mealworms or crickets?

[sammy16]

I just bought about 50 medium size crickets 3 days ago, but due to the high heat and humidity in my town at the moment almost half have died on me. When I asked the pet store if I could feed my chameleon something else, something that can be refrigerated, they said no and to stick with the crickets. My chameleon is still young and is not larger than 3 inches. What do you recommend? I heard mealworms are okay.

Fact below if needed
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Veiled chameleon, 2-3 inches, less than a year. In my care for 4 days.
Handling - Approximately 20 minutes every 2-3 days.
Feeding - I have been told to do 50 medium size brown crickets a week. The chameleon eats about 5-7 a day.
Supplements - None.
Watering - I have a bowl of water on the cool side of the cage. I refresh it daily. I sprinkle water throughout the cage via wash-cloth daily.
Fecal Description - Brown thick strands, lubricated once expelled

 

[ChameleonRave]

I just bought about 50 medium size crickets 3 days ago, but due to the high heat and humidity in my town at the moment almost half have died on me. When I asked the pet store if I could feed my chameleon something else, something that can be refrigerated, they said no and to stick with the crickets. My chameleon is still young and is not larger than 3 inches. What do you recommend? I heard mealworms are okay.

Fact below if needed
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Veiled chameleon, 2-3 inches, less than a year. In my care for 4 days.
Handling - Approximately 20 minutes every 2-3 days.
Feeding - I have been told to do 50 medium size brown crickets a week. The chameleon eats about 5-7 a day.
Supplements - None.
Watering - I have a bowl of water on the cool side of the cage. I refresh it daily. I sprinkle water throughout the cage via wash-cloth daily.
Fecal Description - Brown thick strands, lubricated once expelled

Okay, don't handle it as much, you are causing stress.

Get SMALL crickets, because it is still very tiny, if not fruit flies, when they said to not feed mealworms, they know one thing right.. They are fine once in a while and there is a thread in the "Lizard Lounge" that you can read.

You need to supplement that animal. He/she needs to have the proper supplements to not get Metabolic Bone Disease. What kind of lighting do you have?

Ditch the water dish. The Chameleon won't drink from it anyway, they aren't able to see standing water so what is the point to have it in there. It's just catching bacteria. You should have a spray bottle for misting 2-3 times a day.

Can you fill out the how to ask for help form? I will post it below.. Can you get pics of the setup please?

 

[camimom]

I just bought about 50 medium size crickets 3 days ago, but due to the high heat and humidity in my town at the moment almost half have died on me. When I asked the pet store if I could feed my chameleon something else, something that can be refrigerated, they said no and to stick with the crickets. My chameleon is still young and is not larger than 3 inches. What do you recommend? I heard mealworms are okay.

Fact below if needed
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Veiled chameleon, 2-3 inches, less than a year. In my care for 4 days.
Handling - Approximately 20 minutes every 2-3 days.
Feeding - I have been told to do 50 medium size brown crickets a week. The chameleon eats about 5-7 a day.
Supplements - None.
Watering - I have a bowl of water on the cool side of the cage. I refresh it daily. I sprinkle water throughout the cage via wash-cloth daily.
Fecal Description - Brown thick strands, lubricated once expelled

No, mealworms should be treats, not daily feeders. they are not very nutrional and have exoskeletons that can cause an intestinal blockage, which could lead to surgery, and since yours is so small, a vet prob wouldnt do it. Just buy small amounts of crickets and feed them off quickly, or put them in a cooler room.

 

[ChameleonRave]

Here is the thread I was mentioning. He is a very respected Chameleon Keeper and Chameleon Breeder. https://www.chameleonforums.com/truth-60703/

Fill this out it will help us understand more of your problem.

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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[sammy16]

Help Form

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Veiled chameleon, 2-3 inches, less than a year. In my care for 4 days.
Handling - Approximately 20 minutes every 2-3 days.
Feeding - I have been told to do 50 medium size brown crickets a week. The chameleon eats about 5-7 a day.
Supplements - None.
Watering - I have a bowl of water on the cool side of the cage. I refresh it daily. I sprinkle water throughout the cage via wash-cloth daily.
Fecal Description - Brown thick strands, lubricated once expelled.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have an aquarium. The tank is 19 inches by 10 inches by 13 inches. The cage bottom has sand and the animal has sticks and plants for it to climb on. I have two lamps perched above the tank's screen. I was told by the pet store that since it is summer, I am only in need of a heating lamp. The tank is position across the room where the sunlight can hit the tank.
Lighting - The lamp I have is a 50W daylight spot that is "for desert and tropical terrarium, a broad spectrum daylight spot lamp for terrariums, creates a basking area for thermo-regulation, increases ambient air temperature, and stimulates natural behaviour through UVA rays". I have no lamp that provides UVB. I also do not have a lamp for the night. Not knowing whether or not to keep the lamp on, I have left the lamp on 24 hours.
Temperature - Under the heat lamp 95.5F, in the cooler area 90.9F.
Humidity - I am unsure about the humidity level. I take a face-clothe and ring it out over the age, sprinkling it all over the cage at least once a day.
Plants - Fake plants, one so far, hung beneath the heat lamp
Placement - My tank is located on the lower shelf of a bookshelf, on the floor basically, directly across from my patio door.
Location -Pointe-Claire, QC (h9r 3h4)

I am to get a UVB light tomorrow, having previously asked about lighting.

Will misting work as a way to give the chameleon water? I had one person drip water into the cage from a bottle.

Should I stick to small or medium crickets?

 

[ChameleonRave]

[/COLOR]QUOTE=sammy16;568413]Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon -Veiled chameleon, 2-3 inches, less than a year. In my care for 4 days.
Handling - Approximately 20 minutes every 2-3 days. Cut back on handeling, you might cause too much stress these are solitary animals
Feeding - I have been told to do 50 medium size brown crickets a week. The chameleon eats about 5-7 a day. Try getting SMALL crickets your chameleon sounds really small, if not fruit flies will help
Supplements - None. You will want to get a schedule for him, you can email me or another member for theirs and take on their schedule, these animals aren't outside in the wild, so we need to supplement in order to keep them healthy.
Watering - I have a bowl of water on the cool side of the cage. I refresh it daily. I sprinkle water throughout the cage via wash-cloth daily. You are creating a breeding pool for bacteria, they can't see standing water and therefore won't drink from it, get a misting bottle and mist 2-3 times a day for about 5 minutes each.
Fecal Description - Brown thick strands, lubricated once expelled.
Can you post a picture? It's solid and not runny?
Cage Info:
Cage Type - I have an aquarium. The tank is 19 inches by 10 inches by 13 inches. The cage bottom has sand and the animal has sticks and plants for it to climb on. I have two lamps perched above the tank's screen. I was told by the pet store that since it is summer, I am only in need of a heating lamp. The tank is position across the room where the sunlight can hit the tank. Get an all screen cage, they need fresh air and need Height and not more ground. You need one soon because it will grow FAST![/COLOR]
Lighting - The lamp I have is a 50W daylight spot that is "for desert and tropical terrarium, a broad spectrum daylight spot lamp for terrariums, creates a basking area for thermo-regulation, increases ambient air temperature, and stimulates natural behaviour through UVA rays". I have no lamp that provides UVB. I also do not have a lamp for the night. Not knowing whether or not to keep the lamp on, I have left the lamp on 24 hours. Loose the bulb, get a house bulb at about 40 watts, you NEED a UVB that is what we get from sunlight, they need it and don't get it through windows. Get a Zoo Med 5.0 bulb, you don't need a night bulb because they thermoregulate.
Temperature - Under the heat lamp 95.5F, in the cooler area 90.9F. That is frying the baby.. You need to drop it down to 85 for basking and about 75 for the rest of the enclosure.
Humidity - I am unsure about the humidity level. I take a face-clothe and ring it out over the age, sprinkling it all over the cage at least once a day. Get a hygrometer to measure the humidity.
Plants - Fake plants, one so far, hung beneath the heat lamp You might try adding real plants, schefflera arboricola, and ficus to name a few they help with humidity you can get them at Lowes or Home Depot
Placement - My tank is located on the lower shelf of a bookshelf, on the floor basically, directly across from my patio door. They need to be higher up they are tree dwellers not ground dwellers
Location -Pointe-Claire, QC (h9r 3h4)

I am to get a UVB light tomorrow, having previously asked about lighting.

Will misting work as a way to give the chameleon water? I had one person drip water into the cage from a bottle. Yes, they don't see standing water, you can get a dripper, they drink the dew on the leaves and drops from rain.

Should I stick to small or medium crickets? You need to get small crickets they can swallow them easily.[/QUOTE]

 

[sammy16]

pictures are attached here. This is simply a starter cage.

 

[camimom]

ASAP changes

1. What gender is it?
2. NO handling. Give it a few days to settle in, then maybe once a week.
3. Pinhead crickets at that size, or extra smalls. As many as your cham will eat in a day. What do you gutload your crickets with?
4. You must supplement. Plain calcium every feeding. Reptivite a few times a month, d3 and without d3 supplements a few times a month.
5. You should have a mesh or screen cage, and it should be taller. THey climb upm not over. the taller, the better.
6. Need a UVB bulb asap. Often at this age, just the use of the UVb will be enough for heat. Especially sincer is summer. You dont need a night light. If temps drop, get a space heater. (the cage by the window does NOT give your cham the needed UVB rays)
7. A cham that young needs cooler temps, closer to 85.
8. TAKE OUT THE WATER BOWL. They can drown, Hand mist (with a spray bottle) for several minutes several times aday. or buy an auto mister, like mist king. Chams drink droplets off leaves, not standing water.
9. Real plants keep your humidity higher.
10. Saw your pics, you need more foliage. they like to hide, they can get stressed when the cant. Get more something in there, fake or real, put more in there. and get rid of that sand, They can eat it and get constipated.

Hope this helps!

 

[ChameleonRave]

Also, take out the sand substrate.. Not trying to be mean, but you should find someone to just take it in and get a gecko.. You have the setup for it.

 

[sammy16]

Thank you so much, everyone. I shall be putting your advice into effect immediately!

 

[sammy16]

Also, take out the sand substrate.. Not trying to be mean, but you should find someone to just take it in and get a gecko.. You have the setup for it.

This is my second chameleon, but it is quite young, so I wanted to make sure that I wasn't messing up. The first one I had was about 3 and I had him for another three years.

 

[Hoj]

you are going to cook that cham get the temps lower!!! misting with a clean or new spray bottle will help with humidity, you dont want the cham on the floor they live in trees up high not on the ground, you dont want anything on the floor of the cage, you need to be dusting your crickets with calcium at most feedings, calcium with d3 twice a month and a multivitamin twice a month.
you are going to want to get rid of the aquarium for a terrarium screen is the most common, for a youngster i would have him/her in a 16x16x30 and you will eventually need something closer to 24x24x48
looks like your getting lots of help best of luck

 

[ChameleonRave]

This is my second chameleon, but it is quite young, so I wanted to make sure that I wasn't messing up. The first one I had was about 3 and I had him for another three years.

Well, you do have the perfect setup for a leopard gecko.. In order to keep that thing alive you have to buy a whole brand new setup. Take out the hide too, it is meant for a gecko.. did you base the enclosure off the pet store or what you imagined it to be?

 

[sammy16]

I had had my previous chameleon in a set up close to what I have now. He had a tank but was bigger and had more plants and sticks in it. I just got the equipment from my friend who's gecko had just died, so I took the equipment off her hands. I figured it was okay for a temporary set up until I got more branches and plants in it.

 

[ChameleonRave]

I had had my previous chameleon in a set up close to what I have now. He had a tank but was bigger and had more plants and sticks in it. I just got the equipment from my friend who's gecko had just died, so I took the equipment off her hands. I figured it was okay for a temporary set up until I got more branches and plants in it.

How long have you had the Chameleon? Did you bother to do research? I am not trying to sound like a mean person, just watching out for the welfare of the animal. You NEED to get rid of that enclosure. Chameleons don't live in the desert as a Leopard Gecko does.

 

[Hoj]

I had had my previous chameleon in a set up close to what I have now. He had a tank but was bigger and had more plants and sticks in it. I just got the equipment from my friend who's gecko had just died, so I took the equipment off her hands. I figured it was okay for a temporary set up until I got more branches and plants in it.

here is a shot of my veiled and baby panthers setup, just to give you a idea, fairly typical setups, the smaller one on the right is my 3m panther and the bigger ones are for my veiled and the panther when hes ready..
hes in there now

 

[sammy16]

I have had THIS chameleon 4 days. I felt that after 3 years with the other chameleon, the same set up would be okay. Obviously, there are so problems with my enclosure. Unfortunately it is 1030pm here, so I cannot make the changes now. I just do not see how one veiled chameleon could live in a similar enclosure (granted more sticks and plants which I have yet to get for this one) and another cannot.

 

[sammy16]

Wow! That is a huge set up! I am impressed! It looks like I have alot of work cut out for me. I shall begin bright and early tomorrow.

 

[Hoj]

I have had THIS chameleon 4 days. I felt that after 3 years with the other chameleon, the same set up would be okay. Obviously, there are so problems with my enclosure. Unfortunately it is 1030pm here, so I cannot make the changes now. I just do not see how one veiled chameleon could live in a similar enclosure (granted more sticks and plants which I have yet to get for this one) and another cannot.

people here will help get you going perfect, we all love chams very much and dont mean to be to forward or harsh..
you are here asking whitch is GREAT!!

 

[Ekproject]

Yea you definetly have your work cut out for you. Change that setup fast. Your cham will thank you immediately