Rescued a Yemen Chameleon - Help please!

[SCORCHIO12]

Afternoon All,

Finally hit the big '40' and decided as ive wanted one for years to get a chameleon. We currently have a beardie and gecko as well (my daughters) and wanted a reptile for myself!!

I found a yemen close to where im living for a very good price so went to look at it. A young lad had him and to be honest he's tank and lighting are awful! The boy didnt have a clue

I brought him just to get him away from that enviroment and so i can purchase him the correct heating, flexarium etc.

The yemen chameleon to be fair in those conditions is great, hes alert and seems healthy but a tad underweight. Been told hes roughly 4 months old.

Got him home and feed him some locust which he ate about 10 in a matter of minutes he was very hungry! He did hiss at me when i got him out but after that he calmed down.

It annoys me when people get these wonderful pets they do not know how to look after them.

So my questions are please can someone kindly recommend a perfect size cage and the correct lighting for him. I know about what plants / vines to get and also been told a dripper is needed for water. Do i need anything else for him or would spraying the enclosure be ok?

He currently in a small glass tank that is awful with a repiti sun 5.0 light in it and that all. No basking lamp etc...

Any answers greatly appreciated as i want to get the stuff asap.

cheers

Scott.

 

[twatts704]

Could we see a picture of this little guy? I am partial to screen cages and always go with the bigger ones because I always hand feed or cup feed and never have to worry about a loose feeder or my guys hunting. I have both my chams in a 2x2x4 reptibreeze screen cage. I also have a long linear uvb tube going across the top of both of them with a 5.0 uvb bulb. I think I'm using a 60 Watt for heat and my temps for the basking are around 86 on my male and around 83-84 on my female. The height of the cage gives them variables in temps too. Use a dripper over some leaves. And spray 4-6 times a day. I find warm water to be the best. If you have any other questions let us know

Here are some outer shots of both my cages.

Do you know if your cham is a boy or girl?

 

[AngieL]

Hello and welcome! Here is a very comprehensive care sheet by chameleonsinmyhouse. I think it tells you what you need to buy and do. Good luck and feel free to ask any more questions

 

[Psychobunny]

Welcome to the forum, you are at the right place for your answers

For your veiled cham:

Temps- 70-75 F ambient; 78-83 F basking (about 8 to 10'' from your cham).

Lighting- tube style fluorescent 5% UVB which should be the lenght of the cage. Incandescent household bulb and dome reflector fixture, 25 to 50W.

Thermometer- digital, with wired probe.

Hygrometer- to measure RH.

Humidity- 60-70% daytime, +80% at night.

Diet: Varied diet, at least 3 different feeders. Veileds also like to have some veggies in their diet: crickets, superworms, dubia roaches, hornworms, silkworms, collard greens, mustard greens, kale, etc. Avoid spinach.
Feeders such as roaches and crickets should be "gut loaded" with fresh fruits and veggies, plus Cricket Crack (or the equivalent) and Repashy Bug Burger (my recommendation). Avoid feeding the feeders animal proteins such as dog or cat food and fish flakes.

Feeding frequency: 15-25 small feeders every day as a baby, 2-4 every day as an adult. I use Repashy Calcium Plus to lightly dust the feeders.

Cage size: 2'x2'x4' for adult; 18"x18"x36" for sub-adult; and 14"x14"x20" for babies.

Misting: Mist at least 2 times a day. Soak the cage, but let it dry out between mistings.

Water Dripper- use a container of water on top of the cage rigged to constantly drip into the cage and on to the vines and leaves at about 1 drop every few seconds. You can buy a "Big Dripper" brand from a pet supply store.

 

[SCORCHIO12]

Thank you all for your comments much appreciated. i will try to post a pic if i can! (not sure how).

Great website and i look forward to asking many questions

Hes is a boy!

 

[SCORCHIO12]

This is Sid...

He's tail is pressing against the window hence looking funny like that.

 

[Lathelia]

He doesn't look really bad, maybe a bit underweight, but it's hard to say from this pic. Are you sure he is 4 months old? Looks older to me..
And his eye looks sunken, have you seen him drink? Has he pooped already?

 

[camimom]

he looks to be at least 6 or 7 months old, if not older.

He looks dehydrated, and thin.

What do you feed him?
what are his supplements you use?
what are his basking temps?
how much do you water him?

do you have any good weather outside? Natural sunlight does wonders forthem.


Over all, he doesnt look that bad, I was concerned about him having MBD. but I think he looks good, considering.

 

[SCORCHIO12]

he looks to be at least 6 or 7 months old, if not older.

He looks dehydrated, and thin.

What do you feed him?
what are his supplements you use?
what are his basking temps?
how much do you water him?

do you have any good weather outside? Natural sunlight does wonders forthem.


Over all, he doesnt look that bad, I was concerned about him having MBD. but I think he looks good, considering.

thanks for your comments i only got him last night.

I gave him small locust last night and he didnt stop eating. Havent seen him drink yet and supplements i need to get as i only dusted him with a vitamin supplement that i have from my beardie last night. Been told i need Calcium with and without D3?

As for basking temp as i said the boy didnt have a clue and am in the process of ordering him new stuff today. Hes only got a reptsun 5.0 light in there.

As for sunshine im in england so thats rare!! lol.

 

[SCORCHIO12]

He doesn't look really bad, maybe a bit underweight, but it's hard to say from this pic. Are you sure he is 4 months old? Looks older to me..
And his eye looks sunken, have you seen him drink? Has he pooped already?

thank you for replying.

He could be older im not sure thats what i was told. Im going to feed him up so hes in safe hands

Not seen him drink yet i am just spraying the leaves so he can get the droplets. The glass tank is awful and will all be going asap.


thanks again.

 

[camimom]

thanks for your comments i only got him last night.

I gave him small locust last night and he didnt stop eating. Havent seen him drink yet and supplements i need to get as i only dusted him with a vitamin supplement that i have from my beardie last night. Been told i need Calcium with and without D3?

As for basking temp as i said the boy didnt have a clue and am in the process of ordering him new stuff today. Hes only got a reptsun 5.0 light in there.

As for sunshine im in england so thats rare!! lol.

OK. Well you can give him larger locusts as hes close to adulthood.
I would let him eat as much as he wants.
you do need a calcium with and without d3.

for basking temps- try to get it around 85-88 F. (sorry dont know C)

and any sunshine you can get, take him out..

 

[AngieL]

OK. Well you can give him larger locusts as hes close to adulthood.
I would let him eat as much as he wants.
you do need a calcium with and without d3.

for basking temps- try to get it around 85-88 F. (sorry dont know C)

and any sunshine you can get, take him out..

Its about 31C

 

[Lathelia]

thank you for replying.

He could be older im not sure thats what i was told. Im going to feed him up so hes in safe hands

Not seen him drink yet i am just spraying the leaves so he can get the droplets. The glass tank is awful and will all be going asap.


thanks again.

Seems like you are on the good track. Get the supliments and the cage. When he poo check how it looks. It should be dark brown/black with white urate. If it's yellow or orange he's dehydrated.