Newbie Chameleon futur owner , helps and tips.

[Xcreator]

Hi everybody , i am new to this forum and i am going to need as plenty help possible .
I have always wanted a chameleon since a kid , now that i got optunity i am going to get one , i went to a local reptile store and they have 4 baby chameleons he said by next week they should be stable to be sold , they yemen/veiled species .
The following things i need to know besides any other tips .
Do i need the uv lights ? Can i not just leave the cage outeide , the wethear is summer and it varies from 20 to 25 Celsius , sunrises at 7 sunset at 8 ish.
My plan would be to put him inside at night for the cham to sleep and in morning place him outside , can i do this?
Other question , as much as i like chameleons i am a bit grossed by moving bugs , question i have is , the reptile food i buy from the store are they dead?
And if so , would the chameleon eat from the floor or if i just place it in my hand?


And also how can i get my chameleon to drink from a drip bottle ?

Thanks any other tips i aprecciate
Thanks

 

[carol5208]

Here is a caresheet for you to read. It will tell you everything you need to care for a Veild chameleon. To answer your question, no you cannot feed dead bugs. If that is a problem then a chameleon is not for you! That is a big part of owning them and you really need to keep a variety of insects on hand to vary their diet. All these insects must be fed also, and it can get costly. Veilds are one of the few species that will eat plants and some fruits and veggies you can try offering, but they need protein in their diet and are primarily insectavores. As far as keeping your chameleon outside, it depends on where you live and what your temps are yearround. I live in Florida so it is possible. And maybe places like texas or California. If you have cold winters they cannot stay outside. The caresheet will explain about what temps to provide. If you still want to get one after what I have told you about the bugs, I would suggest a male instead of a female if you are just starting out. Females can lay eggs without being mated with a male and they require a laying bin and can often run into problems with laying which means vet bills and $$$. Make sure you have money put aside for a vet fund also. If you cannot afford to take your chameleon to a vet, do not get one. They can also develop a number of ailments which require being seen by a vet from time to time.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[MSMorgan]

X,

Welcome to the forums. Start your research here:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

Also, take a look around the site and blogs. You might want to check out Jann B's blogs and posts. She keeps veileds and is very active on this site. Do you research well before you bring home your chosen pet. They're not hard to keep, once you've armed yourself with all the info you'll need to keep them healthy and happy in your home.

Q's:

1. Do I need the UVB lights ? Yes, 5.0 Repti-sun is the popular choice and many here swear by them. Othr options are available from sponsors on this site. [/COLOR]

2. Can I not just leave the cage outside? The weather is summer and it varies from 20 to 25 Celsius, sunrises at 7 sunset at 8 ish? This question depends on many different factors. Do you research. This site is a wealth of info. It is dependent on where you live. Some do, but they have habitats that are set to the exact needs of their species and are safe for their chams. Take a look at the above referenced material and go from there.[/COLOR]

3. My plan would be to put him inside at night for the cham. to sleep and in morning place him outside , can i do this? Same as above: This answer depends on many different factors. Do you research. This site is a wealth of info. [/COLOR]

4. As much as I like chameleons I am a bit grossed by moving bugs , question i have is , the reptile food i buy from the store are they dead? And if so , would the chameleon eat from the floor or if i just place it in my hand?
No! Chams. need live food. Dubias, crickets, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, BSF larvae and the like are all good to feed. Chams. can feed from a cup, hunt down their prey, or if your fortunate, eat right from your hand. [/COLOR]

5. How can I get my chameleon to drink from a drip bottle? My recommendation is to get an automated misting system like the Mist-King and go from there. I use the Mist-King and a dripper (ie. a big cup w/ a pin hole in it). [/COLOR]

X, the most important answer is to do your homework before you bring your little friend home. There is a plethora of information on this site. Enough to keep you reading for months.
You've landed in a great place. This community has keepers, vets. and everybody in between that cares for and loves their little dragons. Ask away and do your research. One word of caution though. They're addictive.
Have fun on your quest and when you believe you are ready, do some more reading and check with the good folks here to see if you are actually ready. They will help you to no end. Good luck on your journey. I hope to see you posting again soon.

Lucky's mom.

 

[carol5208]

I mainly have always used drip bottles or drippers as they are called. They can cause flooding on the bottom so you have to have some type of drainage, paper towels or some type of catch basin that is SHALLOW enough so your chameleon could crawl out if it fell in. A shallow tupperware with screen covering can work also. I have seen a chameleon drown in a dogs water bowl on here after it got out. You have to be careful. You just set it up on the top of the cage and you can insert the water tube(store bought ones come with tubes) through the screen and have it drip on a leaf or branch. Or you can choose to not use the tube(I don't) and just have the water spicket drip through the top. You have to set it up a little higher though, or the water will pool sometimes on the top of the screen. It will attract their attention and they will drink off of it 9 times out of 10. I also will sometimes follow mine around and drip the water through the top of the screen from the dripper onto their nose. They will usually drink from this way also. It may take a minute or so, but they most likely will. My chameleons have always preferred this way to drink instead of misting, but many keepers use the misting systems. Some people also use spray bottles with water and spray it in their mouths. You have to be careful though not to spray down their throat.

 

[Xcreator]

Thanks for all the help , hopefully I'll be lucky enough to have one .
Thanks cage I'll make my self I'm handy in those kind of things .
I am bit confused wethear I can or can't feed them worms ?
And wich ones ? From research I see silk worms ?

 

[MamatoElvis]

Silkworms, hornworms, Phoenix worms, butterworms for a treat not every day. Skip the mealworms they are not s healthy option. Super worms tend to get mixed reviews from members. I don't personally feed them but they are able to be gut loaded. Maybe someone who uses them could comment.