Male Veil Digging

[Mrjamwin]

I have a male veil and I noticed that the dirt in one corner of his enclosure was moved away. So I didn't think any of it and I covered it back up. Now my wife caught him digging a hole in the same area? Is this something males do? Also, where do I find that questionnaire stuff to fill in to answer husbandry questions, that I see on everyone's post?

Thanks

 

[Beman]

Interesting. And your sure you have a male?

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[Mrjamwin]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, male(?) 6 months, Since February 2020
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?. Not very often maybe 1 a week
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? A combination of Dubias, crickets and horn worms(for snacks) 10 of each dubias/crickets in the morning and evening
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I can't think of the regular calcium I use but the other one is Repashy Calcium pluse
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? The enclosure gets misted about 4 times a day and I have a fogger and he likes to drink the water droplets that form
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Brown and white. His poop looks like little bullets. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He's healthy, doesn't have an attitude much. Eats well.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Zoo Med terrarium sky scraper
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Iv'e got a T5 Reptisun Hood with the T5 liner light.
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? 88 degrees Lowest overnight temp? 60 How do you measure these temps? I've got a laser temp gun
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?50% -60% humidity. I have an analog with a digital on the way.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have small porthos and a bamboo plane mixed with some fake vines and vine ropes
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? in the living room, no fans or vents, No one usually gets close to the enclosure, It's a little over 2 feet off the ground
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Glorious Colorado

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. My male(I'm 99% sure is male is digging a hole in the corner of his enclosure.

 

[Beman]

Can you post pics of your entire enclosure and of your cham please.

 

[Beman]

I am going to add my feedback and questions in red bold so they stand out.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, male(?) 6 months, Since February 2020 More pics please to confirm gender.
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?. Not very often maybe 1 a week
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? A combination of Dubias, crickets and horn worms(for snacks) 10 of each dubias/crickets in the morning and evening.. Should be feeding in the morning so he has all day to digest. So your feeding a total of 20 feeders a day?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I can't think of the regular calcium I use but the other one is Repashy Calcium pluse... Repashy calcium plus is an all in one supplement. I prefer the LoD version if you use this product. This type of supplement is used as the only supplement. No additional calcium or vitamin should be given.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? The enclosure gets misted about 4 times a day and I have a fogger and he likes to drink the water droplets that form Are you running the fogger during the day or at night? Foggers should only be used during the night when lights are off and the temperature is at its lowest. Using a fogger during the day with the heat from the lights creates the perfect environment for a Respiratory infection to develop.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Brown and white. His poop looks like little bullets. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No I recommend to every to get a fecal on any new chams they bring into their home to ensure there is not a parasite issue.
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He's healthy, doesn't have an attitude much. Eats well.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Zoo Med terrarium sky scraper Is this their 18x18x36 tall? If so it will be too small for him as an adult. Male Veileds need at least 2x2x4.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Iv'e got a T5 Reptisun Hood with the T5 liner light. Does this have the 5.0 UVB bulb? what are you doing for heat?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? 88 degrees Lowest overnight temp? 60 How do you measure these temps? I've got a laser temp gun 88 at basking is a bit warm... Really should not be over 85 for a male veiled at this age.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?50% -60% humidity. I have an analog with a digital on the way. Humidity needs to be more like 30-40% during the day. Can be as high as 100% at night without lights being on. IF you are using the fogger during the day then stopping this will drop your daytime humidity levels. Analogs are horrible for accurate levels though. Be sure to keep the digital probe away from where you spray.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have small porthos and a bamboo plane mixed with some fake vines and vine ropes... pothos is good. the more live plants the better.
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? in the living room, no fans or vents, No one usually gets close to the enclosure, It's a little over 2 feet off the ground good.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Glorious Colorado

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. My male(I'm 99% sure is male is digging a hole in the corner of his enclosure. Please post pics of the entire enclosure and of the cham so we can get a better feel for the digging.

 

[Mrjamwin]

I'll get some updated photos when I get home from work for sure and I already see some adjustments to make for your post. Cool. Thanks

 

[Mrjamwin]

Here are some pictures

 

[Beman]

Here are some pictures

Yeah that is a boy... I wonder if he is hitting maturity a little faster. I mean 6 months is normal for pacing but maybe digging to get out? I dunno that is all I can think of.

 

[Tinytort]

Yup, that's a male.

 

[MissSkittles]

Is your enclosure bioactive?

 

[Mrjamwin]

Is your enclosure bioactive?

Yes it is.

 

[Mrjamwin]

So last night my wife did some confessing, She had opened the enclosure the day before and left it open and my Cham got out and wandered around the house for a bit before she realized he was gone. She eventually found him and put him back. So now I believe he was going down to the corner and digging because that's where he figured he got out the last time. So I think he was hoping to escape again.

 

[Mrjamwin]

I am going to add my feedback and questions in red bold so they stand out.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, male(?) 6 months, Since February 2020 More pics please to confirm gender.
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?. Not very often maybe 1 a week
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? A combination of Dubias, crickets and horn worms(for snacks) 10 of each dubias/crickets in the morning and evening.. Should be feeding in the morning so he has all day to digest. So your feeding a total of 20 feeders a day? Yes and they always get eaten.
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I can't think of the regular calcium I use but the other one is Repashy Calcium pluse... Repashy calcium plus is an all in one supplement. I prefer the LoD version if you use this product. This type of supplement is used as the only supplement. No additional calcium or vitamin should be given. I was thinking about changing to the LoD version myself but I was second guessing. I'm going to go and get that now
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? The enclosure gets misted about 4 times a day and I have a fogger and he likes to drink the water droplets that form Are you running the fogger during the day or at night? Foggers should only be used during the night when lights are off and the temperature is at its lowest. Using a fogger during the day with the heat from the lights creates the perfect environment for a Respiratory infection to develop. I only use it at night.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Brown and white. His poop looks like little bullets. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No I recommend to every to get a fecal on any new chams they bring into their home to ensure there is not a parasite issue. Ok, I'll look into getting this done
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He's healthy, doesn't have an attitude much. Eats well.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Zoo Med terrarium sky scraper Is this their 18x18x36 tall? If so it will be too small for him as an adult. Male Veileds need at least 2x2x4. so this confuses me just a little. It's 3 feet tall but a foot and half long and wide. This is not sufficient? If not I'm looking at a Dragon stand anyway
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Iv'e got a T5 Reptisun Hood with the T5 liner light. Does this have the 5.0 UVB bulb? what are you doing for heat? Yes on 5.0 UVB bulb. I got a zoo med basking light right behind the hood light. I'm forgetting the wattage right now.
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? 88 degrees Lowest overnight temp? 60 How do you measure these temps? I've got a laser temp gun 88 at basking is a bit warm... Really should not be over 85 for a male veiled at this age. Started making adjustments last night
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?50% -60% humidity. I have an analog with a digital on the way. Humidity needs to be more like 30-40% during the day. Can be as high as 100% at night without lights being on. IF you are using the fogger during the day then stopping this will drop your daytime humidity levels. Analogs are horrible for accurate levels though. Be sure to keep the digital probe away from where you spray. Will definitely adjust this to be more accurate.
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have small porthos and a bamboo plane mixed with some fake vines and vine ropes... pothos is good. the more live plants the better. Definitely adding more. Just prefer it.
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? in the living room, no fans or vents, No one usually gets close to the enclosure, It's a little over 2 feet off the ground good.
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Glorious Colorado

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. My male(I'm 99% sure is male is digging a hole in the corner of his enclosure. Please post pics of the entire enclosure and of the cham so we can get a better feel for the digging.

 

[Beman]

Ok so you want to start cutting back his feeders now or he is going to be a very overweight boy. They will eat and eat and eat if they have the opportunity. at 6 months your looking at 10-12 a day. If he is eating dubia then maybe consider working him off crickets. Crickets can carry parasites. By 9 months or so you want to start working him onto an every other day feeding of 6-9 feeders and then by a year it should be every other day and maybe 4-5 feeders. Watch his casque if it starts to get full looking he is holding fat. It is a balancing game. My male is 21 months... He only eats 2 times a week 4 quarter inch dubia, Bsfl and flies with 3 horns a week. He is holding fat in his casque and it is a lot harder to get them to drop grams then gain them.

I prefer the Repashy calcium plus LoD version. Then this will be the only one you will use.

As far as the enclosure for males especially I believe bigger is better. I have a dragon strand and highly recommend them. I think their atrium line is amazing. I have the medium tall clearside atrium. I really like the hybrid versions he has started doing giving you solid walls to work with. Anyways mine is 30 inches wide x 24 deep x4 foot tall. So I gain 6 inches in width. I am able to give him much better gradients. I have a warmer side and a cooler side so that basking is pulled all the way to one side. He utilizes this top area completely. I can tell when he is done with basking because he will go to the right side of the cage and relax. Gives him the ability to regulate temps without having to go down in the cage which moves him farther away from the T5.
You will also see as he matures his need for more room. He is going to start pacing. Beman still paces here and there but not like when he was in his baby cage.

 

[Mrjamwin]

Thanks Beman, I appreciate the insight I'm always looking to improve upon things and give Chamelio the best he can have.