New and wanting a chameleon :)

S

Snakekid6996

New Member
Hello everybody,
after spending a long while thinking about it I've decided I would like to buy my first chameleon. I've spend my whole life taking care of my snakes and I've never owned a chameleon, so please be paceint with me. Anyways, I've done a lot of reaserch and now I have to set up a cage before I buy a chameleon. I'm thinking about building a cylinder shaped cage that would be about 17" in diameter and 3-4' tall. I would have a humidifier turned on all day while the lights are on and I would have a drip system on 24/7. I also am planning on having at least 1 if not more live plants to help with humidity. Would I still have to mist 2-3 times a day if I did all of this?? I would think not, because I have a drip system on 24/7 to drink from and a humidifier so wouldn't that keep them hydrated?? Anyways, I would probably be feeding them crickets and meal or superworms gutloaded and powdered 2-4 times a week. I'm planning on getting a juvinile-adult male veiled chameleon. Does this set-up sound appropriate?? I just want to make sure I do everything righ and have it all good before I buy the chameleon. Thanks everyone :)
 
Hey Snakekid6996, Welcome to the forums! Sounds like a cool setup! With that setup in mind, remember that the humidity in the enclosure must be monitored to prevent from being too moist as well as too dry. You may have to use a timer with the humidifier, and I would still suggest misting (especially during sheds). It will give additional drinking opportunities and be more natural for your cham. If you get a male veiled, I would suggest a bit wider on the diameter. They can get quite big! Also, there may not be enough room for a UVB and basking light. I would figure out the lights and configuration of dripper, etc. and see if there is enough room. Cant wait to see your design!
 
Thanks for the reply :) Ill definitely be monedtering the humidify and temps.just to make sure the temps should be between 50-80% right?? The tank I described will just be temporary because it's cheap to make. I will be saving up to eventually build or buy a 24"X24"X48" enclosure, but You have a good point about fitting everything on there. Also, I don't have time to mist that much everyday, but could I get away with misting once every or everyother day??
 
That would be fine! My boy's levels can go down to the low 40's before his misting, and mid 70's right after. This should be safe for a veiled. Before I got my misting system I would mist once or twice a day. This was during the summer months before the dry season, so the enclosure wasn't too dry. With the humidifier going, you should be O.K. with once or twice a day. Believe me, its not that big a deal, you will already be looking in at your cham all day long, you just need a bottle to spray the leaves! ;)
 
For the UVB/UVA lighting could I just set the enclosure right by the window to my room?? Wouldn't the sunlight be better than 2 bulbs?? If I can that would make it a lot easier to fit everything on top. I would only need to put a heat lamp and dripper on top
 
Uvb won't go through glass (or plastic) so a uvb tube is almost always the best option unless you can give a good amount of direct sunlight.
 
Essentially the uva is just for heat, so as long as the temps are ok then that should be fine. A regular incandescent bulb provides uva so a basking light is sufficient. Uva does provide some psychological benefits so sun through a window won't hurt (again, as long as temps are within reason).
 
Well I live in Indiana and being almost winter I'm more worried about keeping temps up...especially since my room can get pretty chilly. I'll probably have a room heater, a 75ish watt bulb, and place it near the window. In the summer I'll probably have it away from the window with a 50w or lower bulb
 
So far I have a bird cage that's only about 18" wide 15" deep and 2' tall.. I also have a humidifier and a basking bulb. Wensday I plan on having a drip system that will he on 24/7 and I have a small spray gotten next to the cage so I can spray the cage down at least once a day. I know that this size enclosure isn't even close to good enough, but I won't be getting the chameleon for another 2 weeks and I'm planning on getting at least a 24"X24"X48" enclosure around Christmas. The chameleon I want is a full grown veiled female. She is around 15". Will this basic small set up be enough to hold her for a week or two?? Also, I will be feeding her about 3 times a week with crickets and waxworks. I will probably put 12-20 live crickets in the bottom and a few mealworms in a bowl every feeding. Does this sound good??
 
honestly i would get a 50w heat that has uva. uva helps with the chams physological well being. it helps them see everything normal such as helps them see all colors. honestly i put my male in a cage with no uvb and all he did was sit there. then when i put him back in his cage with uvb he moved around all the time. just get the uvb heat bulb, they r like 10 bucks and you cant go wrong
 
She will manage without uvb for a short while, but it would be 100% better to have it ready for her. It will help her settle in as well as providing the vital benefits.
It sounds like that is a lot of food for an adult female. The caresheet I recommended has a feeding schedule on page 2 - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...e/396-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet-part-2.html
She will be able to eat more, but it will make her metabolism go faster, meaning she will lay more eggs and shorten her lifespan. Adult females are best kept a little cooler with a bit less food if you want a long life :)
 
DavidBuchan said:
She will manage without uvb for a short while, but it would be 100% better to have it ready for her. It will help her settle in as well as providing the vital benefits.
It sounds like that is a lot of food for an adult female. The caresheet I recommended has a feeding schedule on page 2 - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...e/396-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet-part-2.html
She will be able to eat more, but it will make her metabolism go faster, meaning she will lay more eggs and shorten her lifespan. Adult females are best kept a little cooler with a bit less food if you want a long life :)
Click to expand...
Oh ok thanks :) I'll feed her 7 crickets every 3 days

Also, How do You take care of females while they are laying eggs exactually?? Do You have to remove them from their tank or coils You just put an inch or two of sand on the bottom of their tank??
 
You'll need more than an inch or two. At least 12 inches really, and they like to go to the bottom of that. This is some great info. on egg laying - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html

You can have a permanent laying bin in the cage with her, but there are some chams (my girl included) who seem to not like it when they know they are not digging at the floor. You may have to go for an outside bin, but it is worth trying with one inside her cage for convenience.
 
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