UrbanChameleon
New Member
Hey guys. So I made a post a couple of days ago about my little man. I had a feeling something wasn't right with him. His skin had been ghostly white and his colors weren't as light green as usual. I kept an eye on him thinking he might be getting ready to shed.
I had switched his lights around quite a bit after getting a digital thermometer a day or two after I bought him. His temps were too high for a young Veiled so I kept lowering wattages until I found the right one. I've had him on 40 watts in a 18x18x24 cage. At the basking spot they seemed to be no higher than 88 F. Well he hasn't been getting any better. In fact he seemed worse. So today I went and bought a 25 watt bulb. Immediately as I turned of his lights to switch them out he turned light green. After they cooled down a bit I threw in that 25 watt and he looked 10 times better. I also sprayed some of the stuff with Aloe on his back (which I never thought I would buy). It was close to lights out for him so I don't think I will really see any improvement until tomorrow.
I'm still shocked that the 40 watt was too much for him. I guess every chameleon is different. I was totally confused because he was darker than usual and his skin was so dry. I knew that him being darker meant that he was unhappy with something, but I also know it means they are trying to absorb more heat. I thought maybe he had gotten used to the higher temps he was at beforehand. I'm really glad I caught it soon enough. I still feel like I could have been quicker but it's fixed now. I guess this is what you call chameleon guilt. Even though it went on for less than a week I still feel bad.
Does anyone feel like 25 watts is too low? He needs what he needs but I wasn't sure if someone else has experienced this. His highest basking spot after it had been in for about 3 hours was 80 F. It might be hotter tomorrow after it has more time to "run" throughout the day. I could see it being better for him in the mid-80's but I can only find 25 or 45 watts. No 30's to be found. Anything I can do to help him feel better now? Thanks so much guys!
I had switched his lights around quite a bit after getting a digital thermometer a day or two after I bought him. His temps were too high for a young Veiled so I kept lowering wattages until I found the right one. I've had him on 40 watts in a 18x18x24 cage. At the basking spot they seemed to be no higher than 88 F. Well he hasn't been getting any better. In fact he seemed worse. So today I went and bought a 25 watt bulb. Immediately as I turned of his lights to switch them out he turned light green. After they cooled down a bit I threw in that 25 watt and he looked 10 times better. I also sprayed some of the stuff with Aloe on his back (which I never thought I would buy). It was close to lights out for him so I don't think I will really see any improvement until tomorrow.
I'm still shocked that the 40 watt was too much for him. I guess every chameleon is different. I was totally confused because he was darker than usual and his skin was so dry. I knew that him being darker meant that he was unhappy with something, but I also know it means they are trying to absorb more heat. I thought maybe he had gotten used to the higher temps he was at beforehand. I'm really glad I caught it soon enough. I still feel like I could have been quicker but it's fixed now. I guess this is what you call chameleon guilt. Even though it went on for less than a week I still feel bad.
Does anyone feel like 25 watts is too low? He needs what he needs but I wasn't sure if someone else has experienced this. His highest basking spot after it had been in for about 3 hours was 80 F. It might be hotter tomorrow after it has more time to "run" throughout the day. I could see it being better for him in the mid-80's but I can only find 25 or 45 watts. No 30's to be found. Anything I can do to help him feel better now? Thanks so much guys!
