Back story: about a week ago the girlfriend and I were in the local PetSmart store and saw the Veiled Chameleons and I told her how I thought there were the coolest little critters ever the way they walked with that "do I wanna move, do I wanna move, yeah I'll move!" walk of theirs and how their eyes could see two different things and process them at the same time. So we talked about looking at what I needed to do and get to go back and purchase one of the little guys in a few weeks. So a few days went by and I had been sick and just needed to get out of the house thanks to severe cabin fever. So we went back to see the little Veileds again. I was a little dissappointed because their cage was empty, I wanted to hold one of them just to see if I liked being crawled on. I got talked to one of the associates and they said they had sold one of them a day before but the other was in isolation due to foot troubles on her left outside toes. I asked if I could see it, which I found out was a little female, thanks to some good old fashion research. Well she was injured and they were taking her to the local exotic critter vet this past tuesday. She is healthy according to the vet just a little Vit A difficiency but I have already purchased stuff for that. I am now picking her up on tuesday (my birthday) from PetSmart. They are adopting her to me for free which I think is awesome. I built her cage and was given a smaller one 26.5x20.5.5x30 that I am using for her for the time being. The larger cage is made of screen door mesh and is 42"x18"x16" and the smaller is made of a larger square mesh. I am using the smaller 26x20x30, The main question is what does the humidity level need to be at for her to be healthy and comfortable. The temps in the cage right now are ranging from 75 to 79 degrees F in the lower part of the cage and around 89.9-91 at the basking branch. but the humidity is only staying at around 40% I cant get it to the 50%-60% Ive read that it needs to be at is that a correct percentage or where should it be at. I do live in Northwest Louisiana, she will be in my office where the ambient temp stays around the mid 70s year round. She will be infront of a sliding glass window that I will open each morning during the summer to let her get good natural sunlight for atleast a couple of hours. Am I doing everything right so far? The associats at PetSmart were impressed with the knowledge I had gained in a weeks time just by doing my research on the Veileds, they told me they thought I was ready to get her.
New Here and to the Cham world
- Thread starter Benji80
- Start date
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to learn about chameleons. I have a couple of blogs I'm attaching for you below. The first is for new keepers and the second is for females. They can be a bit tricky with their egg laying and yes they can and often do lay eggs without a male even being around.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html
laurie
Retired Moderator
Hello welcome to both you and your g/f. The first cham is so exciting, had I kept my first one in the office I would never have gotten any work accomplished.
If you will fill out the attached form we can all look over your care and set up and offer ideas, or maybe just praise.
But maybe we will help a bit.
How to ask for help
Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
If you will fill out the attached form we can all look over your care and set up and offer ideas, or maybe just praise.
But maybe we will help a bit.How to ask for help
Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Female Veiled, will be picking her up this coming tuesday
Handling - will probably let her wander around my desk for a while after her morning coffee then a little throughout the day
Feeding - Small/medium Crickets right now til I figure out what she likes? 15-20 a day? probably 8-10 in the morning one or two running loose in her cage in the middle of the day and some before i get off work at 5?
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Not sure on this yet except Ill buy some stuff from the petstore to start with
Supplements - Tetrafauna ReptoCal twice a week im thinking then whatever yall suggest the rest of the week. and what is the schedule? dont really have a schedual yet
Watering - going to try and make a drip but for now I have a Zoo Med Habba Mist that is misting every three hours for 45 seconds?
Fecal Description - havent got her yet so im not sure what they look like. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? not sure but will make sure I ask when i pick her up. I know she was taken to the vet just this past tuesday.
History - She is missing her outside toes on her left foot.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - wood and wire cage 26 1/2" wide by 30" tall by 20 1/2" deep.
Lighting - Zoo Med double bulb light with a 5.0 UVB and a 75W Intense Baking spot for her morning dose of coffee. I have been keeping them on all the time seeing what the temps in the cage will do for a few days before I get her.
Temperature - Right now the Basking spot is hanging around 90F and the lower part of the cage is around 75F. for both temp and humidity I am using a digital Thermo-Hygrometer by ExoTerra. Humidity - Humidity is where I am having problems I was in my office at around 630am and it was at 60% but right now at 335pm its at 35% I cant figure out how to regulate it better Im not even sure where it needs to be at.
Plants - I have one live Hibiscus that I purchased last night that is being repotted and cleaned before it will go in the cage today or tomorrow.?
Placement - In my office in front of a east facing window that can be and will be open to give her natural sunlight for a few hours in the mornings? It is near the A/C that keeps the office at around 76F constantly. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? top of the cage is about 5'6" to 5'8" off the floor
Location - I am located right on Caddo Lake 20 Miles north of Shreveport Louisiana on the Texas-Louisiana state line.
Current Problem - Not really sure about where the humidity needs to be at and how to keep it there. There are photos attached to my origional post of the cage I will be using.
Your Chameleon - Female Veiled, will be picking her up this coming tuesday
Handling - will probably let her wander around my desk for a while after her morning coffee then a little throughout the day
Feeding - Small/medium Crickets right now til I figure out what she likes? 15-20 a day? probably 8-10 in the morning one or two running loose in her cage in the middle of the day and some before i get off work at 5?
How are you gut-loading your feeders? Not sure on this yet except Ill buy some stuff from the petstore to start with
Supplements - Tetrafauna ReptoCal twice a week im thinking then whatever yall suggest the rest of the week. and what is the schedule? dont really have a schedual yet
Watering - going to try and make a drip but for now I have a Zoo Med Habba Mist that is misting every three hours for 45 seconds?
Fecal Description - havent got her yet so im not sure what they look like. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? not sure but will make sure I ask when i pick her up. I know she was taken to the vet just this past tuesday.
History - She is missing her outside toes on her left foot.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - wood and wire cage 26 1/2" wide by 30" tall by 20 1/2" deep.
Lighting - Zoo Med double bulb light with a 5.0 UVB and a 75W Intense Baking spot for her morning dose of coffee. I have been keeping them on all the time seeing what the temps in the cage will do for a few days before I get her.
Temperature - Right now the Basking spot is hanging around 90F and the lower part of the cage is around 75F. for both temp and humidity I am using a digital Thermo-Hygrometer by ExoTerra. Humidity - Humidity is where I am having problems I was in my office at around 630am and it was at 60% but right now at 335pm its at 35% I cant figure out how to regulate it better Im not even sure where it needs to be at.
Plants - I have one live Hibiscus that I purchased last night that is being repotted and cleaned before it will go in the cage today or tomorrow.?
Placement - In my office in front of a east facing window that can be and will be open to give her natural sunlight for a few hours in the mornings? It is near the A/C that keeps the office at around 76F constantly. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? top of the cage is about 5'6" to 5'8" off the floor
Location - I am located right on Caddo Lake 20 Miles north of Shreveport Louisiana on the Texas-Louisiana state line.
Current Problem - Not really sure about where the humidity needs to be at and how to keep it there. There are photos attached to my origional post of the cage I will be using.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
You are going to need to lower her basking temps so you don't over heat her and cause her to cook up a clutch of eggs. Females are tricky and you may want to study the links I gave you above. I feel that the one about females in VERY important. You can also get some info on gutloading and supplements in the other link for new keepers.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Basking in the low 80's. How old is she?
