My first Chameleon! (with pics)

[Quantum Mark]

Meet Socs - (short for Socrates). He's a 3 month old Ambilobe

I've had him for one week now and he seems to be settling in nicely. His blues and red are already coming through The sire was a stunner so fingers crossed.

Been feeding him on small crickets gut loaded on carrot and lime or spinache and new potato and then dusted with calcium. Some days he's had small phoenix worms dusted with bee pollen.

He's not eating as much as I thought. I've read that they have a crazy appitite at this age. Poops and urates are moist dark brown and white respectively, he shed for the first time the other day and has a strong grip which all seems healthy enough. I've seen him eating quite a few times. Just doesnt get through as many crix as I thought he would. He always has some free rangers as well as a largish plastic container (the ones that cricks are bought in) with crix in. He knows they're there too. I can see him looking at them with both eyes forward. Just not always hungry I guess? Input on this one welcome!

Took some pics of him on a schefflera while cleaning out his enclosure today. Isn't he gorgeous?

He flared up at me the other day when I tried picking him up with a wooden pencil which he apparently dint like. He looked amazing when he did it. Almost doubled in size it seemed. He has some very strong red and blue in his crest which I was tempted to agitate him for to get a shot for the forums, but another time perhaps

 

[Miss Lily]

Aww! What a sweet little fella you've got! Try curly kale or wild rocket leaves as an alternative to spinach. I seem to remember reading that spinach (along with broccoli) binds the calcium and hinders absorption. Congrats on your new little baby!

 

[SRTtoZ]

He's awesome dude! I'm waiting for my baby Nosy be whos coming this week...

Colors are great!

 

[sandrachameleon]

He's not eating as much as I thought.

How is it that he eats? How many do you put in at once (perhaps fewer at a time, more frequently, would be easier for him). Also you could try adding in other feeder options.

I agree with the comment to exclude spinach from your cricket gutload.

 

[Quantum Mark]

How is it that he eats? How many do you put in at once (perhaps fewer at a time, more frequently, would be easier for him). Also you could try adding in other feeder options.

I agree with the comment to exclude spinach from your cricket gutload.

Thanks for the advice. Wont use spinach any more.

I've always got some cricks roaming around free range and also a plastic tub with a few in near the top of the enclosure. Using brown cricks at the moment. Going to order some black ones tomorrow.

When i cleaned out his enclosure today there was only 2 cricks in there so he must have eaten the rest as there's nowhere for them to escape from.

Like i said he seems healthy by all accounts. Just want to see him chomping through them for piece of mind!

 

[Miss Lily]

Don't bother with the black crix - chams don't usually like them! I seem to remember they are more bitter in taste and they are more inclined to bite! Why not order some Phoenix Worms or roaches for him? (he may be too small for roaches yet though). You can also get Silkworms in the UK and you can ask for the smallest ones (I was told I could ask for small ones at the payment stage when I ordered some for Amy). Make sure you position the cup under a vine or branch that he likes to sit on, that way he can see them easier and shoot down into the pot for them. Here's a couple of links for you:

http://www.roachshop.co.uk/
http://www.butterworms.co.uk/index.htmlhttp://

 

[Quantum Mark]

Don't bother with the black crix - chams don't usually like them! I seem to remember they are more bitter in taste and they are more inclined to bite! Why not order some Phoenix Worms or roaches for him? (he may be too small for roaches yet though). You can also get Silkworms in the UK and you can ask for the smallest ones (I was told I could ask for small ones at the payment stage when I ordered some for Amy). Make sure you position the cup under a vine or branch that he likes to sit on, that way he can see them easier and shoot down into the pot for them. Here's a couple of links for you:

http://www.roachshop.co.uk/
http://www.butterworms.co.uk/index.htmlhttp://

Yea I've had him on phoenix worms too. He seems to like them

Roach shop have some very small ones. Maybe Ill try those out.

I just want to reiterate here that he is eating. I just want him to eat more as I have read is healthy at this age.

 

[Miss Lily]

Yea I've had him on phoenix worms too. He seems to like them

Roach shop have some very small ones. Maybe Ill try those out.

I just want to reiterate here that he is eating. I just want him to eat more as I have read is healthy at this age.

What size feeders are you using? The bigger they are, the less they need. At 3 months Amy was eating around 20 smal crix a day and when it got nearer to 30 I moved her up to the next size. Just remember never to feed anything wider than the gap between their eyes.

 

[Quantum Mark]

What size feeders are you using? The bigger they are, the less they need. At 3 months Amy was eating around 20 smal crix a day and when it got nearer to 30 I moved her up to the next size. Just remember never to feed anything wider than the gap between their eyes.

I would say he's eating about 10 or so cricks but its hard to say as there are some free range. Could it be that he is still settling in?

Been using small phoenix worms, he chomped through 10 to 15 of those but they are very small, about 5mm x 1mm. Gonna get the size up next time.

 

[Nicodemayo]

Very healthy looking chap you have there. Congrats

 

[josh b]

hi mark, hes a little dude! Good colour already. Did you get him from lillyexotics? If so i have one of what is supposed to be his brothers. When i cleaned mine out yesterday he fired up lovely bluey green. Im a bit confused after seeing socs, starting to think i might have got one of nicks ambanja stock by mistake. Either that or iv got a girl. Ill post some pics on here for everyone to see later.

 

[sallyb]

Aaaaaaawww he is such a little cutie.

 

[RahzelVeiled]

Nice Chameleon you got there man he/she looks in good shape, I also just got one not to long ago I will be posting some pictures up tonight.
BTW i also feed my 1and a half year old Veiled Chameleon free roaming brown crickets and he doesn't have any problem finding/ hunting them down.

 

[Quantum Mark]

Thanks for nice replies! I'm pretty smitten with him

Josh, Nicks Ambanjas were much older, would be around 6 months or so now if i recall correctly. If yours is around the same size then he's likely his brother!

 

[josh b]

heres my little chap, ive called him marley. must be about the same age as your little one, quite different colours though.

 

[Quantum Mark]

Yes he is different colours. Very similar shaped head and band positions but with a green hue.

Maybe another thread is in order on colour variation between siblings? Im sure the breeders on the forums will set it right.