Newbie after research
- Thread starter Maz68
- Start date
ChameleonRave
Avid Member
glad to see you here. You will get some great information from the members here 
ChameleonRave
Avid Member
Well, I am very happy to see you here! I studied up for about a day before i got my leopard gecko but thats because it was either to go to me or a shelter. I have improved her setup within three days I changed her whole setup.
I only have one lol
ChameleonRave
Avid Member
what do you mean experiment. and what type of lights? for a basking recommend a 40 watt house bulb for basking, and a Zoo Med Repti-Sun 5.0, for a young chameleon.
Welcome to the world of chameleons!
Here's some information about chameleon husbandry that applies to veileds too with some links at the bottom...
Exposure to proper UVB, appropriate temperatures, supplements, a supply of well-fed/gutloaded insects, water and an appropriate cage set-up are all important for the well-being of your chameleon.
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.
Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.
Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).
If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).
Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite.)
Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)
Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
Here's some information about chameleon husbandry that applies to veileds too with some links at the bottom...
Exposure to proper UVB, appropriate temperatures, supplements, a supply of well-fed/gutloaded insects, water and an appropriate cage set-up are all important for the well-being of your chameleon.
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.
Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.
Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).
If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).
Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite.)
Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)
Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Welcome
More worth reading:
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...questions.html
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
[*]https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
[*]https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
[*]https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
[*]http://www.chameleonnews.com/ - http://www.chameleonsonline.com/
- http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
- http://www.chromachameleons.com/index.php?page=care
- http://www.zorabellarose.com/Caresheet/VeiledChameleons.pdf
- http://chamworld.blogspot.com/
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/
- http://www.screameleons.com/How_to_care_for_chameleons.htm
- https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/82-enclosures-housing.html
- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com
- http://www.animalarkshelter.org/cin/
- http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/chameleons.htm
http://www.butterworms.co.uk
http://www.roachshop.co.uk/
www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk
http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk/
http://www.livefoodsbypost.co.uk/
Hoj
Friendly Grasshopper
check out the how to ask for help form in the health section, try to anwser all the questions with what you intend to do, if you cant anwser any or are confused by any then i would concentraite there. you could also put it up in a post and then others can see what ur planning and help if needed. welcome to the forum tho, its a great help
