My setup, any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Frock]

I haven't posted any pictures or information about my chameleon's setup, so I thought I would post it here in case anyone would find it useful or have advice for me.

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - 30x18x30, aluminum screen
* Lighting - Reptisun5.0, only 2 weeks old, red basking lamp
* Temperature - To be honest I don't measure temperature, but he's been using this same setup his whole lifetime so I think his gradient is fine.
* Humidity - Hand misting throughout the day, and a dripper before I go anywhere. I plan on getting a mist king system once I move back to college to automate the whole process.
* Plants - Some fake plants for cover, and a large hibiscus
* Placement - In a quiet room, next to a window that is open when the A/C isn't on
* Location - SW Pennsylvania


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - Male Veiled, around 3 years old
* Handling - Never
* Feeding - 1-2 large dubia nymph or adult male, preferably freshly molted, at least every other day, dusted in calcium w/o d3. More if he will take them. He's been fed strictly crickets for a long time but I'm going to put him on a diet of dubia and silkworms.
* Supplements - Rep-cal calcium every feeding
* Watering - Drippers and misting
* Fecal Description - As far as I can tell, great, with pure white urates.
* History - I got him for free from my cousin, who was moving away to graduate school. I've been caring for a pair of colorado river toads I was given by a friend from new york for around a year now and I have always held an interest in keeping reptiles and amphibians

 

[Lizardlover]

to be honest the cage is a bit small for an adult male calyptratus, why is he so dark in the last pic? also take out any substrate on the bottom of his cage to prevent accidental ingestion.

 

[Frock]

He is normally a dark color, has been for a long time, at least since I got him and I'm told he idles dark green/brown, which is normally what he is unless I disturb him or he is basking, when he turns almost black.

I removed the substrate he had recently, I still need to fully clean out the bottom of the cage but I didn't want to disturb him too much in one day.

How imperative is it that he has a larger cage? I was planning on making a stand for his current one, but I might be able to make the stand into a new cage if it was really necessary. At face, it seems like he is doing well, but I would be easily persuaded to get him into a new one so I could put a female into the current one.

 

[Warrix642]

If he is that dark there is some problem you aren't seeing. Get him a bigger cage with no substrate to start. Is that rust in that 3rd pic? If so I would get rid of that cage.

 

[Frock]

Well I know he didn't get enough water for a long time before I got him, but I've got that on track now I think, and it will be better after I get the mistking. That's really the only thing I can think of, he eats really well and has good urates now, although before I got him (about 3 weeks ago) it might have been different.

Its not really rust, I know what you're talking about. Its a hard water stain, it rubs right off. I think it would be a good idea for me to do a thorough cleaning of the whole thing just because I don't know when it was last done.

 

[cushcameleon]

If he is that dark there is some problem you aren't seeing.

Do you have any list of problems that are related to dark color? He may just be dark to absorb more of the light. I believe it is normal for a chameleon to display mostly dull colors while it is in it's cage.

Well I know he didn't get enough water for a long time before I got him, but I've got that on track now I think, and it will be better after I get the mistking. That's really the only thing I can think of, he eats really well and has good urates now, although before I got him (about 3 weeks ago) it might have been different.

Its not really rust, I know what you're talking about. Its a hard water stain, it rubs right off. I think it would be a good idea for me to do a thorough cleaning of the whole thing just because I don't know when it was last done.

Thorough cleanings are always good, especially if your cage is noticeably dirty. Pretty sure for an adult male that size you will need at least a 2X4 enclosure.

 

[Syn]

Those cages rust very easily. I can not remember the name of them but I bought one off craigslist a while back. I had to put a sealer on it.

You need a bigger cage. Much bigger. Not to mention if it isn't all screen (mine has glass), he will be seeing his reflection.

 

[summoner12]

You should get rid of the red light and use a normal household lamp. Figure out the temps so you don't burn him.

 

[jojackson]

Freind, I think its probly Important to know exactly how hot it is, at the closest point he can get to the lamp.
A decent digital thermometer dosent cost much.

 

[summoner12]

So I looked a bit more closer... I was on my iPhone at the dinner table when I was reading this... now that i've looked again. I have a bit more input.

I would set up the cage size. Your guy is 3 years old, so he needs more space than what your giving him. Get your hands on a 2'x2'x4' screen cage for him. Swap out the red heat lamp like I said before. Juse us a 50w spot lamp or a 60w flood lamp. or even a 60w household lamp. don't put anything on the bottom of the cage. especially the way you have it now, you need to clean up the bits on the bottom of the cage so your cham doesn't eat any stones or dirt or whatever it is you have down there. When he is eating he might snag some bits with his tongue and could cause impaction.

This is the cage for my Melleri Pat.

I trimmed the tree quite a bit to give him more to climb on but he does fine with the open space since there isn't any traffic in the room where I keep my chams.

This is a cage where I keep my Steve, my Ambilobe panther. He is full grown.

 

[Frock]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I have another question though. I will get a bigger cage, but I wondered if it would be possible to get something with the same area as a 2x2x4 (16sqft), but with different dimensions. I was thinking of making an enclosure myself that would be 1.75x1.75x5(15.3sqft) Would that be ok? I realize that is tall, but it would take up less floor space which is at a premium right now for me. Plus, I would think the cham would enjoy the feeling of height, no?

 

[chameleonman57]

Cage should be much bigger for a male veiled. Making a cage much taller would be good to.

 

[ChrisnLisa]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I have another question though. I will get a bigger cage, but I wondered if it would be possible to get something with the same area as a 2x2x4 (16sqft), but with different dimensions. I was thinking of making an enclosure myself that would be 1.75x1.75x5(15.3sqft) Would that be ok? I realize that is tall, but it would take up less floor space which is at a premium right now for me. Plus, I would think the cham would enjoy the feeling of height, no?

That would be a fine size...three inches depth and width difference is not a big deal. Most people recommend 2x2x4 because that is what is readily available on the market for store bought cages. And yes, they enjoy the feeling of height