My first Chameleon and need help!!!!

[martindean32]

Hiya Ive just got my 1st chameleon off someone from the RFUK website and have just tried feeding it but it didnt seem to go 4 the food

Now I know that it could be due to it being moved from the other persons house to my house and it could just be settling in but the qquestion I am asking is should I leave the locust in the cage all night or should I take it out if it hasnt eaten it after an hr or so?

If you could help me I would be ever so grateful!!!!!

Many thanks

Martin Dean

 

[draetish]

I would take it out so it doesn't disturb him. The best way to get started right, is fill out this form and post pics of his enclosure and your cham (we love pics). That way you know he's got a good start, before an issue comes up.

How to ask for help

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Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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?

 

[martindean32]

Here is the information as required and some piccies of him and his cage setup ok?

The Species: Oustalet's Chameleons, dunno what sex they are, age been told 5 months old and I have had them 1 day

Handling: I try not to handle my chameleon as it only stresses them out

Feeding: I tried feeding them hoppers and 3 of them per chameleon

Supplements: I use Nutrobol on the locusts

Watering: At the mo I just mist the viv few times/day

Fecal history: Not availible at mo as hasnt had enougth time to poo.

Cage type: mest cage

Lighting : exoterra 10.0 uv striplights

Tempratures: Ive setup my dimming thermostat to dim the lights when the air temp gets to 77F in the day and to turn the basking lights on when the air temp drops below 59F at night.

Humidity: I used a digital humidy type thermometer with a probe on the end to measure the humidity and I keep it at least 50% by misting the viv.

Plants: All artificial

Placement: Its next to a window (open usually) and one viv with one chameleon is on the ground and the other is above it seperated by a wooden shelf.

Location: Stockport, Manchester UK

Now I will supply a picture of the chameleons and both of the vivs and how they look like together below:

Chameleon in top viv that didnt eat today:

Chameleon in bottom viv that did eat 1 locusts:

What my top viv looks like:

What my bottom viv looks like:

Both vivs as they are built together:

 

[martindean32]

So what should I do regarding the locusts now? Shouuld I just leave them in there or try find out where they are to take um out?

 

[draetish]

So what should I do regarding the locusts now? Shouuld I just leave them in there or try find out where they are to take um out?

I would find it and take it out. There are some issues with your set up and supplements.

The Species: Oustalet's Chameleons, dunno what sex they are, age been told 5 months old and I have had them 1 day

Handling: I try not to handle my chameleon as it only stresses them out

Feeding: I tried feeding them hoppers and 3 of them per chameleon

Supplements: I use Nutrobol on the locusts - You need to get some RepCal Plain Calcium, no phosphorus and dust every other day for young growing chams. You will also need a good vitamin with D3 to use 2x a month. Reptivite or RepCal's Herpertive are good.

Watering: At the mo I just mist the viv few times/day You really need a drip running all day in each enclosure. You can check out the one I made in my photo album. So then you will have to come up with some kind of drainage system.

Fecal history: Not availible at mo as hasnt had enougth time to poo.

Cage type: mest cage

Lighting : exoterra 10.0 uv striplights the 10.0 bulbs are harsh and used in larger enclosures as they reach down futher. Most all members here use ReptiSun 5.0 linear tube lights.

Tempratures: Ive setup my dimming thermostat to dim the lights when the air temp gets to 77F in the day and to turn the basking lights on when the air temp drops below 59F at night. They need an ambient temp meaning everywhere but the basking spot to be 75-77. The basking spot itself should be in the mid 80s. You do not want any lights on at night, it disturbs their sleep.

Humidity: I used a digital humidy type thermometer with a probe on the end to measure the humidity and I keep it at least 50% by misting the viv.

Plants: All artificial Real plants create more humidity and pothos, ficus, scheffelera are good choices. Use organic soil.

Placement: Its next to a window (open usually) and one viv with one chameleon is on the ground and the other is above it seperated by a wooden shelf. Chams like to be high up so they don't feel threatened. The one on the bottom has to go. You need both cages high enough up so the cham is at eye level or higher.

Location: Stockport, Manchester UK

 

[martindean32]

I cannot do nothing now till Friday but on Friday Ill buy 2 zoomed big drippers (so it has a drip system in each viv), another dimming thermostat (as the bloke only gave me one!!!) and carnt I use red spotlight bulbs as the chameleons cannot see red bulbs (so it shouldnt disturb thier sleep if they come on at night) can they?

 

[draetish]

I cannot do nothing now till Friday but on Friday Ill buy 2 zoomed big drippers (so it has a drip system in each viv), another dimming thermostat (as the bloke only gave me one!!!) and carnt I use red spotlight bulbs as the chameleons cannot see red bulbs (so it shouldnt disturb thier sleep if they come on at night) can they?

Yes they can see the red light. If you need extra heat at night, get a ceramic bulb. They only produce heat, not light. Your chams can handle temps in the 60s at night. There is a thread about "can chameleons see color" and it's very interesting.