Normal Color? with help form

[Seffers93]

Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon – Male Veiled Chameleon. About three months old. I have had the little guy just a couple of weeks
• Handling –I haven’t handled him since I put him in his cage. I was told to give him a few weeks to get use to everything.
• Feeding – He gets about five – eight crickets per day with a meal worm every now and then. I gut load my crickets with recommended fruits and veggies.
• Supplements – I dust his crickets with Fluker’s calcium with vitamin D3 once per week. I’ve given him Rep-Cal Herptivite Multivitamins once since I’ve had him.
• Watering – I plan on ordering a MistKing system very soon. For now, I spray his cage about three or four times a day.
• Fecal Description - His droppings are a dark brown with white in them.
• History – I wasn’t told his history.

Cage Info:
• Cage Type – It’s an all screened cage. (24” x 24” x 48”)
• Lighting – I’m not sure about the brands.. I threw the boxes away /: I use a 75watt basking light and a 5.0 UVB/UVA tube-style light. They go twelve hours on and twelve hours off.
• Temperature – I have gauges set up in his cage. His cool side is about 70 degrees and his basking spot is about 85 degrees.
• Humidity – I have a hygrometer in his cage. The humidity usually stays anywhere from 50% to 70%. I have a cool-vapor humidifier with a hose running inside the cage. It runs in hour cycles. On for an hour and off for an hour.
• Plants – I have a Pothos plant.
• Placement – In my room, setting on top of a rigged draining system.
• Location – I’m located in Illinois in the United States.

Current Problem – Overall, he seems to be a healthy chameleon. I’m just worried about his colors. During the day, he stays a greyish color. At night, he turns a nice, relaxing green color. I posted a thread about this earlier, and I was told to fill out this form. I’m just wondering if something is wrong. I’ll post pictures of my setup, and insert a link to the pictures of him.
Awake
https://www.chameleonforums.com/att...68184d1353524649-normal-colors-zozo-awake.jpg

Asleep
https://www.chameleonforums.com/att...83d1353524495-normal-colors-zozo-sleeping.jpg

Setup

 

[SouthCaliChameleon]

Thats what my veil dose too, especially when he's basking.. one thing i do notice about your set up is... no dripper, you should have one so he can drink through out the day.

 

[Decadancin]

Hey Seffers93, here's my take. The lighting is probably an issue. You said UVA/UVB bulb? If it is a 5.0 UV b you should be O.K. but the combination bulbs are usually not recommended. As for the basking spot, this should be fine for a 3 month old veiled. As for the supplements, it is generally believed that dusting with calcium w/o D3 should be done at every feeding. The calcium with D3 and multi-vitamin should be once every 2 weeks.

The setup looks nice, but I would add more vines and plants to the top of the enclosure. This will give Zozo more sense of security, as well as a better way to thermo-regulate. I can say that my veiled was mainly green most of the time at that age, and got a little dull green right before he shed. Has your guy shed yet?

 

[Seffers93]

Oh, I thought he would drink after I misted. Do I need to buy one or can I make one? And if I can make one, how do I do that?
Thanks for the tips!

 

[Decadancin]

I bought a dripper and have yet to use it. I mist a few times a day (Mistking) and my cham has found a great spot to drink from. I would be concerned if Zozo is eating a lot of the pothos plant. It is normal for him to eat a little, but too much could be a sign of dehydration. They will supplement their intake during dry times in the wild by eating plants. By the sound of his urates, it doesn't appear to be an issue. I offer a little kale or mustard greens which Zaphod loves!

 

[SouthCaliChameleon]

I bought one from LLL reptiles, and have it going all day.. and also have a Reptifogger for keeping the RH up.. i see you have a fogger too, thats good.

 

[SouthCaliChameleon]

I heard they get darker cause their trying to absorb more of the uvb or get warmer, someone correct me if im wrong. My little guy is constantly changing colors..

 

[Seffers93]

My mistake. I thought UVB lights were all UVB/UVA. Obviously I was wrong.lol. I went to a couple websites and looked at the bulb I'm using. I didn't see anything about UVA anywhere, so it must just be a UVB bulb? It's also a 5.0. Sorry, I don't know much about lighting. I just buy what I'm told is best for him.
As for the basking spot, what will I need when he gets older?
Andd no he has not shed yet.
I will be sure to get the calcium without D3 right away, and I'll go out and get more foliage today!
Thanks for the info!!

 

[SouthCaliChameleon]

Ya it's a good idea to dust everyday without D3... I use sticky tongue farms calcium with D3 twice a week, its very low in D3 so you can do that, I use zoo med calcium without... and i really dont like it much, so after im done with it, i'll prob switch to repashys stuff.

 

[Decadancin]

Yep, the UV B is the one you need! As for the basking when he gets older, you just need a higher wattage bulb to bring the temp up to about 88 - 94 degrees. You can also raise the basking area a little, but not too close so he can burn himself. You should usually see brighter colors right after a shed.

 

[Seffers93]

Thanks again guys!
I literally just ordered the calcium without D3. It should be here in just a couple days.
I'm on my way out to find more vines and whatnot!
I'll be on mobile forums lol