Newbie with plastic box...

[JJC]

Hi there,

I am a first time Chameleon owner...I purchased Norman, a 4 week old Veiled Chameleon from a reptile show last weekend. I have kept bearded dragons, plumed basilisk, and tree frogs so I do have some herp experience. The person I purchased Norman from did not seem entirely knowledgeable so I thought I would ask some questions here..just to be safe. I asked the breeder what I should do, since I have a 4 foot mesh cage at home...and I knew this 2 inch Chameleon would get lost in such a large cage...not to mention he would never find food. The breeder told me to keep him in a plastic storage box without a lid, until he grows bigger. Thats what I have been doing...he has a live plant, vines, dripper, and a cup full of crickets. I also have UVB strip light and a heat lamp set up. Everything I read said make sure they have GOOD ventilation so I am worried about him living in a plastic box. Norman is eating about 10 two week old crickets a day and is always a lovely bright green. Should I be concerned?

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This is Norman the day I brought him home.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Many people keep small babies in plastic boxes or aquariums with screen lids, or (better) terrariums (like exoterra glass enclosures with the ventilation strip under the front doors). Having the lighting / heat to one side will help create air flow.

 

[Ocelot357]

He seems to be doing good.YOu can just get a smaller cage, and when he is older move him to the bigger cage.Make sure its all screen.

 

[Julirs]

Is your live plant one that is on the safe list? It is perfectly fine to keep them in storage containers, but it is hard to tell from your pics how big the one you are using or how big the plant is. You want the plant to be large enough that it will hold a pretty decent amount of water drops for the little one to drink from.

 

[rocket89]

wait wait so if i buy a 24x24x48 screen tank and buy a chameleon this small or maybe a little bigger it would die?

 

[BocaJan]

I think the idea is to keep him in a large plastic tub, not a plastic bowl. That really looks too small for the fellow. If you get a Rubbermaid about 4x the size of a shoe box (they are only about 3-4 bucks) you will have room for sticks, plants (live or plastic) and plenty of room for him ro roam around in. It would also help with overheating. Be sure the light bulb doesn't give off too much heat. 85 degrees would be a perfect temp for your chams container as long as he has plenty of leaves to hide under to get cooled down to about 70-75.

 

[sandrachameleon]

wait wait so if i buy a 24x24x48 screen tank and buy a chameleon this small or maybe a little bigger it would die?

a tiny chameleon in a large cage will not necessarily die. Its just more difficult. primarily You have to ensure the baby can find food and water

 

[JJC]

Thank you everyone for your answers!

I ended up buying a small mesh terrarium. I figure it will take him several months to grow big enough for his adult cage so he might as well have everything he needs. He has almost doubled in size since I got him and looks like he is ready to shed again... My next newbie question is: how many crickets should I feed him per day? Right now he is eating 10 -two week old crickets. Each feeding the crickets are dusted with calcium with d3 and on the weekends he gets multi vitamins. HE usually polishes off the crickets within an hour of me putting them in his cage. Should I be feeding him twice a day? Also once a week he gets 3 or 4 tiny meal worms...do Chameleons have issues with impaction from the meal worms?

This is his new cage...

This gives an idea of how big he is.

 

[JJC]

Okay so I have spent some time reading over old forum threads and just want to double check that I have this right. I should feed him crickets 2-3 times daily...as much as he wants to eat. Dust with calcium without d3 five days a week, calcium with d3 once a week, and multivitamin one time a week? If someone can confirm this for me then I will go out and buy some calcium without d3 today. Thanks!

 

[BocaJan]

I think most folks do multi-vit once a month, calcium w/D3 2 times a month and plain calcium the rest of the time. That's what I do and have been doing it that way for 5 years now.

 

[ghettomike]

I use the same routine as BocaJan. Your setup looks good to go for a while, I used to feed my baby some small mealworms when she was small just because I wanted to give her some variety but switched to supers as soon as she was big enough, I never had any problems with impaction but alot of people won't feed them at all because of that worry.

 

[JJC]

Thank you for your speedy response! I am off to the store now...I have to say this website is incredible...thanks again!

 

[jannb]

I'd feed him all that he will eat. I just had babies and they would eat 15 or 20 small feeders a day. At that age I would feed three times a day.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Calcium with D3 could be used twice a week or twice a month - Depends on the BRAND - some have considerably more D3 than others.
see: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/174-whats-supplements-brand.html

I feed little ones 3-5 times a day, about as much as they can eat within 5 minutes. I reduce that as they approach 4-6 months, depending on size

 

[JJC]

Thank you Sandra. I am using the rep-cal brand for all my supplements..and have increased the amount of crickets. I feel bad that my little guy was not getting enough to eat! Thank goodness for this forum!

 

[Carlton]

Thank you Sandra. I am using the rep-cal brand for all my supplements..and have increased the amount of crickets. I feel bad that my little guy was not getting enough to eat! Thank goodness for this forum!

Oh he'll make up for it! I wouldn't worry about that...not as if he was starved for months.

 

[laurie]

Welcome, it is nice to hear of a newbie taking suce good care of a new baby.