Nervous new Cham owner

[Alexander1]

Hey guys, I've had a small veiled Cham for about 2 weeks, I did a ton of research before buying the little guy but there is definitely a lot of contradicting information out there. I was hoping for some advice from experienced successful Cham owners, I want to provide my little guy with the best environment and nutrtion I can..
He's eating 4-5 small crickets coated with reptile calcium 2x a day
The little dripper
Modified ultra sonic humidifier on a timer
Tons of artificial vines and grape wood branches
Misted with warm purified water2x a day
Heat/uv light combo that came with the reptibreeze chameleon kit
Any thing missing??

 

[Alexander1]

 

[happy]

You found the right place.

You might try checking out the chameleon care sheets on here, seem pretty good.

i would suggest you use the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ and answer those questions. stuff like Reptile calcium isnt very informative, as it does not cover if its calcium with or without d3, does not answer if its a multi-with LoD, lots of variables....

you could post images, that tends to help discern any immediate issues not apparent the list.

i know it seems like a lot, but it also gives you an idea what needs to be researched to maintain a healthy chameleon.

 

[Pharaoh2015]

Have any pictures?

Lots of foliage. Chams love hiding

 

[Alexander1]

repti calcium without d3 crickets are fedfluckers Orange cube

 

[Alexander1]

You found the right place.

You might try checking out the chameleon care sheets on here, seem pretty good.

i would suggest you use the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ and answer those questions. stuff like Reptile calcium isnt very informative, as it does not cover if its calcium with or without d3, does not answer if its a multi-with LoD, lots of variables....

you could post images, that tends to help discern any immediate issues not apparent the list.

i know it seems like a lot, but it also gives you an idea what needs to be researched to maintain a healthy chameleon.

Whoa that list def helps,
It's a small male veiled
Don't know exact age
I've only handled him twice to adjust his habitat
6-8 small repti calcium dusted without d3 crickets a day and reptivitamins with d3 2-3 times a week
Zoo Ned Screen enclosure
16 inch wide and deep and about 48 inches tall
Zoo med heat/uv light dome tropical light kit
Basking area temp is 89f cool spot is around 73 degrees measured with a zoomed digital thermometer
Humidity levels are from 45-80% flunctuating when ultra sonic humidifier is turned on
Artificial vines and grape wood branches

 

[Alexander1]

Gotta get used to posting one here, obviously not any good at it.. Thanks for any help

 

[kinyonga]

Nice little chameleon! Welcome to the forum and the world of chameleons!

Regarding supplements, its recommended that you dust at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for the poor ratio of calcium to phos. found in most of the feeder insects we use.

We usually recommend dusting twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder to ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 from supplements without overdoing it and leaving the chameleon to produce the rest of the D3 it needs from its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to health issues but D3 produced from exposure to the UVB light should not build up as long as the chameleon can move in and out of the light when it wants to. The most often recommended UVB light is the long tube Repti-sun 5.0.

We also recommend using a vitamin powder with a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A. PrOformed sources do not build up in the system like prEformed sources do so this leaves you in control of the prEformed sources without the worry of overdosing when using the vitamin powder.

Appropriate temperatures allow for good digestion and thus aid in nutrient absorption. Basking temp for a veiled female can be in the low 80's F.

Proper feeding/gutloading of the insects is important too. Crickets, locusts, roaches, superworms can be fed a wide assortment of greens such as dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc. and veggies such as carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc. Things like the orange cubes are not very good for that.

If your chameleon is a female, be aware that it can produce eggs without mating and when its sexually mature its important that it has a place in the cage to dig to show you that it needs too.
Its also important to watch the diet/amount fed to her once sexually mature because of reproductive issues.

Good luck with your chameleon!

 

[Pharaoh2015]

You can use calcium with D3 2-3 times a month. Calcium without D3 the rest of the time. Also good todo vitamins 1-2 times a month.

How is he eating? Does he leave crickets leftover in his cage?
If so you may want to limit the amount running around at night because crickets will eat on everything including your veiled.
I think you can up the number to 12-15 if he is eating them all until he is an adult.

 

[happy]

so,

6-8 small repti calcium dusted without d3 crickets a day and reptivitamins with d3 2-3 times a week

most members recommend calcium without d3 daily. calcium with d3 and multi's 2 times a month.

when i buy crickets thats when i use d3 and multi, i do use a commercial gutload,and supplement with fresh fruit and vegies but i dont use the orange cubes, they are not really good, so i have read. there are blogs with gutloading instructions, and how to make the gutload.

Zoo Ned Screen enclosure
16 inch wide and deep and about 48 inches tal

zoo med makes a 16x16x20,
they also make various other sizes, i would look at the box, and it gives the dimensions. with him being small, its probably ok, for now.

Zoo med heat/uv light dome tropical light kit
Basking area temp is 89f cool spot is around 73 degrees measured with a zoomed digital thermometer

most members also recommend a linear UV bulb, and separate basking bulb,
i use a combo uv/basking bulb myself, and i really like it... chameleon... not sure... but i know she is getting what she needs...

Humidity levels are from 45-80% flunctuating when ultra sonic humidifier is turned on

what is humidity measured with?

Artificial vines and grape wood branches

would definitely look into getting a real tree or plant
easiest, in my oppinion, golden pothos and umbrella plant.

 

[Alexander1]

Thanks for all the pointers guys, I use a zoomed temp/humidity combo gauge but I'm reading it's not very accurate, so I'm upgrading to a digital gauge with a probe, but where in the cage to a secure it?
I tried to move his plants further away from the basking done but he just climbs the enclosure walls and gets himself closer
Yes it's a male
And there is some crickets left over, they crawl around the cage and I've noticed around midday he goes hunting for them, that's why I thought it may be ok to leave in. I am going to start removing them at night though.

 

[Alexander1]

You can use calcium with D3 2-3 times a month. Calcium without D3 the rest of the time. Also good todo vitamins 1-2 times a month.

How is he eating? Does he leave crickets leftover in his cage?
If so you may want to limit the amount running around at night because crickets will eat on everything including your veiled.
I think you can up the number to 12-15 if he is eating them all until he is an adult.

I'll definitely be modifying the cricket gut load feed asap, thanks for the tip. I tried asking as many people as I could but there is definitely a lot of contradicting advise

 

[Pharaoh2015]

the care resources on this site should help. Some topics have different opinions but a lot of people on here are pretty experienced keepers and some breed.

 

[Pharaoh2015]

How old is he?

Mine looked that size around 2-3 months but she tripled in size in a month and a half.
They can grow up fast

 

[Alexander1]

Def looking forward to that thanks