@Sharpshot214 See feedback in bold.
Info:
-Sam is a male veiled chameleon and is about 6-7 months old. He’s been in my care for about 5 months.
-when I first got him, I’d handle him quite often which, from what I’ve read, isn’t good, but I was new and happy lol (still am!)
-I feed him feeder crickets from a pet store my brother-in-law gets for his bearded dragons. When I first got him, I’d feed him 3 or 4 every night and I didn’t gutload them..
So he should have been eating much more as a baby. Right now he should be eating at least 8-12 feeders a day. They must be properly gutloaded and supplemented. Good commercial gutload. https://www.amazon.com/Repashy-Burg...6&sr=1-1-18e0f783-7b71-42f0-a291-5a15b3cb969e
- I used calcium powder when I first got him, but then ran out and didn’t get anymore (I know, terrible thing)
This is a have to thing. No way around it. You have to shake the bugs in the powder so they are lightly coated not powdered donuts. This needs to happy at every feeding. This is the info I gave you prior.
For supplements you want Reptivite with D3 and you would use this on all feeders given 2 times a month only say the 1st and the 15th. Then at all other feedings you use Calcium without D3 on all feeders given.
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Rept...1&sr=1-1-18e0f783-7b71-42f0-a291-5a15b3cb969e
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Calc...hout+d3.&qid=1623187237&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1
-Tp water him, I spray his cage with a spray bottle every 2 to 3 hours. I must his cage whenever I come in the room lol. I do see him drinking, he loves his water.
WIth that cage your making it hot and moist which is what you do not want. They should only be misted in the morning and evening when cage temps are cooler. Then there should be a dripper during the day.
Cage info:
-It’s a glass cage with a screen top that’s 2’x 2’, I believe.
MUST upgrade this to a screen enclosure. Will need a 2x2x4 in the next few months when he gets stronger. You said you bought the 18x18x36 which is good for now while he is healing.
- I don’t remember the brand of lighting I’m using, but it’s a 40 watt household bulb in a hood fixture. I didn’t have much of a lighting schedule until yesterday, which I turn the light on at 10am and off at 10pm.
Did you order the T5HO light fixture I recommended? If so the branch below this fixture needs to be 8-9 inches down. This is a must have item. 40 watt household white bulb is good for heat only not uvb which they have to have or MBD happens. Lights must be kept on schedule 12 hours a day on 12 hours a day off.
- I measure the temp with a temp gauge for aquariums and the average is 65-75 degrees, I believe.. It’s got a meter that has a green section and I tend to keep it in that range. The temp at night is usually 60 degrees.
Ok need a better gauge. This one with the probe tied in on the basking branch closest to the heat fixture. You want it no hotter then 80 during the day and down to 60 at night is great https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Digi...d+temp+gauge+with+probe&qid=1623279858&sr=8-2
- I’m not sure of the humidity levels or how to measure them, although I must his cage frequently.
Gauge linked above does both temps and humidity. Veileds should be 30-50% max daytime humidity. THis is very important.
- As for live plants, I’ve recently put a bamboo stalk in there and he seems to love it!
You want branches... Not from sap producing trees. So no pine, cedar, eucalyptus. These should be avoided but pretty much any other tree you can use. This is important that they go horizontal and vertical. You can build a frame structure with these to slide into the new cage. You need live veiled tested plants see link. Buy at home depot or lowes they are cheaper there. And 1 inch or larger stones on top of the soil of the plant so he does not eat it. https://chameleonacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chameleon-Plants-122819.pdf
- He’s been in my sister about 3 months because I don’t really stay in my room upstairs. It’s about 5 and a half feet from the top of the cage to the floor.
- Were located in Roanoke, Al.
There are many many things that must be changed. I can guarantee that this little boy will die if they are not. Right now while the MBD is advanced it is not crippling him... So you can reverse the damage so it does not get worse with the right care. The bones will never be straight again. He will always show signs of prior MBD. But making sure it does not progress is really really important.
Please start reading through this entire husbandry program. I need you to understand what we are trying to teach you so that you can give him the life he deserves. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
Must have right now items.... Supplements, T5HO fixture, proper cage, temp guage, Live plants, branches, and the correct amount of feeders every day.
For example... This is what we mean by enclosure set up properly. They are arboreal so they need to climb.
