Need help with getting started to own veiled chameleon!

[KammShaft]

Hello my name is kameron and im 17.. i just started looking at reptiles ive owned lots of pets.. right now i have a exotic blue and gold macaw very high maintenance so im responsible so im ready to own a veiled cham! ((Im on a like 400$ budget. (without chameleon) im buying all supplys and then buying chameleon later on. i want to do this right.))

These are the items im looking at buying for my veiled chameleon..

1. Jumbo (XXL) Screen Reptile Habitat Cage - U.S.A. made, size-24"x24"x48
2.Bend-A-Branch Flexible Vine Medium(looks pretty long.. to be safe im getting two.)3.Fluker's Repta Vines-Purple Coleus & Fluker's Repta Vines -Pothos(leaves and vines)

I know it needs heat and uv i just dont know what size watts and stuff..
also i know it needs mist and humidity. I dont know if i should just use a mist bottle like i do with my bird and mist the chameleon like 3+ times a day. or to buy a automatic mister they get quite expensive.

most important..I just need some more supplys and just basic knowledge. Im worried most about not knowing heating and like the major stuff. And i want to know like how to get the cage set up to where certain spots are hotter and colder n stuff.
Thank you very much

 

[Olimpia]

Welcome!

Owning a cham is expensive, but you can save a few bucks here and there if you look for these things online over pet stores - sometimes Ebay or Amazon has these things for much lower prices. Here's a blog about how much things will cost you, roughly: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/522-average-cost-owning-chameleon.html (Edit to add) - If you get things like light fixtures and the heat bulbs at Home Depot or Lowe's you'll save quite a bit of money. I get fixtures there for $6 over $20+ for something that just powers the bulb. There's a lot of this stuff that you can get on Amazon or at home improvement stores for a lot less.

Also, here's a visual to help you imagine what the cage should look like, more or less: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/510-visual-guide-cage-basics-panthers-veileds.html
You want the warmest spot in the cage (under the basking light) to be at 80*F for a baby veiled and the rest cage cooler, like at 75*F room temp. This way he can choose between the different temps and thermoregulate. Then when he's older you'll raise the temp to 85*-88*F. But babies need it slightly cooler.

Hope that helps!

 

[CauseNAffect]

I was in the exact same position
I'll run you through what I did

1) Reptibreeze 24x24x48 cage. amazon.com = $90.00
2) Light fixture = $30
3) reptisun 5.0 18" uvb bulb to put in the fixture= $30
4) Sheffelera plant = $40
5) vines and other decorations n plants n a driftwood piece = $60
6) Light plus dome for basking = $25
7) Humidifier plus tubing for misting = $100
8) Temperature n humidity gauge = $20
FINAL TOTAL = $395

This is my kit that is completely ridiculous, cham is happy and loves it, and it is extremely effective

I would absolutely reccomend not going for a budget veiled at a pet store, find a breeder and select the kind you want, I wanted something extremely colorful that would grow, so i got a panther cham from eric at chameleons101.com and the thing is awesome. I paid $300 with shipping and it was worth every penny

$total with cham = $695

 

[Banders675]

hello

Hi and welcome to the forum. So if you on a $400 budget before buying the cham you should be good to go. how ever your cage choice sounds a little big my 16x16x29 is big for my baby panther and I worry about him falling. I thinkl the 16x16x29 from tiki tiki is a good cage because you can use it as a sun cage later (or for another babay) I will run you down my set up

16x16x29 cage
75w basking light (zoomeds)
2 mini dome (got at pet co) home depot ones work too I just wanted black
75w night heat light (black light that puts off heat) if your house is warm you don't need this it just gets cold where i keel my cham
zoo meds hood
5.0 ubv light (in hood)
fogger system (I run the fogger in the am and at bed time)
spray bottle (I mist 3-4 times a day or just have him drink from the bottle if he is willing
drip ( I made mine it's super easy) if you dont want a drip ice cubes on top of the cage works too
guagues temp and humidity (the digis are cool but the 12 dollar set a petco works ok too)
Ficus plants (I have 2 plants in one pot it's nicer then fake plants and they can eat them it will take him a while to figure that out though)
drip pan (I just use one of the trays for plants from osh it was like a couple bucks)
rapashy super food all in one vitamin (it's a daily so thats all you need)
good cricket gut load ( I also feed my feeder fresh fuits and veggies)
I'm trying to breed my own silk worms to cut cost I spend 50 bucks on worms I order wax,horn,silk, and butter worms from mullberry farms
once you get all that your set. are you getting a baby or sub adult? Veileds are easier to take care of but I have had more luck getting nasty ones then nice ones so I switched to a nosy be panther. I like to get the cage set up and running for at least a week before getting the cham just so you can control the humidity and temps.

 

[laurie]

Hello my name is kameron and im 17.. i just started looking at reptiles ive owned lots of pets.. right now i have a exotic blue and gold macaw very high maintenance so im responsible so im ready to own a veiled cham! ((Im on a like 400$ budget. (without chameleon) im buying all supplys and then buying chameleon later on. i want to do this right.))

These are the items im looking at buying for my veiled chameleon..

1. Jumbo (XXL) Screen Reptile Habitat Cage - U.S.A. made, size-24"x24"x48
2.Bend-A-Branch Flexible Vine Medium(looks pretty long.. to be safe im getting two.)3.Fluker's Repta Vines-Purple Coleus & Fluker's Repta Vines -Pothos(leaves and vines)

I know it needs heat and uv i just dont know what size watts and stuff..
also i know it needs mist and humidity. I dont know if i should just use a mist bottle like i do with my bird and mist the chameleon like 3+ times a day. or to buy a automatic mister they get quite expensive.

most important..I just need some more supplys and just basic knowledge. Im worried most about not knowing heating and like the major stuff. And i want to know like how to get the cage set up to where certain spots are hotter and colder n stuff.
Thank you very much

Welcome, just a few things I can tell you. LLL Reptile is the best priced supplies you can find. Give them a look.


Lights, for a 24" cage I would get a 24" florescent fixture and order a 24" 5.0 repti sun uvb bulb. Get a regular dome fixture at home depot and a regular household bulb, try a 75 watt and see what temps you can get by moving it up and down.

You will want a couple live plants, pothos, umbrella and ficus are all good options.

You will need a digital temp/humidity gage. You don't need the $80 ones, I get mine a home depot where I get my plants.

Supplements, plain calcium, calicum + d3, reptivite (or other mulit vit of your choice)

If you can afford a auto mister, they are a wonderful timesaver and you can be sure the cham will get the needed water. Check our sponsor's located in the upper right hand corner when you open the forum.

I will stop for now and go review my cages.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, and welcome to the forum This is my favourite all-in-one basic caresheet for Veiled Chameleons (there is a part 2) - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

For a veiled the humidity is not so important as some chams - I hand mist mine 2 or 3 times a day and that is enough for them.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. This is an excellent place to learn about chameleons. I keep veileds, panthers and a Parsonii. They are each an absolute pleasure to care for. You have received some good advise and great blogs already but I'll also attaché blog for new keepers below.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[Banders675]

Kammerflage

If you do get a panther www.chameleonsonly.com Ed and Liddy Kammer are awesome the Kammerflage Kreations(chameleonsonly.com) chams are amazing that where I got mine. although there is a guy on here texasranger who should have ambaja babys from his male ranger who has the most awesome colors and temperment I have ever seen look him up on youtube just type ranger panther chameleon.

 

[KammShaft]

I was in the exact same position
I'll run you through what I did

1) Reptibreeze 24x24x48 cage. amazon.com = $90.00
2) Light fixture = $30
3) reptisun 5.0 18" uvb bulb to put in the fixture= $30
4) Sheffelera plant = $40
5) vines and other decorations n plants n a driftwood piece = $60
6) Light plus dome for basking = $25
7) Humidifier plus tubing for misting = $100
8) Temperature n humidity gauge = $20
FINAL TOTAL = $395

This is my kit that is completely ridiculous, cham is happy and loves it, and it is extremely effective

I would absolutely reccomend not going for a budget veiled at a pet store, find a breeder and select the kind you want, I wanted something extremely colorful that would grow, so i got a panther cham from eric at chameleons101.com and the thing is awesome. I paid $300 with shipping and it was worth every penny

$total with cham = $695

Okay so I was wondering Do i need A UV light, basking light and another heat light ? if so what watts. I downsized my cage to a 16x16x30inches/

 

[CauseNAffect]

Ok here is the deal,

UV LIGHT- is a must have, you should get a light fixture exactly like how you would see on a fish tank, the single compact uvb bulbs cause issues. get the reptisun 5.0 uvb bulb

BASKING- you must have one, you need a dome housing to screw the bulb into, and for you id reccomend a 45 watt regular house spotlight bulb. that will provide heat and a basking spot for your cham

if you're having trubl getting ur cage to the right temp u can add another, but you really should start with the uv and the basking.

 

[KammShaft]

I was in the exact same position
I'll run you through what I did

1) Reptibreeze 24x24x48 cage. amazon.com = $90.00
2) Light fixture = $30
3) reptisun 5.0 18" uvb bulb to put in the fixture= $30
4) Sheffelera plant = $40
5) vines and other decorations n plants n a driftwood piece = $60
6) Light plus dome for basking = $25
7) Humidifier plus tubing for misting = $100
8) Temperature n humidity gauge = $20
FINAL TOTAL = $395

This is my kit that is completely ridiculous, cham is happy and loves it, and it is extremely effective

I would absolutely reccomend not going for a budget veiled at a pet store, find a breeder and select the kind you want, I wanted something extremely colorful that would grow, so i got a panther cham from eric at chameleons101.com and the thing is awesome. I paid $300 with shipping and it was worth every penny

$total with cham = $695

would this stuff be good? ... 38 Gallon Reptarium (16.5x16.5x30"), 20" UV Hood, 18" Fluorescent UV 5.0 Bulb. Lamp Fixture, Heat Bulb, 6 foot Tropical Vines, High Range Thermometer,Large sandblasted grapewood branch, T-Rex Large Bio Vine(half inch thick),Medium water dripper,
Large Ficus Tree (live) 8" Pot.. Thats all i got right now. If i need anything else please let me know thanks!!

 

[Olimpia]

Yea that all sounds good.

 

[CauseNAffect]

Sounds grrreeeat

 

[okiroo]

Hello my name is kameron and im 17.. i just started looking at reptiles ive owned lots of pets.. right now i have a exotic blue and gold macaw very high maintenance so im responsible so im ready to own a veiled cham! ((Im on a like 400$ budget. (without chameleon) im buying all supplys and then buying chameleon later on. i want to do this right.))

These are the items im looking at buying for my veiled chameleon..

1. Jumbo (XXL) Screen Reptile Habitat Cage - U.S.A. made, size-24"x24"x48
2.Bend-A-Branch Flexible Vine Medium(looks pretty long.. to be safe im getting two.)3.Fluker's Repta Vines-Purple Coleus & Fluker's Repta Vines -Pothos(leaves and vines)

I know it needs heat and uv i just dont know what size watts and stuff..
also i know it needs mist and humidity. I dont know if i should just use a mist bottle like i do with my bird and mist the chameleon like 3+ times a day. or to buy a automatic mister they get quite expensive.

most important..I just need some more supplys and just basic knowledge. Im worried most about not knowing heating and like the major stuff. And i want to know like how to get the cage set up to where certain spots are hotter and colder n stuff.
Thank you very much

you could easily spend over quickly, and probally will. 400$ is enough to start you off but i asure that you'll probally spend alot more. you'll want more plants, better stuff, collecting meds and vet bills ect. you should have 300+ stored just for vet visits. goodluck and have fun!