Shedding Question

[OpaltheChameleon918]

Hello my chameleon has been at my house for 1 month and there has been no signs of shedding? Any answers for this problem? Google has not said anything about it but im concerned humidity in Day is about 60% and temp is all time 80°F and i have a waterfall for him and i mist his enclosure in the morning and night.

 

[Beman]

Welcome to the forum. So they shed as they grow when they are young... Looking at what I can see of your cage and the lighting on top I would recommend a husbandry review if you have not done one. Growth issues can be linked to husbandry issues.

If you would like to do this then you would copy and paste the form below into your reply then answer all the questions. Please post images of the full enclosure with the lighting on top.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[OpaltheChameleon918]

1 month almost 2 uvb and heat about 3 times a week flukers repti calcium waterfall and water on leaves has not been tested glass only 80 degrees 60 to 90 humidity no live plantscage is located a bit near fan and im in south cali

 

[Beman]

1 month almost 2 uvb and heat about 3 times a week flukers repti calcium waterfall and water on leaves has not been tested glass only 80 degrees 60 to 90 humidity no live plantscage is located a bit near fan and im in south cali

If you would like to do this then you would copy and paste the form below into your reply then answer all the questions. Please post images of the full enclosure with the lighting on top.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[OpaltheChameleon918]

Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, and age 6 months. 2 months
Handling - about 4 times a week
Feeding - Dubia Roaches (today) crickets and flies 5 in the morning 5 after 3 pm
Supplements - Flukers Repti Calcium with d3
Watering - Misting and Waterfall About 20 Seconds, sometimes seen drinking
Fecal Description - Nothing much just black stuff on lip.


Cage Type - Glass and I'm not sure
Lighting - Zoo Med Heat Lamp and flukers uvb 120 100w
Temperature - 75 to 80 degrees
Humidity - 65 to 90 with misting I use a regular meter
Plants - Fake scented plants
Placement - On a table
Location - South California
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Not shedding and black lips

 

[Beman]

See my feedback in red bold. This will be a lot of information and needed changes to husbandry. Most important aspects to do asap are lighting, supplements, cage size, temps, and humidity. Without these changes you will start seeing health decline and illness. They hide illness so right now there could be stuff going on but he is just not outwardly showing it yet. Unfortunately with chams cnce they start showing it this means you have very little time to correct anything.

Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, and age 6 months. 2 months
Handling - about 4 times a week
Feeding - Dubia Roaches (today) crickets and flies 5 in the morning 5 after 3 pm. How many are you feeding per day, 10? Should be getting about a dozen minimum a day at his age. Better to feed them in the morning so they have the day to bask and digest.
Supplements - Flukers Repti Calcium with d3 Incorrect supplement, they can be overdosed on too much D3. You want phosphorus free calcium without D3 at all feedings and then a multivitamin with D3 and A at 2 feedings a month like the 1st and 15th of the month. Your multivitamin can be reptivite with D3.This is an asap correction. Supplements should always be very lightly dusted on insects.
Watering - Misting and Waterfall About 20 Seconds, sometimes seen drinking. Remove waterfall. These hold bacteria and can cause health issues because of it. Creates very stagnant air in a cage which can lead to respiratory issues.
Fecal Description - Nothing much just black stuff on lip. I can not see his lips to give thorough feedback. But it could be directly linked to the cage being too small for him and it is a bruise from him trying to get out by pushing on the glass.


Cage Type - Glass and I'm not sure Too small. Need a 2x2x4foot enclosure. I would switch to a reptibreeze screen cage and modify as needed.
Lighting - Zoo Med Heat Lamp and flukers uvb 120 100w. Incorrect bulbs. The uvb you are using will not be adequate for him to not develop MBD. MBD is not reversible when it compromises bone strength and structure. You want a T5HO fixture with a 5.0 or 6% bulb strength. This should be a 24 inch fixture so it fits the adult cage size needed. Two options are a reptisun t5HO fixture with a 5.0 bulb or an Arcadia ProT5 with a 6% bulb. Your distance from the screen to the closest branch below would be 8-9 inches below. No closer. This puts the cham in the correct UVB level. This is an asap correction. Wattage for heat bulb is much too high. Reduce to a 60 watt. Get a temp gauge with probe to hook in at the branch directly below the heat fixture. No hotter than 80-85 there.
Temperature - 75 to 80 degrees. I am not sure how you are getting your temps but I am betting they far exceed what you think they are. 100watt bulbs in a glass cage that is smaller are going to provide excessive heat. Much too high for a chameleon to handle long term. Ambient cage temp should sit low 70's daytime. 60's night time. Basking should be a range of 80-85 max.
Humidity - 65 to 90 with misting I use a regular meter. Much too high. Should be 45-50 max daytime levels. Pulling the water fountain and switching to a screen cage will help you get the levels you need. He is high risk for developing a respiratory infection with levels as high as yours.
Plants - Fake scented plants These should be removed. And no moss vines. Veiled eat plants. Once he starts this fake plants become high risk for them pulling off pieces and becoming impacted. See image of veiled safe real plants. Flukers fake vines or real branches are recommended.
Placement - On a table
Location - South California
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Not shedding and black lips. I touched on the black lips. Per not shedding. This can be directly linked to the husbandry issues. Not enough food and incorrect UVB. While 10 feeders per day is addequite for a 6 month old it is on the low end and for a younger cham it would not provide the food intake needed for the growth spurts they have the first 9 months of life. UVB lighting needs to be spot on not only to ensure they do not develop MBD but the lighting type stimulates appitite and normal diurnal responses. When UVB is not spot on they can become imune compromised as well. So it is going to be a 1st thing to fix.

Start reading through this it will help you understand what you need to provide and how to provide it. It will also help you to understand our feedback. Cham keeping has its own language in a way and can be overwhelming when you are learning so this will help you a lot. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/

 

[jmerrick27]

Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, and age 6 months. 2 months
Handling - about 4 times a week
Feeding - Dubia Roaches (today) crickets and flies 5 in the morning 5 after 3 pm
Supplements - Flukers Repti Calcium with d3
Watering - Misting and Waterfall About 20 Seconds, sometimes seen drinking
Fecal Description - Nothing much just black stuff on lip.


Cage Type - Glass and I'm not sure
Lighting - Zoo Med Heat Lamp and flukers uvb 120 100w
Temperature - 75 to 80 degrees
Humidity - 65 to 90 with misting I use a regular meter
Plants - Fake scented plants
Placement - On a table
Location - South California
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Not shedding and black lips

Get rid of the UVB coil, this will kill your cham fast, please get a T5 5.0 UVB lamp, that bulb cannot penetrate that deep

 

[OpaltheChameleon918]

See my feedback in red bold. This will be a lot of information and needed changes to husbandry. Most important aspects to do asap are lighting, supplements, cage size, temps, and humidity. Without these changes you will start seeing health decline and illness. They hide illness so right now there could be stuff going on but he is just not outwardly showing it yet. Unfortunately with chams cnce they start showing it this means you have very little time to correct anything.

Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, and age 6 months. 2 months
Handling - about 4 times a week
Feeding - Dubia Roaches (today) crickets and flies 5 in the morning 5 after 3 pm. How many are you feeding per day, 10? Should be getting about a dozen minimum a day at his age. Better to feed them in the morning so they have the day to bask and digest.
Supplements - Flukers Repti Calcium with d3 Incorrect supplement, they can be overdosed on too much D3. You want phosphorus free calcium without D3 at all feedings and then a multivitamin with D3 and A at 2 feedings a month like the 1st and 15th of the month. Your multivitamin can be reptivite with D3.This is an asap correction. Supplements should always be very lightly dusted on insects.
Watering - Misting and Waterfall About 20 Seconds, sometimes seen drinking. Remove waterfall. These hold bacteria and can cause health issues because of it. Creates very stagnant air in a cage which can lead to respiratory issues.
Fecal Description - Nothing much just black stuff on lip. I can not see his lips to give thorough feedback. But it could be directly linked to the cage being too small for him and it is a bruise from him trying to get out by pushing on the glass.


Cage Type - Glass and I'm not sure Too small. Need a 2x2x4foot enclosure. I would switch to a reptibreeze screen cage and modify as needed.
Lighting - Zoo Med Heat Lamp and flukers uvb 120 100w. Incorrect bulbs. The uvb you are using will not be adequate for him to not develop MBD. MBD is not reversible when it compromises bone strength and structure. You want a T5HO fixture with a 5.0 or 6% bulb strength. This should be a 24 inch fixture so it fits the adult cage size needed. Two options are a reptisun t5HO fixture with a 5.0 bulb or an Arcadia ProT5 with a 6% bulb. Your distance from the screen to the closest branch below would be 8-9 inches below. No closer. This puts the cham in the correct UVB level. This is an asap correction. Wattage for heat bulb is much too high. Reduce to a 60 watt. Get a temp gauge with probe to hook in at the branch directly below the heat fixture. No hotter than 80-85 there.
Temperature - 75 to 80 degrees. I am not sure how you are getting your temps but I am betting they far exceed what you think they are. 100watt bulbs in a glass cage that is smaller are going to provide excessive heat. Much too high for a chameleon to handle long term. Ambient cage temp should sit low 70's daytime. 60's night time. Basking should be a range of 80-85 max.
Humidity - 65 to 90 with misting I use a regular meter. Much too high. Should be 45-50 max daytime levels. Pulling the water fountain and switching to a screen cage will help you get the levels you need. He is high risk for developing a respiratory infection with levels as high as yours.
Plants - Fake scented plants These should be removed. And no moss vines. Veiled eat plants. Once he starts this fake plants become high risk for them pulling off pieces and becoming impacted. See image of veiled safe real plants. Flukers fake vines or real branches are recommended.
Placement - On a table
Location - South California
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Not shedding and black lips. I touched on the black lips. Per not shedding. This can be directly linked to the husbandry issues. Not enough food and incorrect UVB. While 10 feeders per day is addequite for a 6 month old it is on the low end and for a younger cham it would not provide the food intake needed for the growth spurts they have the first 9 months of life. UVB lighting needs to be spot on not only to ensure they do not develop MBD but the lighting type stimulates appitite and normal diurnal responses. When UVB is not spot on they can become imune compromised as well. So it is going to be a 1st thing to fix.

Start reading through this it will help you understand what you need to provide and how to provide it. It will also help you to understand our feedback. Cham keeping has its own language in a way and can be overwhelming when you are learning so this will help you a lot. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/

View attachment 367350

Thanks the only thing I can't do is get a bigger cage

 

[Beman]

Thanks the only thing I can't do is get a bigger cage

That will be ok for now but before the end of the year he will need to be upgraded. The one he is in is just not going to support his adult size. Keep an eye on Petco and petsmart for their sales. Also amazon. You can get a reptibreeze 24x24x48 pretty cheaply especially when they go on sale.

Make sure you get the correct UVB lighting. Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[ehdee6]

In Canada I've watched the XL reptibreeze jump in price from (CAD) 175 in March, to 215 in May, and finally 225 today.

 

[Beman]

In Canada I've watched the XL reptibreeze jump in price from (CAD) 175 in March, to 215 in May, and finally 225 today.

Doesn't surprise me... Canada tends to be much higher priced then us. You can find the XL here for $100-130 without a sale.