New here.

[Rycron]

Hello, my name is Ryan. I got my first chameleon yesterday, a baby female veiled. Before I had purchased her, I did a lot of research on keeping chameleons (I actually did a lot of my research on this site!). I really wanted a chameleon because they are such interesting, unique creatures. I've always enjoyed reptiles and I have 3 turtles (red eared sliders). In addition to my turtles, I have two cats.

In regards to feeding, could I feed her fruit flies? I read that they'll eat them, I just wonder if she'll be able to find/catch up to them. I've also been trying to feed her out of a cup (It works when I hold the cup), but I want to zip tie the cup to a branch. How could I keep the bugs in the cup?

 

[KatiLemons]

Congrats and WELCOME!! This forum is filled with GREAT info and awesome friends! In regards to cup feeding, she should get used to being fed from the cup and will eventually realize that is what it is for. Just be sure to use the same cup or same type of cup. I would think that she is to big for fruit flys but I could be wrong. You might want to try looking for very small crickets. A little bigger than a pinhead! Hope this helped!!

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, and welcome. The sooner she gets onto little crickets the better (they will gutload better and are easier to vitamin dust than flies), for cup feeding you can either use a deep enough cup that they can't get out, or you can painstakingly remove back legs of crickets (there are innovative feeder cups you can make, maybe someone can post a pic. for you?). I just make sure the cup is deep enough. It's easiest.......
I don't think she looks too big for fruit flies so you might as well offer her some, variety is best when it comes to diet. You'll know when she's decided she's grown out of them because she just won't look at them anymore.
She's a very good little hunter so if you throw a few flies in a confined space with her she should manage to catch them

 

[Rycron]

Congrats and WELCOME!! This forum is filled with GREAT info and awesome friends! In regards to cup feeding, she should get used to being fed from the cup and will eventually realize that is what it is for. Just be sure to use the same cup or same type of cup. I would think that she is to big for fruit flys but I could be wrong. You might want to try looking for very small crickets. A little bigger than a pinhead! Hope this helped!!

Your information is very helpful, thank you! I meant to include that I have been feeding her small crickets. She ate a couple crickets from a cup this morning, but I've tried to feed her twice since them (from a cup) and she won't eat. I would imagine she's maybe had enough for the day.

 

[Rycron]

Hello, and welcome. The sooner she gets onto little crickets the better (they will gutload better and are easier to vitamin dust than flies), for cup feeding you can either use a deep enough cup that they can't get out, or you can painstakingly remove back legs of crickets (there are innovative feeder cups you can make, maybe someone can post a pic. for you?). I just make sure the cup is deep enough. It's easiest.......
I don't think she looks too big for fruit flies so you might as well offer her some, variety is best when it comes to diet. You'll know when she's decided she's grown out of them because she just won't look at them anymore.
She's a very good little hunter so if you throw a few flies in a confined space with her she should manage to catch them

That's good advice, using a deeper cup. I was using a cup that was kind of shallow.

 

[laurie]

Hello and welcome. i can offer some real help. My sister lives in Springfield Missouri also. She has had veileds for years. I will send you a pm
But we are all happy you joined us and will all offer help and support. You posted pictures so you are already on the good side of most of us. We like pictures.

 

[hinoco1225]

Welcome! Your baby is adorable. I also have a female veiled, along with a male veiled and a male ambilobe panther. You'll find that chams are a very addicting hobby.

 

[DavidBuchan]

You posted pictures so you are already on the good side of most of us. We like pictures.

Yep, that's how to do it

Welcome! Your baby is adorable. I also have a female veiled, along with a male veiled and a male ambilobe panther. You'll find that chams are a very addicting hobby.

Seconded, she is a real cutie (and well done on getting the warning in early - it's a slippery slope and there's no way out when you get addicted to Chams ........)

 

[Rycron]

I can believe it's an addicting hobby... I'm addicted to pets in general, I think. My fiancee and I are on our way to a personal zoo.

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi!

Isn't she pretty?!

I see a future photo contest entrant....

I particularly like that third picture...very nice.

 

[Rycron]

Hi!

Isn't she pretty?!

I see a future photo contest entrant....

I particularly like that third picture...very nice.

Thank you! I do plan on submitting some photos into the contest!

 

[Rycron]

I don't know if I need to make a new thread in the feeding forum or not, but I'm having some issues feeding my chameleon.

Tomorrow I will have had her for a week, and until yesterday she was eating great. I free ranged some crickets and she also ate out of a cup. However, yesterday, she didn't touch any of the bugs in the cup, and I don't think she ate more than 2 of the free range crickets, and she hasn't eaten anything today.

Here is my information about her husbandry:

Your Chameleon - A female veiled, I've had her for a week. I'm not sure exactly how old she is, but she was listed as a "baby"
Handling - I haven't handled her since I got her
Feeding - She has two cups in her cage attached to branches, and I put 3 crickets dusted with calcium in each cup, and I free range 3 or 4 as well. I usually put the crickets in their in the morning before I go to class.
Supplements - I have a repcal calcium I use daily, and I have a D3 supplement as well but I haven't used it since I got her
Watering - I have a dripper on her cage that goes all day, and I mist in the morning when I turn her lights on and when I get home from class
Fecal Description -I have not had her test for parasites yet, her feces is a dark brown with white on the end. She has went to the bathroom several times since I got her.
History -

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Mesh on all sides, 28" x 16.5" x 30"
Lighting - I've read that you don't need a basking lamp for baby chameleons, but my apartment gets pretty drafty, so I have a normal incadescent houe bulb and the branches closest to the light don't get over 80. I have a repti glo 5.0 for UVB.
Temperature - I have a temperature gun, and on the floor of her cage it's about 74 degrees, under the basking area it's around 80. I haven't measured the cage's temp at night yet (I can do that tonight though if it's relevant) but my turtles "dry" area is usually about 70 degrees at night.
Humidity - I have a humidity gauge in the terrarium, and it's usually in the 40-50 range, jumping to 70-80 when I mist. I have three live plants in her enclosure that maintain humidity pretty well.
Plants - I have pothos and one other kind of plant (my finance picked it out and I can't remember the name, but I know it came off this site live plants list) There is also a bunch of fake vines
Placement - The cage is in my bedroom, about two feet off the ground on a table. It's not a particularly high traffic area, but do cats stress out chameleons? I've noticed my cats sit on the bed (which is a few feet from the cage) and stare at her a lot. I'm not sure if she notices them through the mesh or not. It doesn't stop her from moving around, but could that be a problem?
Location - Missouri

EDIT: About an hour after I posted this, she started eating again. I'm probably just paranoid, but if anyone has any criticism of my set up or feeding advice, I'd still appreciate the feedback