New mom!

[nessavee]

Hello everyone!

I am a new Yemen mommy. I bought my baby, Phoenix, from PetSmart on Friday. I have been wanting to get a chameleon since the beginning of the year. He is my first. I had previously lived with my sister and she had two veiled males. One was a baby when she got him and the other was full grown. I have taken care of them when she would not be home and I asked a lot of questions about the care for them as well.

Now I live in a different state than she does, so I am dependent on online articles and forums. I am glad I found this!

I have a few questions about my new baby.

I asked for his age at the store and they were unable to tell me. He is pretty tiny. Can anyone guesstimate his age?

I do know he is a male, I see his spurs on his feet.

Also, whenever I go to open the cage, he goes INSANE!
He tries to climb out so fast, and when I handle him, he just wants to "run away" and is super clumsy and tends to fall off branches.

I am concerned.

Also, I did buy the reptibreeze chameleon kit for now. But when I opened the box and saw the size of the cage, I freaked out. It's so big for this tiny guy.

I am not sure if I should use it anyway and just cup feed him? I temporarily have him in the glass aquarium I was given as a gift (which I know is not good for him).

I need help!

Do I go buy another smaller well ventilated cage?

Any feedback is much appreciated!!

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Hello everyone!

I am a new Yemen mommy. I bought my baby, Phoenix, from PetSmart on Friday. I have been wanting to get a chameleon since the beginning of the year. He is my first. I had previously lived with my sister and she had two veiled males. One was a baby when she got him and the other was full grown. I have taken care of them when she would not be home and I asked a lot of questions about the care for them as well.

Now I live in a different state than she does, so I am dependent on online articles and forums. I am glad I found this!

I have a few questions about my new baby.

I asked for his age at the store and they were unable to tell me. He is pretty tiny. Can anyone guesstimate his age?

I do know he is a male, I see his spurs on his feet.

Also, whenever I go to open the cage, he goes INSANE!
He tries to climb out so fast, and when I handle him, he just wants to "run away" and is super clumsy and tends to fall off branches.

I am concerned.

Also, I did buy the reptibreeze chameleon kit for now. But when I opened the box and saw the size of the cage, I freaked out. It's so big for this tiny guy.

I am not sure if I should use it anyway and just cup feed him? I temporarily have him in the glass aquarium I was given as a gift (which I know is not good for him).

I need help!

Do I go buy another smaller well ventilated cage?

Any feedback is much appreciated!!

Hi @nessavee welcome , Very exciting times for you and your new baby . Could you fill this out . Not because anyone thinks he's sick just so we can see you Husbandry . Then you won't get repeated questions . https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66 . Just copy your answers as best you can and paste . Pictures help as well .

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/ . Here is our care sheet if you have not looked it over . It will likely differ from petsmarts .

 

[nessavee]

Thank you! I've looked at the care sheet and much appreciate all the info!


Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Veiled male, unsure of his age. I've had him since Friday, 4 days now.
• Handling - In the last 4 days, I've handled him everyday for about 5 min.
• Feeding - I have been feeding him crickets and some greens (dandelion leaf) He seems to be eating about 5-7 crickets a day everyday when I get home from work.
• Supplements - I use ReptiVite w/D3 and ReptiCalcium. I used it on Saturday and plan to dust again tomorrow.
• Watering - I have been using the dripper and I hand mist. I mist about 2-3 times a day for about 30 sec or so. I haven't seen him drink yet
• Fecal Description - Dark brown with white. Not tested yet.
• History - I bought him from PetSmart on Friday. Associate didn't seem to know much about him, so its difficult to say.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - I currently have him in a glass aquarium, 10 gal. I have an aluminum cage 16″ x 16″ x 30″. I am not sure if this is too big for him since he is so tiny?
• Lighting - I am using Daylight Blue Reptile Bulb 60 watt, and ReptiSun 5.0 Mini Compact Fluorescent 13 watt
• Temperature - Temps run from 75-85 F with basking of 90 F. Lowest overnight temp is 60F (I live in Seattle and have windows open) . I have a humidity and temp gauge.
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? Humidity has been 65-75% How are you creating and maintaining these levels? I have been misting and I will be getting some Pothos plants for him today to help keep the humidity.
• Plants - I will be getting some today.
• Placement - First I had him in my living room, not much traffic, just my boyfriend and I. We have fans but they're floor fans and hit the cage sometimes. Now I have him in my room since it doesn't get dark here in Seattle until 9ish. I turn off his light about 7-8 and turn it on in the morning about 7-8. The cage is about 3ft off the floor in my room. In my living room, he was about 4 ft off the floor.
• Location - Seattle, Wa

Current Problem - I am currently concerned about the cage for sure. I'm not sure if that 16x16x30 is too big for him. I know the glass isn't ideal for him, but he's so tiny. I am not too sure on his age. Also, when I open the cage, he goes CRAZY! Seems like he wants to "runaway" and starts climbing so fast and is clumsy. I am not sure if this is normal since we just got him on Friday. Am I to handle him more/less to tame him? (If that's such a thing)

Thanks!

Here is a few pictures of him.

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Ok just a few questions when you say 10 gallon glass do you mean like a aquarium or is it an Exo terra terrarium ? Do you have a Separate Screened 16/16/30 ?

Hydration needs to be much longer . 4 to 8 min Per misting four times a day . I recommend putting on a timer . You want dry out time between mistings .

supplementing do you have calcium with out D3 ? https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/ . If you have not looked over this check it out .

Basking is to hot at his age . Adult that is fine baby 85ish .

Ok so In the wild chameleon live in trees and they are food . Instinct says run climb this THING want to eat you . At this point there is no reason to trust you . Trust takes time . Hand feeding will maybe earn you trust . Before that happens he needs to learn his surroundings and his Environment . That takes time . Let him come to you . Don't grab him he will not trust you . You will stress him . Give him time and his space . Try hand feeding and when your home leave his enclosure open with a safe way out .

 

[nessavee]

Ok just a few questions when you say 10 gallon glass do you mean like a aquarium or is it an Exo terra terrarium ? Do you have a Separate Screened 16/16/30 ?

Hydration needs to be much longer . 4 to 8 min Per misting four times a day . I recommend putting on a timer . You want dry out time between mistings .

supplementing do you have calcium with out D3 ? https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/ . If you have not looked over this check it out .

Basking is to hot at his age . Adult that is fine baby 85ish .

Ok so In the wild chameleon live in trees and they are food . Instinct says run climb this THING want to eat you . At this point there is no reason to trust you . Trust takes time . Hand feeding will maybe earn you trust . Before that happens he needs to learn his surroundings and his Environment . That takes time . Let him come to you . Don't grab him he will not trust you . You will stress him . Give him time and his space . Try hand feeding and when your home leave his enclosure open with a safe way out .

It is a glass aquarium and yes I have a separate screened 16x16x30. Is it okay to move him to that since he is tiny?

I will change the misting and the basking for him.

I do have calcium with out D3.

I will let him be for a few days to get use to us now. Stressing him is the last thing I want to do to him.

Is it safe to say I can move him to the 16x16x30?

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

It is a glass aquarium and yes I have a separate screened 16x16x30. Is it okay to move him to that since he is tiny?

I will change the misting and the basking for him.

I do have calcium with out D3.

I will let him be for a few days to get use to us now. Stressing him is the last thing I want to do to him.

Is it safe to say I can move him to the 16x16x30?

Yes absolutely move him . Aquarium Is not adequate it does not have nearly enough air flow and he will likely get a URI . The 16x16x30 is perfect for him now . You will need to upgrade as he gets bigger to a 24x24x24 .

Excellent on the without D3 that's every feeding . Right now that should be every day .

At some point you may want to look into an automatic Mister . Mistking or climist are great .

 

[nessavee]

Yes absolutely move him . Aquarium Is not adequate it does not have nearly enough air flow and he will likely get a URI . The 16x16x30 is perfect for him now . You will need to upgrade as he gets bigger to a 24x24x24 .

Excellent on the without D3 that's every feeding . Right now that should be every day .

At some point you may want to look into an automatic Mister . Mistking or climist are great .

Thank you for this feedback! I will move him when I get home!!

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

Thank you for this feedback! I will move him when I get home!!

Excellent .

 

[OrangeJuice]

He looks to be 2ish months old. I'm no expert, but I got my guy around that age and he was the same size.

 

[nessavee]

He looks to be 2ish months old. I'm no expert, but I got my guy around that age and he was the same size.

Thank you!!

 

[Replife]

Yes absolutely move him . Aquarium Is not adequate it does not have nearly enough air flow and he will likely get a URI . The 16x16x30 is perfect for him now . You will need to upgrade as he gets bigger to a 24x24x24 .

Excellent on the without D3 that's every feeding . Right now that should be every day .

At some point you may want to look into an automatic Mister . Mistking or climist are great .

I'm sure you already Kno but I'm going to point this out anyway ... where Kristen said 24×24×24 she meant 24x24x48....

 

[Kristen Wilkins]

I'm sure you already Kno but I'm going to point this out anyway ... where Kristen said 24×24×24 she meant 24x24x48....

@Replife your correct and that I can blame on the phone lol not my lousy spelling .