Need Help With New Pet

[mamita124]

So my son got a veiled chameleon as an early xmas present in november and ofcourse who has to take care of it non other than mommy... So I need some help figuring out what to do. Right now he is housed in a small glass terrarium as the screen terrariums are difficult to maintain a good humidity level due to the weather at the east coast. Well anyways i just recently bought a 36 x 18x 36 enclosure and i want to set it up best as possible as i want the animal to last longer than just a few months. I have researched many other websites and read different ideas as to how to care for it.. i guess i am looking for some guidance as to how to start to fill in this new cage before i get him in.

here's a pic of him now. ..He found a way out of his cage then

I read of some people planting real plants right on the bottom over some rocks. Then many others just keep it clean on the bottom. I would prefer a way that i can easily clean the feces. It is a glass terrarium.

 

[Sinfulintent]

People find ways to put plants in little potters and such instead of making the whole bottom dirt and what not. So get some planting pots and put the plants in there with some rocks over the soil. that way when it's time to clean you can take the plants out easily and and clean the bottom without dealing with a bunch of dirt.

 

[qdude46]

all I can say is don't put any substrate whatsoever and a screen is better because it provides better airflow from the side

 

[dom1959]

here is a link for instructions, and just come here with all your questions.
good people around here and knowledge is nothing if not shared!

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

 

[babyjoe]

I don't know how to put a link up.but if you search the forum for glass terraniums there's a thread here with a few pics of glass tank.it might put you on the right track.is get some kick in the arse if my cham was left for my mother to mind enjoy

 

[Sinfulintent]

all I can say is don't put any substrate whatsoever and a screen is better because it provides better airflow from the side

Not to start a fight but this has been debated all over the forums and many breeders/hobbyists keep chams in the glass vivs with success. In drier climates it is a little more necessary to use glass as it holds in moisture better than the screens. The vivs are set up so that are gets sucked in from the bottom vent up through the top. Since heat rises it sucks air up and out.

Like I said no fighting just stating what I've read here numerous times.

qdude has a point about no substrate but to say don't use any at all is a little ridiculous. just make sure that it is covered and your cham cannot accidentally eat any while hunting or being curious Like I said with the potter put a decent layer of rocks over it and you should be ok. but since it's glass I wouldn't put it in there either, I started out that way and it was a hassle to clean once a week! Now I use paper towels on the bottom and have 2 small planter pots

 

[szpond]

Gorgeous cham! Welcome to the forums.

We're always here when you need some advice or just want to even make sure your enclosure is correct.

As for plants, what I do is I pot my variety of Pothos at the bottom of my screen enclosure (use a non-treated non-toxic soil). Underneath everything I just have paper towel, and I change it whenever he defecates or it gets too moist. 18x18x36 for my Jackson's chameleon. I also live on the east coast. Jackson's require it to be more human than Veileds.

What I do recommend (if you have the money) is to get yourself a screen cage (preferably large -- veiled chameleons are a bigger species), set it up, and put a plastic sheeting on 3 sides of it. Just not the front or the top. That's what I have done, it helps to hold the humidity in better. I had leftover table covers from summer that I just cut to size and fastened them with duct tape I find that my chameleon likes the luxury as well. He hated the glass because of his reflection was always bothering him. And the glass enclosures tend to not be tall enough. I wouldn't want to house a fully grown Veiled in anything smaller than four feet high.

Good luck with the little one!

 

[szpond]

all I can say is don't put any substrate whatsoever and a screen is better because it provides better airflow from the side

I have had chams live happily in glass enclosures. It's how you do it -- just as long as it has ventilation near the bottom, a screen for the top -- and I used to let mine sit open for a couple hours out of the day -- it was perfect airflow. I had all my sides covered though so he wouldn't see his reflection as much -- that's what he didn't like. Though, he was healthy. Also do not ever let sitting water stay in a glass enclosure!!

I can honestly say, having chameleons that have lived in both glass and screen, they prefer screen for reasons mentioned -- also that the screen enclosures are almost always the taller of the two!!

 

[mamita124]

Thanks for the input. This forum has been really helpful

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, and welcome to the forum That's a good looking Chameleon you have there . Once you have your basic setup how you like it (vertical space, plenty of branches and live plants to help with humidity, uv tube, good temps) the next most important thing is the supplements and variety of food.
Most people will use a plain calcium powder (no phosphorous/d3) for everyday. A powder with d3 for twice a month and a reptile multivit once or twice a month.
A variety of feeders and gutload will then keep him interested and healthy - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

Feeder ideas - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

As you are designing a new cage you might want to have a look at this - https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-2-post-your-pics-94781/