New chameleon owner looking for feedback

[Bermuda1237]

Hello all!! So I am a the happy new owner of a juvi veiled chameleon. His name is Mozart he's about 5 or 6 months old by my guess. I've had him a little over a month by now, I frequent these forums to look up just about every thought and concern I come up with so far. I have found this community to be the best resource around. I purchased little Mozart at petco which to be honest I regret because of their store policies and also the complete lack of knowledge from the staff when I was trying to get set up luckily I kind of knew what I needed. But so far even the reptile store doesn't really know what that much about them. Despite also selling them.

So anyway I wanted feedback on my current set up for him and get some advice from people that actually know something.

So currently the enclosure is it 18X18x26
( I'm currently building a bigger one for when he's a adult.

I have 2 lights a reptisun 5.0 and a 26w tropical reptile light these are set together
For heating I have a ceramic heat emitter (100w) suspended over the top I live in Chicago so keeping a strong daytime temp in the winter is difficult but the temp drop at night is great this is all based on a timer that turns on and of at 8 on 12 hour cycle

For water I have a fogger which also runs on a timer it runs on 30min cycles but way more at night and early morning to simulate a natural habitats it is connected to a small fan under the cage to help with circulation as he's in my closet and Im worried air will get stuffy with all these lights and heater ( it doesn't not create a draft nor does it really affect air movement in the cage) I was worried that it might mess with the temp gradient. But so far I think im ok. Basking spot is around 80-85 but the ambient temp tends to vary from 68-73 but I think when the reader gets wet it's sjowing far lower than it actually is.

I also have a home made rain system I've created with a 5 gal bucket a fish tank power head a couple spray nozzles and some piping I have holes in the hose to simulate rain fall and the sprayer helps to soak everything this is also on a timer and goes off every couple hours. I also use a spray bottle if I notice it getting to low

His cage is well furnished with 4 live plants including a tall one as well as vines at the bottom I've used bamboo to create several walkways around his cage and he has a bunch of fake vines to gove him good cover he can hide completly from viewing if he wants. I also got him a little tree that I let him out on during the day for a little while I've made it so he can't climb down and I place the lights and heater above so he can acess it. ( he doesn't take as much interest though in basking or lights when he's out??) ov candidly will venture to find them.

I'm currently feeding him gutloaded crickets fed mangos carrots oranges and a bit of cabbage im also giving him super worms and wax worms but after reading some of you're posts I've decieded to change to roaches or something else as it seems the negatives outweigh nutrition with the worms. Any advice on feeders?

I'm also supplementing when first got him I didn't know how much to supplement so I did it every meal now im doing it less but I'm still not sure what I'm doing on that so some advice there would be great I currently have reptivite and repti calcium ( without d3) I know d3 supplements is a must have and not sure if the reptivite has any. So need help with that.


So far I haven't had any major health problems other than him eating a small rock when I first got him not realizing substrate and small rocks are a no no
He passed it fairly fast after I gave him some cod oil but he still likes to get a bit of dirt if he can for someone reason I'm doing my best to Cham prof everything.

So here's some pictures of the set up and my little guy would love some feedback!!

 

[Crashbandit05]

The zip tied bamboo sticks are a great idea, I'll have to add some to my cage!

 

[Bermuda1237]

Yeah I make them into budles so there not too narrow then do one vertical to hold the others and then just zip em all together and put them in different directions he loves them I have live bamboo in there too

 

[carol5208]

So you have one 5.0 and then another 26 watt UVB? One 5.0 should be sufficient. Also, I would ditch the ceramic heater in the day and get a basking light for heat. A regular housebulb will do, like a 60 watt or you may need higher if your house is cold. If temps are going to get cold for the winter at night, you can use the ceramic heater, but honestly unless your house gets down into the 40's I would not even worry about that. Also are you running a dripper at all? Do you ever see your chameleon drink? You say you are running the mister at night? If it is running for 30 minutes and saturating the cage, that might not be a good idea. First of all, would you want to get when you are sleeping? lol And also you don't want the cage to be constantly wet. You can cause bacteria and mold to breed that way, which can lead to respiratory problems. The calcium with d3 is to be used sparingly(twice month recommended) as they get d3 from the uvb light and also natural sunlight if you take him outside. Reptivite is a multivitamin to my knowledge and can be used a couple of times a month also on your feeders.

 

[Bermuda1237]

So you have one 5.0 and then another 26 watt UVB? One 5.0 should be sufficient. Also, I would ditch the ceramic heater in the day and get a basking light for heat. A regular housebulb will do, like a 60 watt or you may need higher if your house is cold. If temps are going to get cold for the winter at night, you can use the ceramic heater, but honestly unless your house gets down into the 40's I would not even worry about that. Also are you running a dripper at all? Do you ever see your chameleon drink? You say you are running the mister at night? If it is running for 30 minutes and saturating the cage, that might not be a good idea. First of all, would you want to get when you are sleeping? lol And also you don't want the cage to be constantly wet. You can cause bacteria and mold to breed that way, which can lead to respiratory problems. The calcium with d3 is to be used sparingly(twice month recommended) as they get d3 from the uvb light and also natural sunlight if you take him outside. Reptivite is a multivitamin to my knowledge and can be used a couple of times a month also on your feeders.

Well the thing is I have a lot of foliage so I was worried that the 5.0 wasn't penetrating much light By itself there isn't too much light penetration especially because I don't have a basking bulb so I'm compensating there's still a lot of shade In there even with it. The temp drop on my place is kinda bad to be honest just cause of those chicago winters the basking bulb my kit came with honestly sucked so I went with the ceramic. Yeah I have a drainage system at the bottom of the cage with holes to allow water to flow the bottom tends to stay damp most of the time but I often allow the whole place to dry out at Least once ever 24 hours or So I have been worried about respitory problems any signs to watch for? He doesn't really ever gape or have mucus or what not but I'm very catious when looking for illness and try to notice any chance in behavior
Although the rain system is through I made sure there are 2 or three spots at the top that stay dry that he favors to sleep where he doesn't get sprayed at all lol cause yeah I was thinking about that too. and the fogger runs on 30 min cycles on off at night and way less at day. the rain only goes on for about 5-10 mins every time about ever hour or two (more often at night)
I'm hearing a lot of condradiction and opinions with the ceramic heaters haha it really warms up the basking spot and the rest of the cage it goes from 60 at night up to 70-73 when its on during the day but I appreciate knowing that there not ideal

 

[Bermuda1237]

And how often should I use calcium with out d3?

 

[carol5208]

And how often should I use calcium with out d3?

I wrote in the post above that is should be a couple of times a month. The reason I was saying to use a basking bulb is they are attracted to the light. We are trying to simulate the sun. If the heater works for you then use it I guess. I am from Chicago. I know how cold it gets up there!!! I am not sure if you need both uvb lights though. Most of us use one in our cages with success.

 

[Bermuda1237]

Yeah that makes sense I just heard that reptisun 5.0 sucks the ceramic heater is in the same hood as the light so he's well aware where the heats coming from. I know that thermal burns happen but both lights are suspended from outside the mesh you don't think thermal burns might be a problem so far I haven't seen any thing for concern I just don't want it to be too much I especiallu want the other light when I make his place bigger I plan on filling it very full of plants and what not.

 

[Moxie]

I wrote in the post above that is should be a couple of times a month..

Shouldn't Calcium WITHOUT D3 be about every day and WITH D3 twice a month? Too much D3 is bad.

 

[vegaslawchick]

Yes calcium everyday!

 

[Bermuda1237]

Ok good I've been doing calcium everyday but obviously doing the reptivite too often does anyone know if the zoomed reptivite contains d3 or should I get A different supplement

 

[JamesBryan]

Ok good I've been doing calcium everyday but obviously doing the reptivite too often does anyone know if the zoomed reptivite contains d3 or should I get A different supplement

Reptivite can be WITH and WITHOUT D3, it will say on the front label.

 

[brownie64]

You might want to look into getting that cage built he has already reached sexual maturity, and looks like he could use the room. He is a nice looking boy by the way. Supper worms are ok to use in rotation with your staple feeders. Its wax worms, and mill worms that should be used sparingly as a treat.

 

[Bermuda1237]

You might want to look into getting that cage built he has already reached sexual maturity, and looks like he could use the room. He is a nice looking boy by the way. Supper worms are ok to use in rotation with your staple feeders. Its wax worms, and mill worms that should be used sparingly as a treat.

Yeah I'm i need to get the resources together to make it. it's gonna be big but Im a little worries it too small I have a tree I let him out on almost every day so he's got some space to hang out in. Yeah that makes sense with the feeders I'll get roaches next time. I've also noticed he's be a little grouchy recently and I think it might be him becoming mature And more territorial.