New owner
- Thread starter Rexi-care
- Start date
elizaann2
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hello and welcome! I am newer here too!
This forum is a great place to connect with other keepers in the hobby and get great support and advice.
I personally love getting information from the following places:
The Chameleon Academy website
The Chameleon Academy podcast
Neptune the chameleon YouTube channel
This forum is a great place to connect with other keepers in the hobby and get great support and advice.
I personally love getting information from the following places:
The Chameleon Academy website
The Chameleon Academy podcast
Neptune the chameleon YouTube channel
Rexi-care
New Member
Veiled chameleon a male I think. I had no idea they were so much work
Chameleons are work... They have to have the perfect environment to thrive and not develop health issues. They have very specific husbandry requirements. Your looking at $500-1k just for everything you need to purchase for their enclosure. So it is quite the investment financially as well. They are very cool animals... But to me it is like having a fish tank because they really do not like to be handled so it is a lot of just observing them. Read everything here it will walk you through what you need and how you need to do it. Then come back to the forum and ask questions. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/
If you post pics of the back of the back feet we can determine gender for you.
Rexi-care
New Member
Well I got him from a pet store in December and we was fantastic eating, going to the bathroom, even had his first shed within 2-3 days of bringing him home. I have been feeding dusted mealworms and crickets and occasionally wax worms. Then after Christmas he was showing signs of a respiratory infection with everything I had read. So I took him to a vet and they gave him some antibiotics. But for chameleons not liking to be held she wanted me to give him medicine through a syringe. Needless to say he didn’t like that. Ever since that he has had his eyes closed. He won’t eat or drink much on his own due to him not being able to see. He is very active, very green, but I can’t help but feel I’m doing more harm than good. I don’t want the little guy to starve to death , and I feel if I wasn’t hand feeding him he wouldn’t eat at all. I have tried the screened terrarium, and that was not holding heat or humidity. So I got an aquarium tank. The heat stays good and so does the humidity but Rexi still won’t open his eyes. I don’t feel the vet know much about chameleons and is about $100 per visit despite treatment. I am at a loss. I have really gotten attached to this little cutie. I just want to make sure Rexi isn’t suffering or living his best life in any way.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hi and welcome. We’d really like to try and help you and your chameleon, but need quite a bit more information. If you can answer the following questions (copy &paste) we can get started. If you can include pics of your entire enclosure including lights, that would be a huge help. If you are using supplements, it’s important to know exactly what they are and how often you use them.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
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Please Note:
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.
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Please Note:
- The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
- Photos can be very helpful.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Natural unfiltered sunlight is actually best and most natural for just about all animals (ourselves included), but we need to make sure to provide areas to take shade and avoid over-heating.
