sassyboots
Member
Hi, Just joined the group. I have a veiled cham, first reptile i've ever owned. Got him when he just just about 6 weeks old and maybe only a couple inches big (tail not included). I've had him for approxamatly 5 months now, and he's grown about an inch. I think that he is doing fine but still have some questions just to make sure that he is indeed doing well.
He is in a 10 gallon tank, I was given the info that it's ok when they are small-I'm getting ready to move him into a screened in enclosure. He has a regular 60 watt bulb for basking and a flourescent uvb light. His lights are timed for a twelve hour cycle. I spray the tank three times a day with water and he eats crickets daily.
Now for my concerns:
1. He always seems hungry. He is always pointed down in his tree- looking around for food. He gets about 5-7 small dusted crickets daily, and eats them in about 5 seconds. Will he over eat? Should i give him more or less? How do i know he's has enough to eat?
2. I rarely see him drink. I know he has to drink moving water, but this doesn't seem sufficient.
3. When i first got him he was a light green color and would change to the darker greens and almost brown blacks when i would come to the tank and see him, These days he has been mostly brown. He has developed patterns on him (actually in the shape of a number five on one side of his body) But doesn't really change ranges of colors anymore. The only time i see him in the nice pale green is when the lights are off and he's sleeping. Is this normal?
4. His behavior has gotten weird. I've caught him walking on the floor of his cage, scratching at the side of the tank, and hanging from the screen top. When he sees me, he retreats to his tree and acts as if he hasn't been doing anything.
5. He seems skinny. He's not "thick" I 've seen him shed only three times and i thought he would be bigger then this.
So anyway, This is the first time i have owned a reptile, Perhaps everything he does is normal, perhaps he needs more then what i am doing. I would like to provide him with the best care i can, i think he's totally cool and i would hate it if i was providing inadequate care for him.
Kat
He is in a 10 gallon tank, I was given the info that it's ok when they are small-I'm getting ready to move him into a screened in enclosure. He has a regular 60 watt bulb for basking and a flourescent uvb light. His lights are timed for a twelve hour cycle. I spray the tank three times a day with water and he eats crickets daily.
Now for my concerns:
1. He always seems hungry. He is always pointed down in his tree- looking around for food. He gets about 5-7 small dusted crickets daily, and eats them in about 5 seconds. Will he over eat? Should i give him more or less? How do i know he's has enough to eat?
2. I rarely see him drink. I know he has to drink moving water, but this doesn't seem sufficient.
3. When i first got him he was a light green color and would change to the darker greens and almost brown blacks when i would come to the tank and see him, These days he has been mostly brown. He has developed patterns on him (actually in the shape of a number five on one side of his body) But doesn't really change ranges of colors anymore. The only time i see him in the nice pale green is when the lights are off and he's sleeping. Is this normal?
4. His behavior has gotten weird. I've caught him walking on the floor of his cage, scratching at the side of the tank, and hanging from the screen top. When he sees me, he retreats to his tree and acts as if he hasn't been doing anything.
5. He seems skinny. He's not "thick" I 've seen him shed only three times and i thought he would be bigger then this.
So anyway, This is the first time i have owned a reptile, Perhaps everything he does is normal, perhaps he needs more then what i am doing. I would like to provide him with the best care i can, i think he's totally cool and i would hate it if i was providing inadequate care for him.
Kat
