Smeagie is missing 2 finger nails

[Psychobunny]

I can not get Sméagol to stop clawing at the ceiling where his UVB is.
It's like he's trying to tear a hole in the screen to get at that light!!
Anyway, this has caused him to ware 2 nails all the way down to the skin!!

I assume it will grow back, if he stops clawing, but how can I hake him stop??

On all the sides and front, I put up plenty of vines wired to the screen so he wont claw at the screen.

I am using a 22'' HO 6% T5 Arcadia about 6'' from him. Laying flat on the screen top.
Should I raise it a few inches??
Any other ideas?

 

[Psychobunny]

Okay, I went ahead and raised the UVB a few inches and changed his basking bulb from 40W (83F) to 60.
He is free ranging now, terrorizing the living room, which he is temporarily King of

 

[nimmitz]

Hmm my veiled was clinging/crawling toward his uvb light. When I moved his cage higher and added a branch toward the top he stopped doing this, perhaps a height issue?

 

[Psychobunny]

Hmm my veiled was clinging/crawling toward his uvb light. When I moved his cage higher and added a branch toward the top he stopped doing this, perhaps a height issue?

That's a good thought, but he is already up highest of everyone.
I have to use a step stool to reach the top of his cage.
Being a vieled, he is VERY territorial, when he free ranges, everyone else has
to be caged or he will attack them.
He loves to sleep on the free range because it is up so high, only a few inches
below the room ceiling.

I made some changes to his cage like I said, but it's Saturday, so he gets to sleep on the free range.
I am sure when I put him back home in the morning, he will notice the UVB is up higher, and the basking bulb is brighter.

 

[deadhd5]

Some chameleons just love to climb the screen, and there is no stopping it in my opinion. The top of my guys cages are over 6' and full of climbing vines and branches and 3 out of 3 of my cham screen climb to the point of wearing away certain nails. I don't believe it is anything to worry about.

 

[Psychobunny]

Some chameleons just love to climb the screen, and there is no stopping it in my opinion. The top of my guys cages are over 6' and full of climbing vines and branches and 3 out of 3 of my cham screen climb to the point of wearing away certain nails. I don't believe it is anything to worry about.

Thanks for you post, I feel better that someone agrees that it's not a big deal.
Still, when I had Smeagie out of his cage I felt his feet (it's his right foot) and there is still nail there only worn way down.
The root of the nail is not damaged.
I know that it will grow back, but don't know how long it takes for a veiled cham.

I am more interested in the cause, why he is doing it.
When he is on the free range, no problems.

I may have to do away with his cage completely and work with a different UV arrangement.
He has already taken over the living room!! why not just make the cage disappear?