Veiled Chameleon Help

[Chameleon Loco]

I have an adult about 10 month old male veiled chameleon who wont show nice colors anymore in the day he is light brown with some green and at night he is light green. I know his temps are right and I never handle him? His lighting is reptisun 5.0 and zoo med 75 watt basking light? please help oh and i have him for about 7 months and when he was a juvi he showed bright colors.

 

[pssh]

please fill this out:

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


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?



Pictures are helpful

 

[Chameleon Loco]

Reply

Male Veiled Chameleon 7-8 months
Never Handled
Feed once a day crickets mainly mealworms, wax worms as a treat gut loaded with greens
Zoo med Vitamins Zoo med calcium without D3
Hand Mister 3x a day yes i see him drink
Hard Feces never been tested
Bought from FL Chams
Screen Cage 18x18x36
Zoo med repti sun 5.0 UVB zoo med basking light 75 watts
dont know low though
No live plants just vine and fake plants
High near my closet about 5 feet
Southern California

 

[Julirs]

He may just be going through his ugly male Veiled phase. Most Veileds do not sit around all bright and shiny all of the time.

 

[Chameleon Loco]

oh so its normal how long will this last?

 

[Julirs]

Oh-he will shed out a few times I suppose and then look a little better, but unless he has a reason to "fire up", he may just look rather dull.

 

[Chameleon Loco]

ok thank you so much btw when would you recomend moving him up to a 24x24x48 cage

 

[Julirs]

I move mine at about 5 months.

 

[Chameleon Loco]

ok then so I am a little late no worries ill get him a new cage at the pasadena reptile show when you say dull you mean light brown ?

 

[Miss Lily]

You mention that you feed him mealworms. These shouldn't be used as a staple feeder. They have a chitinous shell that is difficult for chams to digest, and, if eaten in large quantities can cause a blockage in the cham's intestines. My two love the occasional mealworm as a treat but I only give them the white newly moulted ones and only one or two every couple of months when I buy a new batch for my sugar glider. Have you considered using Phoenix Worms or silkworms as a feeder option?

 

[Chameleon Loco]

my bad I mean I feed crickets as a staple with mealworms and wax worms as treats how ever did u get that little party hat on top of your cham?

 

[Miss Lily]

Computer editing, lol! He doesn't sit still long enough to put a real hat on him, lol! Just wanted to make sure that you don't feed him more mealworms than anything else!

 

[thealissa]

According to my vet, the ReptiSun 5.0 isn't nearly enough UVB. I use the 10.0, and he still said it's not enough. I was suggested to use mercury vapor bulbs.

Also, most UVB lighting needs to be replaced every 6 months or so.

 

[pssh]

According to www.uvguide.co.uk (and Dave Weldon from what I can tell) the reptisun 5.0 is plenty when not using a fine mesh and a 10.0 can be used but has to be raised from the screen a few inches.

 

[skully23]

Male Veiled Chameleon 7-8 months
Never Handled
Feed once a day crickets mainly mealworms, wax worms as a treat gut loaded with greens
Zoo med Vitamins Zoo med calcium without D3
Hand Mister 3x a day yes i see him drink
Hard Feces never been tested
Bought from FL Chams
Screen Cage 18x18x36
Zoo med repti sun 5.0 UVB zoo med basking light 75 watts
dont know low though
No live plants just vine and fake plants
High near my closet about 5 feet
Southern California

I would have been told these things.

Gut loading needs to have a dry food and some fruits with greens. like apples, oranges. Gut load dry food can be bought store or made. the best greens are collard, mustard, and kale. Switched differently.
Mist should be made hot and should feel warm when sprayed. Do no directly spray unless chameleon does not move away or comes to.
Atleast a real plant to help humidity and maybe make the chameleon happy.
Test temp.

Ya

 

[PardalisGirl]

Pictures?

Pictures really help.....pictures of your cham and of the set up. With just seeing your words I would say he's going through the normal ugly teenager phase male Veileds can go through. The stage before full hormones. Pictures would confirm this and rule out other things. Besides....don't you want to share your boy with us? It's interesting for people to see other set ups and to see what we are talking about. Many new Veiled owners may not realize what we are talking about when we say that he may be going through a typical unattractive phase. You share and others learn