather like? If it stays warm for most of the year, You can keep your vailed outdoors for most of the year.

Feeding: as young juveniles should be fed every day, lightly dusted with calcium. Oh and of course GUTLOAD your feeders with good food. Multivitamin about twice a month, you should be good.


Oh, duh. The forum also has a great resource posting that will help greatly. Check it out.

Oh yeah everything I have is always gut loaded with scraps from my beardies salad.
As for weather, it's been pretty messed up lately changing from hot to cold. In the summer it gets pretty hot, so if they should be kept under 90 it may be too hot for him to stay outside.

 

[Dirtydominican77]

Vailed chameleons are hardy breed from the Arabian Peninsula, they'll be fine outside, just make sure they get plenty of water on the hot days.

 

[KLowery88]

This caresheet will answer a lot of your questions: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/ I'd also recommend reading everything else in the resource section. There's a lot of great stuff in there.