Soon to be first time cham caretaker seeking advice.

[JPR85]

Hello everyone, I have been lurking for a few weeks and have been obsessively researching everything I can.

First, the back story. I have been keeping/caring for reptiles since I was a child helping out at a local reptile rescue organisation. I am extremely anal about the care of all my animals (to the point where I get made fun of for it)

I also work in a pet store (which shall not be named). About a year ago I began helping a couple who had no real experience with the care of their 1.1 pair of veiled chameleons.
In february they told me their female had laid eggs. They then offered to give me 3 of the eggs to incubate. An offer I gladly accepted.

in early February I received the eggs. 1 egg was infertile and went bad in short order. The others have been incubating since them and look to be about a month from hatching (candled, embryo is visible but not yet opaque and good strong veining)

I have steadily been getting ready for the babies and think I am almost ready for them. I have an 18×18×24 glass terrarium (but with lots of ventilation. it is also a temporary terrarium. Will be building/buying a bigger one in the near future)

I have furnished the terrarium with a schefflera arboricola which is in organic soil, as well as a pothos plant. there is also a fake vine and am planning on adding 2 magnetic vine bridges within the month. Bendable vines allow for easy access from the bottom of the terrarium to the schefflera. I also have a magnetic ledge.
I also have the large exo - terra plant dripper (I will custom make a container for the water so that it can be recycled without providing a death trap for crickets/poop) I have made a feeder cup out of an empty Metamucil container.

I have calcium without d3, calcium with d3, and multivitamin. Bug burger for crickets (will be supplemented with fresh fruits and veggies for gut load).

There is a compact exo - terra 5.0 bulb lighting the terrarium. As I understand it, I will not be needing supplemental heating for the hatchlings.

I will be ordering a mist king system next week.

Is there anything I am missing? I would really like some input. Anything that will help me properly care for the two babies. One will be re-homed when it is old enough.

Here is the terrarium as of now.

 

[JPR85]

And the image is sideways... not sure why?

 

[Dagreek]

How long does it take for them to hatch?

 

[JPR85]

How long does it take for them to hatch?

From what I've researched, anywhere from 4-9 months with 5-7 being average.
They have a pause in embryonic development that lasts quite a few weeks. I'm assuming that is because in the wild, they are laid in fall, go dormant in winter, and hatch in spring. (Probably Having more to do with rainy season/dry season though). I could be wrong. But that would make sense to me.

 

[Dagreek]

Where'd you get your incubator? Also how many eggs do you have?

 

[junglefries]

It is called the dipause stage averaging two to three months. Usually happens during the colder winter months. This enables them to hatch at the perfect time for spring to ensure lots of feeding and growth before winter starts. Veils incubate at 5-7 months with 6 months being the ideal timing. Good luck with last two.

 

[JPR85]

It is called the dipause stage averaging two to three months. Usually happens during the colder winter months. This enables them to hatch at the perfect time for spring to ensure lots of feeding and growth before winter starts. Veils incubate at 5-7 months with 6 months being the ideal timing. Good luck with last two.

Thanks for the clarification. I couldn't remember the word "diapause". Any suggestions for the care of the little guys that I may have missed?

 

[JPR85]

Where'd you get your incubator? Also how many eggs do you have?

I originally received 3 eggs. But one went bad because it was infertile. As for my incubator, I got it from greg west at cornels world (im in canads).But I'm not using it for these eggs. Veiled eggs can pretty much incubate at room temperature. They are in an egg box I made from a ziploc container. Using light diffuser for a "substrateless" incubation, on top of over-saturated repashy super hatch. This egg box is on a ledge in my bedroom, covered with a cloth to keep them in the dark.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. This is how I have always kept my baby veileds.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
If it were me I'd set something like that up for at least the first month or so. Babies are tiny when they first hatch and you are going to want to make sure that they don't overheat and that they eat. I just find that easier in the tubs. I've also had problems with strong UV bothering their eyes. That compact light you listed is that your UVB light? I'm attaching my blog for new keepers but it's not for newly hatched, it's more for two month's old so but you still might like to read it. My babies take 8 months to hatch.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ng-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment1721

 

[JPR85]

Welcome to the forums. This is how I have always kept my baby veileds.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
If it were me I'd set something like that up for at least the first month or so. Babies are tiny when they first hatch and you are going to want to make sure that they don't overheat and that they eat. I just find that easier in the tubs. I've also had problems with strong UV bothering their eyes. That compact light you listed is that your UVB light? I'm attaching my blog for new keepers but it's not for newly hatched, it's more for two month's old so but you still might like to read it. My babies take 8 months to hatch.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ng-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment1721

Thanks for the info! And yes. The 5.0 exo terra is the uv bulb. Will be switching to a tube light when the terrarium gets upgraded.

 

[jannb]

Thanks for the info! And yes. The 5.0 exo terra is the uv bulb. Will be switching to a tube light when the terrarium gets upgraded.

I would be afraid to use that on babies. Personally, I wouldn't use it on my adults. I highly recommend getting any UVB light up off the top of the enclosure....way up if it's a new bulb because the new bulbs put off and awfully lot of UV and I personally had a baby closing it's eyes and even had a couple people that I homed my babies to have the same problem even after they were two to three months old. I've also read here about other members having problems with them closing the eyes and rubbing their eyes on branches and when I recommend they turn the light off most open their eyes in a day or two.

 

[JPR85]

I would be afraid to use that on babies. Personally, I wouldn't use it on my adults. I highly recommend getting any UVB light up off the top of the enclosure....way up if it's a new bulb because the new bulbs put off and awfully lot of UV and I personally had a baby closing it's eyes and even had a couple people that I homed my babies to have the same problem even after they were two to three months old. I've also read here about other members having problems with them closing the eyes and rubbing their eyes on branches and when I recommend they turn the light off most open their eyes in a day or two.

The bulb is currently being used on a 12 hour on 12 hour off cycle. It will have been in use for 1.5 months by the time the babies hatch (if I'm right about them being a month away). According to the manufacturer the bulb should be at least 6 inches away from the basking spot. Which it is. I have also read through many posts talking about certain bulbs causing eye issues. From what I saw though those posts are all pre 2011. I have read that the newer bulbs don't cause those issues.

I am not trying to argue here as I very much appreciate the info. Just stating the facts which I have accumulated with regards to the uv bulbs.

I will take your recommendation into account however, and will endeavour to find a reptisun tube in the 18" range. But I haven't seen the local pet stores carry that size. And anything else will be too big for my current setup.

Thank you again for the info!

 

[jannb]

The bulb is currently being used on a 12 hour on 12 hour off cycle. It will have been in use for 1.5 months by the time the babies hatch (if I'm right about them being a month away). According to the manufacturer the bulb should be at least 6 inches away from the basking spot. Which it is. I have also read through many posts talking about certain bulbs causing eye issues. From what I saw though those posts are all pre 2011. I have read that the newer bulbs don't cause those issues.

I am not trying to argue here as I very much appreciate the info. Just stating the facts which I have accumulated with regards to the uv bulbs.

I will take your recommendation into account however, and will endeavour to find a reptisun tube in the 18" range. But I haven't seen the local pet stores carry that size. And anything else will be too big for my current setup.

Thank you again for the info!

The bulb that bothered my babies eyes was the tube bulb, as you can see in my link above and I had them very high off the baby bins. Now I use very old bulbs that's only putting out about 8 to 10 and the new bulbs put out 50 or more.

I have read here that some people are still having issues with the coil bulbs even though they are now suppose to be safe. Just one instances I can remember. https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-baby-cham-keeps-getting-worst-128062/

 

[JPR85]

The bulb that bothered my babies eyes was the tube bulb, as you can see in my link above and I had them very high off the baby bins. Now I use very old bulbs that's only putting out about 8 to 10 and the new bulbs put out 50 or more.

I have read here that some people are still having issues with the coil bulbs even though they are now suppose to be safe. Just one instances I can remember. https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-baby-cham-keeps-getting-worst-128062/

Why is it so hard to find decent uvb bulbs?! Mine is the exo - terra repti-glo 5.0 bulb. I will definitely be keeping an eye out (no pun intended) for any eye issues with the babies. At the first sign of trouble you can be sure I'll be switching it out asap and writing angry letters to the manufacturer. From what I read, the quality of the bulb depends more on manufacturing process than wether it is linear (tube) or compact. Have yet to find any scary stories about my particular bulb but I'll keep looking.

Currently the bulb is about 7 inches from the basking spot. The manufacturer website states that the bulb is effective up to 12 inches. I am worried that raising it would defeat the purpose and give me too little uvb... any thoughts?