Newbie both to site and Chameleons - poo question
- Thread starter tipposan
- Start date
tipposan
New Member
So to Slyfox...yeah your right about the petshop knowledge.
All this back and forth about the light got me to do a little research (i.e. I actually looked at what I bought instead of taking the staff's word) and found that the red light DOES NOT mention that it provides UVA!!! It's a 75W infrared bulb Heat Lamp. Guess I need that anyway.
The white is the UVB source. Could the lack of UVA be a source of the lack of poop? I guess I will be back at the store to get one.
Thanks for getting me to look.
By the way, the chameleon's body is about 3" so the tank is plenty big....for now...and as I mentioned, I went into this tank with the full understanding that this is a starter tank and will have to upgrade.
All this back and forth about the light got me to do a little research (i.e. I actually looked at what I bought instead of taking the staff's word) and found that the red light DOES NOT mention that it provides UVA!!! It's a 75W infrared bulb Heat Lamp. Guess I need that anyway.
The white is the UVB source. Could the lack of UVA be a source of the lack of poop? I guess I will be back at the store to get one.
Thanks for getting me to look.
By the way, the chameleon's body is about 3" so the tank is plenty big....for now...and as I mentioned, I went into this tank with the full understanding that this is a starter tank and will have to upgrade.
tipposan
New Member
Caught sleeping
Caught Pascal sleeping out in the open...
Catching some zzz's by closhusan, on Flickr
Caught Pascal sleeping out in the open...
Catching some zzz's by closhusan, on Flickr
tipposan
New Member
When I get the chance...probably this weekend...I'll get to post pictures of the vent area.
I was told that it may be too young to tell.
Regarding substrate....it's just what came with the kit. It's also another thing that I don't know why it's there but it's there so until I need to change it or just can't stand it...it's going to stay. Will be getting more vines as mentioned and a drip and now I guess a UVA bulb.
I was told that it may be too young to tell.
Regarding substrate....it's just what came with the kit. It's also another thing that I don't know why it's there but it's there so until I need to change it or just can't stand it...it's going to stay. Will be getting more vines as mentioned and a drip and now I guess a UVA bulb.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
do you let your feeders run loose? If so, be very careful with the substrate as your chameleon can shoot for its prey while on the substrate and get it in its mouth. It can choke, or swallow it and become impacted. Its there because that is what the pet stores sell you, so it looks nice. If your getting a drip I would use something very shallow to catch the drip. That is another reason for no substrate, as the water will mold the substrate eventually. Not healthy air for your chameleon to be breathing, especially when confined in glass.
tipposan
New Member
Thanks Carol5208.
Yes feeders run loose. Have seen him take them off the substrate. Good point about them getting some in their mouth. Same reason why I feed my snake in a separate tank with no substrate (at least one reason).
I was actually rethinking the drip for the same reason. Sticking to a spray for now.
Yes feeders run loose. Have seen him take them off the substrate. Good point about them getting some in their mouth. Same reason why I feed my snake in a separate tank with no substrate (at least one reason).
I was actually rethinking the drip for the same reason. Sticking to a spray for now.
Elizadolots
New Member
Ideally, you need drainage so you can have a dripper but not get pools of water on the bottom of the cage. What is the floor of that enclosure? If it's glass, you would need to take it to a glass shop to have it drilled but if it's not, then just drill a hole in the bottom. You can then put the enclosure on a rubber drawer (you'll need to cut a hole in the top) and voila, drainage.
tipposan
New Member
The bottom is glass. Not looking to get it drilled. I would think that it would be easier just to put a deep dish below where the drip is and to empty as needed.
Anyway, as I mentioned, going to stick to spray for now.
ChameleonNerd
New Member
i would keep the red light as a heating bulb, as i assume you are using it. That being said, when you need a new basking light, i would get a standard white house bulb, maybe 75 watts... 100 if you can adjust the brightness.
get a tube uvb bulb. this would be a reptisun 5.0 ...it's rated as the top uvb bulb. you can get one for about 30 bucks at any reputable pet store, or you can get it online. if you don't have anything giving off uvb, i would make this your TOP PRIORITY
if i were you, i would remove that ..coconut fiber...? if your chameleon gets thirsty he/she will probably end up eating it, don't be surprised if that will cause impaction or other pooping problems.
i would replace it as soon as you can, but by no means your top priority. i would replace it with standard paper towels, and just put everything in the cage back on top.
good luck!
get a tube uvb bulb. this would be a reptisun 5.0 ...it's rated as the top uvb bulb. you can get one for about 30 bucks at any reputable pet store, or you can get it online. if you don't have anything giving off uvb, i would make this your TOP PRIORITY
if i were you, i would remove that ..coconut fiber...? if your chameleon gets thirsty he/she will probably end up eating it, don't be surprised if that will cause impaction or other pooping problems.
i would replace it as soon as you can, but by no means your top priority. i would replace it with standard paper towels, and just put everything in the cage back on top.
good luck!
tipposan
New Member
Thanks.
Yes, using the red light for heat.
Have the UVB tube bulb.
More and more people are suggesting loosing the substrate...will be doing that soon. I only have it there cause it came with the kit and it looks nice.
I have noticed that VERY RARELY does he ever touch the ground. He's fallen once while catching food so it was nice to have something soft to land on. Wasn't very high (maybe a couple of inches) and still had back legs holding onto branch...but still nice to have the soft substrate.
On another note, the kids are saying that the tank is starting to smell. We've only had it since Christmas.
ChameleonNerd
New Member
yes i forgot to add about the smell. most likely that is bacteria and mold forming colonies within the substrate. definitely not worth the risk of having your chameleon eat that
Elizadolots
New Member
yeah, the smell is probably the substrate...I tried using a bark substrate and it was distinctly smelly when it got wet. I didn't find it unpleasant by my daughter did. I suspect those young noses are more sensitive to "bad smells" than our old noses.
I've never seen either of the chameleons I have now (one for slightly over a year, one for about 8 months) set foot on the bottom of the cage.
I've never seen either of the chameleons I have now (one for slightly over a year, one for about 8 months) set foot on the bottom of the cage.
tipposan
New Member
Substrate...
So after about 2 months and many of your suggestions and concerns, I have decided that overall, the substrate is going to go. However, I have found some good points in having it there....
1. Makes the tank look more complete (at least in my eyes even though the cham very rarely touches the floor)
2. Helps to hold the plants and other items in place and
3. When the cham poops, it sticks to it and makes it easier to clean
I am just going to wait until summer so that I can take the tank outside cause its messy. I figure nothing like giving him/her some natural sun.
So after about 2 months and many of your suggestions and concerns, I have decided that overall, the substrate is going to go. However, I have found some good points in having it there....
1. Makes the tank look more complete (at least in my eyes even though the cham very rarely touches the floor)
2. Helps to hold the plants and other items in place and
3. When the cham poops, it sticks to it and makes it easier to clean
I am just going to wait until summer so that I can take the tank outside cause its messy. I figure nothing like giving him/her some natural sun.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
I definitley see your point.
Technically their is ingestible "substrate" in my setups.
(albeit a very minor amount)
Its just like Russian roulette though, its harmless, until they ingest it, then its deadly.
This is why no one "indorses" it.
If you play the odds, its best to take it out.
You state, "It makes the tank look more complete."
Your chameleons enclosure is just that, their enclosure.
Yes I want my setups to be as ascetically pleasing as possible, but looks comes second to proper husbandry.
JMO
Elizadolots
New Member
Many people use substrate without problems, but some have had tragedies....it's your decision to make.
On the "making the cage look complete" thing, I think that's because the white plastic bottom is sort of glaring. You can buy plastic aquarium background film that will stick to the bottom and give it a pleasant look. I bought some at Petsmart, so it's not hard to find. I bought a rock pattern. There are lots, but that seemed the most organic to me. It did radically improve the look of the cage You can poke holes through it for drainage and it wipes clean with a rag.
On the "making the cage look complete" thing, I think that's because the white plastic bottom is sort of glaring. You can buy plastic aquarium background film that will stick to the bottom and give it a pleasant look. I bought some at Petsmart, so it's not hard to find. I bought a rock pattern. There are lots, but that seemed the most organic to me. It did radically improve the look of the cage You can poke holes through it for drainage and it wipes clean with a rag.
tipposan
New Member
Substrate getting on my nerves now
So...I was going to wait for the summer to get rid of the substrate so that I can do it outside and not have to deal with any mess but it is starting to get on my nerves a bit.
I don't know if it is just my tank set up or what but here is my new "tank set-up issue".
Firstly, here is what it looks like now
IMG_4067 by closhusan, on Flickr
I changed it around cause i was experimenting with putting in a drip. The drip works fine but I just can't seem to control the flow of it...maybe I'm not supposed to. Depending on where he is in the tank, he either drinks a lot from it or not at all.
I use the drip almost every other day just because the bowl i have to catch the water is not that big but I always have to make sure that the drip is landing in the catch bowl. The problem is that when he drinks from it, he tends to move the leaves that it drips on and sometimes that gets the substrate really wet.
When I clean the tank out, I have to make sure to stir up the substrate so that it gets a chance to dry.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to properly/better set up a drip cause for the amount that see him drink sometimes, I don't think that misting is doing it for him (i know that I am also misitng for humidity) as far as drinking.
So...I was going to wait for the summer to get rid of the substrate so that I can do it outside and not have to deal with any mess but it is starting to get on my nerves a bit.
I don't know if it is just my tank set up or what but here is my new "tank set-up issue".
Firstly, here is what it looks like now
IMG_4067 by closhusan, on Flickr
I changed it around cause i was experimenting with putting in a drip. The drip works fine but I just can't seem to control the flow of it...maybe I'm not supposed to. Depending on where he is in the tank, he either drinks a lot from it or not at all.
I use the drip almost every other day just because the bowl i have to catch the water is not that big but I always have to make sure that the drip is landing in the catch bowl. The problem is that when he drinks from it, he tends to move the leaves that it drips on and sometimes that gets the substrate really wet.
When I clean the tank out, I have to make sure to stir up the substrate so that it gets a chance to dry.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to properly/better set up a drip cause for the amount that see him drink sometimes, I don't think that misting is doing it for him (i know that I am also misitng for humidity) as far as drinking.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
thank you for the info Lynda!!!
UrbanChameleon
New Member
In the Exo Terra's the best bulb is a 25 watt heat bulb. Even 40 watts is high for a young Cham. I kept my Chameleon in a Exo Terra as a baby and I've tested everything. The 25 watt will keep it a little under 85 degrees in the basking spot, which is perfect. Also, make sure the UVB bulb is a 5.0. The 10.0 UVB bulbs are way too much. It should say on the box, or the bottom of the bulb.
