Surprise Chameleon

[ststrickland0517]

Normally I do a lot of research before I buy a pet, but this one was intended as a gift so I did not. I'm a little worried about not giving him everything he needs. Are there any special things that I need for him? How often should I dust the crickets with the calcium and multivitamin? Should I feed him anything besides the crickets? I have a heat lamp and a uvb flourescent lamp both set up on top of the cage, should I have anything else? Also, I have just been placing a solo cup with some holes in the bottom on top of the cage for moisture, because I read online they will not drink out of a bowl. Is that ok? Also, I've read different accounts of whether or not you should hold them. What do you recommend? And which kind of substrate should I use? I have aspen small pet bedding for my juvenile corn snakes, and a bark substrate for my pacman frog, so one of those would be convenient if possible, but I will absolutely buy something else if it is better! Sorry if I ask too many questions, I'm just trying to make sure I keep this little guy as healthy and happy as I can. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! I hate feeling unprepared to care for this adorable little guy.

 

[Sticktongue]

First, welcome to the forums!

Second, Can you tell us what kind of chameleon you have? Husbandry will vary depending on what you have.

Substrate is not suggested to new keepers. Best to have a bare bottom so that nothing gets ingested on accident. Holding them is ok once in awhile, but generally they are a look do not touch animal. To much handling can cause stress to the animal. However, some members have very friends chams that like to be out. In addition to your solo cup, i would mist him 2-4 times a day depending on what species you have. You can use just a normal spray bottle and drench the entire cage for aminute or two. THis will boost the humidity and give him nice long drinks.

 

[maxttu]

Can you tell us what kind of Cham? If you're not sure you can post a pic. Actually, it's a requirement that you post pics! congrats on the new Cham and we'll be sure that you're armed with all the right info.

 

[ststrickland0517]

Oops, told you I didn't know what I was doing! He is a juvenile veiled chameleon, i believe he is a turquoise. I would absolutely love to post pictures, but I'm just on my phone right now, when I can get t to a computer tomorrow, i will definitely show him off. I might not have expected to be caring for him, but I fell in love and do not think I can give him away as I planned when I found out I would be keeping him. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! I would hate to put him at unnecessary risk because of my own ignorance.

 

[ststrickland0517]

First, welcome to the forums!

Second, Can you tell us what kind of chameleon you have? Husbandry will vary depending on what you have.

Substrate is not suggested to new keepers. Best to have a bare bottom so that nothing gets ingested on accident. Holding them is ok once in awhile, but generally they are a look do not touch animal. To much handling can cause stress to the animal. However, some members have very friends chams that like to be out. In addition to your solo cup, i would mist him 2-4 times a day depending on what species you have. You can use just a normal spray bottle and drench the entire cage for aminute or two. THis will boost the humidity and give him nice long drinks.

Thank you for the warm welcome! A bare bottom cage is certainly easier for me, do I line it with newspaper or anything at all? Awesome, that is what I'm already familiar with for my pacman frog! To be on the safe side, I have tried to avoid handling him, though I have grabbed a few photos! He just looks so tiny on my finger!

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Handling depends on who you ask, just be respectful of your chameleon. If hes obviously not up to being handled that day, don't handle. Mine has gotten used to it. You can place newspaper on the bottom, just be careful of mold growth due to the misting, I use paper towels to make clean up easier.

 

[maxttu]

If you have an iPhone, you can download the tapatalk app. So easy to upload pics.

Bare bottom. 5.0 UVB bulb. Basking bulb. Calcium every feeding. Calcium with D3 twice a month. Vitamins twice a month. Basking for a young veiled should be 85-90 degrees and 90+ for adults. Lots of vines and sticks (horizontally, vertically and diagonally). Live plants help with humidity. Mistings throughout the day and a water dripper.

There are great resources available on this site. I'm posting from my phone so I cannot link them for you. I'm sure you'll get replies with all of the links and good stuff.

Oh, and gutload, gutload, gutload!

 

[ststrickland0517]

If you have an iPhone, you can download the tapatalk app. So easy to upload pics.

Bare bottom. 5.0 UVB bulb. Basking bulb. Calcium every feeding. Calcium with D3 twice a month. Vitamins twice a month. Basking for a young veiled should be 85-90 degrees and 90+ for adults. Lots of vines and sticks (horizontally, vertically and diagonally). Live plants help with humidity. Mistings throughout the day and a water dripper.

There are great resources available on this site. I'm posting from my phone so I cannot link them for you. I'm sure you'll get replies with all of the links and good stuff.

Oh, and gutload, gutload, gutload!

This is probably a very silly question, but what exactly is gutloading, and how is it beneficial for my little guy?

 

[ststrickland0517]

I have an Android phone, actually. Is there any way for me to upload pictures with that market?

 

[Sticktongue]

Gutloading means feeding your feeders! remember, what your feeders it, your chameleon is eating. Best to feed them fresh fruits and veggies!

 

[carol5208]

feeding your feeders. Crickets can eat a variety of fresh fruits and veggies. Dark leafy greens like kale, mustard greens, carrots, apples, squash...etc Stuff like that. We have a member who knows everything about nutrition her name is sandrachameleon. Go to ther page and you will get a great education on that. It is super important to gutload your feeders!!!

 

[ststrickland0517]

Handling depends on who you ask, just be respectful of your chameleon. If hes obviously not up to being handled that day, don't handle. Mine has gotten used to it. You can place newspaper on the bottom, just be careful of mold growth due to the misting, I use paper towels to make clean up easier.

Awesome! I was using paper towels as a temporary bedding anyway, he's so small i was worried he'd choke on the bedding I already had. How often do you change out the paper towels? Daily?

 

[Sticktongue]

Awesome! I was using paper towels as a temporary bedding anyway, he's so small i was worried he'd choke on the bedding I already had. How often do you change out the paper towels? Daily?

I actually disagree with using paper towels. They can just as easily bite a piece of or get a piece stuck to their tongue when shooting for a cricket. The towels get soaked with so much water that they break easily. Paper towels have just about as much risk as using substrate IMO.

I think its easier to spot clean. If you see a fecal, just wipe it up when you see it

 

[ststrickland0517]

I actually disagree with using paper towels. They can just as easily bite a piece of or get a piece stuck to their tongue when shooting for a cricket. The towels get soaked with so much water that they break easily. Paper towels have just about as much risk as using substrate IMO.

I think its easier to spot clean. If you see a fecal, just wipe it up when you see it

Ok, thank you! I already feel a lot more confident that I can keep him healthy! How many crickets a day should he be getting? I believe I read 8-10, but I'm not completely sure. Should I put the fruit, veggies, and crickets in the cage with the chameleon, or keep them separate until feeding time?

 

[maxttu]

Keep the veggies with the crix in a separate container. You'll need to gutload the feeders the night before feeding. Also, try to minimize the amount of crix in your chams enclosure at night. They could nibble at him while he sleeps.

How much to feed depends on your Cham. I have one panther that would eat 20-30 crix daily and one that would eat 8-12. Both are under 6 months of age currently. Hope that made sense.

 

[ststrickland0517]

Keep the veggies with the crix in a separate container. You'll need to gutload the feeders the night before feeding. Also, try to minimize the amount of crix in your chams enclosure at night. They could nibble at him while he sleeps.

How much to feed depends on your Cham. I have one panther that would eat 20-30 crix daily and one that would eat 8-12. Both are under 6 months of age currently. Hope that made sense.

Oh, wow, I did not know that, the lady at the pet store told me to drop all twenty that I bought today into the cage! Looks like i'll be chasing down crickets.... Yes it did make sense! Different animal, different appetite!

 

[maxttu]

I saw that you started a similar thread and asked a question about vines. I'll answer here to minimize any confusion. Pothos (devils ivy) is probably the most popular choice. Lowes, Home Depot, wallyworld, etc, usually carry these. Very hardy and almost impossible to kill and can tolerate large amounts of water.

 

[maxttu]

Oh, wow, I did not know that, the lady at the pet store told me to drop all twenty that I bought today into the cage! Looks like i'll be chasing down crickets.... Yes it did make sense! Different animal, different appetite!

General rule of thumb is to feed him as much as he'll eat in 10-15 min. You can offer feedings in the morning and later in the day if you feel he's still hungry. Just be sure he has enough time to bask and digest before lights out. Oh, speaking of lights out, you'll want to try and coordinate lights on and off with sunrise and sunset.

 

[MollyT]

Congrats on your new little friend and welcome to the forums! This is a great place for new and prospective cham owners. I am still relatively new to chameleons, I have a 3 month old male veiled that I've had for a month now. I would say the most important things to remember are lighting, gutloading and supplementing, and it seems you got some great advice on all 3. I do not put anything in the bottom of Kush's cage. I just blot up the excess water from the mistings and dripper a few times a day and clean up any poop as I see it. I'm trying to get mine to at least not totally freak out when I handle him, so in the case of emergency I won't make him more stressed by picking him up, and vet visits will be easier, but he really hates being held, so I rarely do it. Good luck with your chameleon and I can't wait to see pics!!

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

I actually disagree with using paper towels. They can just as easily bite a piece of or get a piece stuck to their tongue when shooting for a cricket. The towels get soaked with so much water that they break easily. Paper towels have just about as much risk as using substrate IMO.

I think its easier to spot clean. If you see a fecal, just wipe it up when you see it

Depends on how you feed, I hand feed due to the cage size and screen size so hes never on the bottom of the cage.

If you free range feeders, I can see it being a problem.