Mrs. Frederick's Story

mrsfrederick25

New Member
Hi everyone!
I am very excited to be here among such experts! I am honored to be a part of this forum. But lets get to the story. I went to the NE reptile expo on Saturday October 2. I'd been planning to get a cham. All permits for Mass. were in order. I looked around and couldnt find them,until I saw these poor, poor chameleons in CUPS!Now, im new to these chams, but reptiles are easily stressed, and this just sickened me. I looked at them. Most had given up trying to get out, except
a Jacksons and a veiled. I left that table to think about things. I decided, against my better judgement, to get one. I went back to the table to find the Jacksons had been purchased, replaced in its slot by a leopard gecko. The veiled was still their. I ammediatley purchased her. When I got into the car, I opened the lid of her jar, and she came to life! She turned bright green and began to walk around the seat. She was a charachter, right from the start.
Today I am happy to report she is doing great.She finished a shed and has gained weight. Before, I could see her ribs. I hope she will have a long and happy life with me, and, with you guys guiding me, plus a years worth of research, I can take care of her correctly.

Cheers!

Dom
 
Sounds wonderful!

Hi everyone!
I am very excited to be here among such experts! I am honored to be a part of this forum. But lets get to the story. I went to the NE reptile expo on Saturday October 2. I'd been planning to get a cham. All permits for Mass. were in order. I looked around and couldnt find them,until I saw these poor, poor chameleons in CUPS!Now, im new to these chams, but reptiles are easily stressed, and this just sickened me. I looked at them. Most had given up trying to get out, except
a Jacksons and a veiled. I left that table to think about things. I decided, against my better judgement, to get one. I went back to the table to find the Jacksons had been purchased, replaced in its slot by a leopard gecko. The veiled was still their. I ammediatley purchased her. When I got into the car, I opened the lid of her jar, and she came to life! She turned bright green and began to walk around the seat. She was a charachter, right from the start.
Today I am happy to report she is doing great.She finished a shed and has gained weight. Before, I could see her ribs. I hope she will have a long and happy life with me, and, with you guys guiding me, plus a years worth of research, I can take care of her correctly.

Cheers!

Dom

Well, sounds wonderful and from what you are saying you did lots of advanced research yes? If you like you can post pics of your Cham's set up and questions if you are unsure of anything, there are lots of helpful people here for you to count on!
 
Thats cool congratz Im the same way I can be rather impulsive with my money and rash sometimes it gets the better of me and I pay the price, but alas Im happy it all worked out well for you :D !
 
Thank you! Yes, I did a lot of research before getting her, and I do have a few questions.
1. Is a screen cage ok? The lady who sold me Mrs. Frederick insisted I get one, so did. I just want to make sure i made the right investment.
2. Are crickets suitable? Shes been eating them since Saturday, and they've filled her up, and they were good for other reptiles ive had,although with chameleons it seems to be exception, exception, exception :)
3. What substrate? I couldn't find an answer for this one. Right now it's bare bottomed, although this can be easily fixed.

Thanks!
 
Hi and welcome to the forum!!! Congrats on your new baby. I went to the NE show also and I saw the chams in the cups. I wasn't thrilled by the display but it sounds like you got a good one! BTW we love pics! :):)
 
Substrate is what's in the bottom of the cage like moss, bark etc. Which by the way you don't want to use! Just leave the cage floor empty. Easy to clean and wipe down, plus your chameleon could accidently ingest it and that could leave to severe problems! By the way, congrats on your cham. you have come to the right place for help if you need it!!! Welcome to the forum!!!
 
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Thank you! Yes, I did a lot of research before getting her, and I do have a few questions.
1. Is a screen cage ok? The lady who sold me Mrs. Frederick insisted I get one, so did. I just want to make sure i made the right investment.
2. Are crickets suitable? Shes been eating them since Saturday, and they've filled her up, and they were good for other reptiles ive had,although with chameleons it seems to be exception, exception, exception :)
3. What substrate? I couldn't find an answer for this one. Right now it's bare bottomed, although this can be easily fixed.

Thanks!

Screen is the best you can have for a cham because they need airflow.

Crickets (make sure they are well gut loaded with veggies and fruits) are suitable as a staple but chams like verity so you can add some some small super worms, silk worms, roaches and horn worms. Also veilds like to eat vegies like kale and other greens.
Definitely leave you cage bare..any substrates can lead to impaction. Many people use paper towels..easy clean up.

Also..did you purchase any supplements and if so what kind? It is very important to dust your chams food with; 1) phosphorous free calcium without D3 daily 2) Phosphorous free Calcium with D3 twice monthly 3)
multivitamin twice monthly.
Hopes this helps
 
Thank goodness!

Wow! People reply fast around here! I can get used to this:) Anyway, I'm happy I've done everything correctly! I actually just learned about supplements yesterday. My other lizards use them, but with different ingredients. It took me a while, but I found out what kind to use, and I purchased them. I used them today. Another question: she's eating the phopos I placed in her tank. Is this ok? I'll fix the problem if it's not. But thank goodness with the supplements. My cousin thought it was a waste to get all different kinds, but I was right:)
 
Wow! People reply fast around here! I can get used to this:) Anyway, I'm happy I've done everything correctly! I actually just learned about supplements yesterday. My other lizards use them, but with different ingredients. It took me a while, but I found out what kind to use, and I purchased them. I used them today. Another question: she's eating the phopos I placed in her tank. Is this ok? I'll fix the problem if it's not.

I'm sorry but I don't know what a phopos is??? Did you mean pothos plant? If so it shouldn't be any problem if she nibbles on it. You might want to offer some kale, mustard greens, collard greens so that she will leave the plants alone :)
 
Did I say phopos? Sorry. I'll put some kale in her cage right away. Should I attach it to the cage wall or put it in a bowl? Also, is out of cage time ok for these guys? I've refrained from handling her since I read that they are easily stressed, but she seems to like to explore. Can I let her climb around?
Thanks!

Ps: Pics are on the way! My Mac has serious photo problems. Once I figure out how to post them, they'll be up:)
 
Hello !!!:)

Welcome tou our BiG Cham family on the forums:D

Yes: you can let her explore on her own, but just becareful she wont hurt herslef and have branvhes and plants she can climb on, some forum members "free-range" their chams in their homes/room:D...you can hold your cham once in a while but if she gets too dark and stressed then leave her alone, but holding her 5-10 mins should be fine at first ...it depends on the cham is ok to be handled by people from their personality and tolerance of people....you can hand feed her insects like silkworms to make her like you more and trust you better, that way you have a better chance of holding her for longer periods of time:)
 
Did I say phopos? Sorry. I'll put some kale in her cage right away. Should I attach it to the cage wall or put it in a bowl? Also, is out of cage time ok for these guys? I've refrained from handling her since I read that they are easily stressed, but she seems to like to explore. Can I let her climb around?
Thanks!

Ps: Pics are on the way! My Mac has serious photo problems. Once I figure out how to post them, they'll be up:)

I would attach the greens to the wall where it's easily accessible.
There are a bunch of opinions about whether to let a cham out or not esp a baby because they can become stressed so quickly. Some people won't handle them at all. I think it depends on the cham. If she doesn't seem stressed then I feel a couple times a week to start is Ok. But I'm sure others will have their own opinions on the topic ;)
 
I would attach the greens to the wall where it's easily accessible.
There are a bunch of opinions about whether to let a cham out or not esp a baby because they can become stressed so quickly. Some people won't handle them at all. I think it depends on the cham. If she doesn't seem stressed then I feel a couple times a week to start is Ok. But I'm sure others will have their own opinions on the topic ;)

couldnt agree more;) it all depends.............
 
Screen cage a must!

Thank you! Yes, I did a lot of research before getting her, and I do have a few questions.
1. Is a screen cage ok? The lady who sold me Mrs. Frederick insisted I get one, so did. I just want to make sure i made the right investment.
2. Are crickets suitable? Shes been eating them since Saturday, and they've filled her up, and they were good for other reptiles ive had,although with chameleons it seems to be exception, exception, exception :)
3. What substrate? I couldn't find an answer for this one. Right now it's bare bottomed, although this can be easily fixed.

Thanks!

Ok, the screen cage was great advise, some would say a must... You do not want to use any subtrate at all it is grounds for bacteria, so like Carol said leave the cage bottom bare. Plus that way its easy clean up too. Here are some links for you to read.. proper lighting and supplementation is also very important for a healthy Cham. Take a look at these:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/

It will serve you well to read all of the information in these links. Then you can make adjustments and ask questions.

Crickets are finr but they need to be "gut loaded" so they provide your Cham with proper nutrition. They sould also be "dusted" with appropriate supplements. :eek:
 
P.s.

Ok, the screen cage was great advise, some would say a must... You do not want to use any subtrate at all it is grounds for bacteria, so like Carol said leave the cage bottom bare. Plus that way its easy clean up too. Here are some links for you to read.. proper lighting and supplementation is also very important for a healthy Cham. Take a look at these:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/

It will serve you well to read all of the information in these links. Then you can make adjustments and ask questions.

Crickets are finr but they need to be "gut loaded" so they provide your Cham with proper nutrition. They sould also be "dusted" with appropriate supplements. :eek:


Veilds also eat fruits & veggies so offer up a good variety!
 
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