Please help.

[Xyrgoon]

I am going to be getting a baby veiled chameleon in the next 3 weeks but first i want it to have a perfect living quarters, the only reptile i have ever had is a leopard gecko so i have a little expierence with reptiles but not much... It would be very helpful if you guys could post tips on what to put in his cage, how much to handle him, and just some bare essentials on taking care of chameleons, if you could that would be great!


(veiled is just easiest to get and i had heard they were good for first-time chameleon owners, if you guys have any other suggestions for better breeds for beginners i would welcome your opinion.)

 

[Elizadolots]

You should read the information posted in the sticky at the top of this thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/

That's a great place to start. Then look around "enclosures" to see what' recommended for a veiled the age you are expecting.

 

[Xyrgoon]

thanks i was looking at that after i posted this thread, but i was also wondering about possible other species that would be better for beginners than veiled

 

[pssh]

Veileds and panthers are 'beginners' species. Here is a great link
Http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com

And here is my basic checklist for a baby veiled or panther.

Here is my basic checklist for a baby veiled or panther:

-a screen cage of appropriate size (baby:16x16x30, adult female 18x18x36, adult male 24x24x48) you can also buy the adult sized cage and just section off the bottom so it is smaller
-live plants that are non toxic and have covered organic fertilizer free soil
-a normal incandescent house bulb of appropriate wattage
-a dome to put the house bulb in
-a linear reptisun 5.0 and appropriate hood
-a digital thermometer or temp gun to check temperature
-a digital hygrometer to check humidity (you can buy a 2 in 1 thermometer/hygrometer)
-three supplements: calcium with d3, calcium without d3, and a multivitamin that contains no vit A (make sure all are phos free)
-a pump style spray bottle to spray chameleon
-a dripper of some sort
-drainage for the water so that the cage does not flood
-many horizontal, vertical, and diagonal branches/vines/perches make sure there are many at different levels under the basking branch so he can move around under them to get a certain temp, the closest one to the bulb (6-8 inches under it) should have the maximum temperature a baby veiled can handle (80-83 degrees)

All of this can be bought on lllreptile.com but it would be cheaper to buy the uvb hood, normal incandescent house bulb and dome, plants, and digital thermometer from home depot or lowes (unless you are getting a temp gun, then tempgun.com) Veiled chameleons can handle temps as low as 50 degrees (at night) so there is no need to use a night light, though I would try to keep it around 60 for a baby. If you do need extra heat, use a space heater or ceramic bulb.

 

[Xyrgoon]

what would the apprpriate wattage be? and also what should you have at the bottom of the cage?

 

[kinyonga]

The incandescent light would be of a wattage that provides the appropriate temperature in the basking area. I never use one with either panthers or veileds but use a double fluorescent fixture with one Repti-sun 5.0 tube light in one half of it and a regular white fluorescent tube light in the other side....which puts the temperature in the low to id 80's...but then I also use a long lower glass cage rather than a screen one. (I live in Ontario though and it works in this climate.)

Here's how I set them up (see pictures)....
http://chameleonnews.com/02NovHorgan.html

I also don't use drippers for very young chameleons...its too easy for them to aspirate water.

 

[Elizadolots]

I believe veiled are the hardiest and most forgiving of learner errors...that makes them first choice for beginners. Panthers are right behind. Don't fall for the less expensive chameleons (as I did) because those are more frail. They are wild caught and often come to you with health issues. They are far less forgiving of husbandry trial and error....

Kinyonga, for my enlightenment: do you just count on mistings for the babies to get enough drinking opportunities? Should you make sure someone (or, I guess something) can mist on a regular basis during the day if you have to leave for work?

 

[Carlton]

what would the apprpriate wattage be? and also what should you have at the bottom of the cage?

It is really difficult to tell you the wattage you should use for basking, because so much depends on the temperature range in your particular room, you particular cage setup, age and species of cham, the local humidity, your seasons, etc. To make it easier, you don't need a special herp "full spectrum basking lamp" often sold by pet shops. An ordinary incandescent house lightbulb will provide heat so you can try different wattages until you find the one that provides the best temp range for a perch arranged under the light. You should plan on some experimentation once the cage is set up and before you get your cham. You will need to measure the temp on the basking perch, not somewhere else in the cage. Remember, the basking light's job is to provide heat. The UV producing fluorescent tube lamp's job is to provide the correct wavelengths of UV radiation and your cham will need both.

Cage substrates are not generally advised, as chams can pick it up on their tongues when shooting at feeders and swallow it. A bare cage bottom or paper towels is easy.

 

[Xyrgoon]

It is really difficult to tell you the wattage you should use for basking, because so much depends on the temperature range in your particular room, you particular cage setup, age and species of cham, the local humidity, your seasons, etc. To make it easier, you don't need a special herp "full spectrum basking lamp" often sold by pet shops. An ordinary incandescent house lightbulb will provide heat so you can try different wattages until you find the one that provides the best temp range for a perch arranged under the light. You should plan on some experimentation once the cage is set up and before you get your cham. You will need to measure the temp on the basking perch, not somewhere else in the cage. Remember, the basking light's job is to provide heat. The UV producing fluorescent tube lamp's job is to provide the correct wavelengths of UV radiation and your cham will need both.

Cage substrates are not generally advised, as chams can pick it up on their tongues when shooting at feeders and swallow it. A bare cage bottom or paper towels is easy.

thank you very much