Veiled Chameleon Questions Health

[ILoveAminoAcids]

Hello!! This is my 9 month old chameleon. Today I fed him in his bowl, then noticed that shortly after the light turns on he was huddled in the bottom of the enclosure (Picture below). After some brief panic, I coerced him onto a wood piece which he is still behind (also pictured). This was very concerning behaviour as he hasn't done this before. I am not sure what this is caused by. The heat emitter that I have is about 50, but he is rarely in his basking spot and the UV is 5 and about 5.5 inches from his highest point, however he likes to climb wires often to get closer.

He keeps eating the new vines that grow by the top of his tank, so there isn't much coverage. However, I just put in a small planted plant to hide him in his spot. I have him eating crickets, hornworms and superworms and I try my best to gut load them. The humidity is about 90% in the night, and about 60-65% in the day. Temperature indicators are located at 3 spots in the tank but right now the highest temperature after just waking is around 25 degrees Celsius. His humidity has been cutting out through the night which I've fixed yesterday, he also has a mister that I use for 10 seconds in the evening a few hours after his light turns off. Can anyone tell me what may be wrong with him? And if so, how to fix it? This is my first chameleon and I've been following Neptune for advice on keeping them. I live in a very dry location as well.

His eyes do not look sunken, and he has the strength to climb after I shook a leaf near him.

Thank you so much!

 

[MissSkittles]

I’d like to see more pics of your chameleon…clearer ones that show head and body. From what small bits I’m seeing, I suspect you have a gravid female that is needing to lay some eggs. If so, you need to immediately set up a proper lay bin and read all of this while giving her privacy. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/veiled-chameleon-laying-101.2488/
Males have tall casques and vertical bars of color. Here are what adult males look like. All males, regardless of age will also have a prominent nub on their back heels.


This is what mature females look like. When gravid, their patterns and spots are darker.

 

[MissSkittles]

For the tldr of the lay bin, they prefer larger bins of about 12”/30 cm on each side and a substrate depth of approx 5-6”/13-15 cm. The substrate needs to be able to hold its shape when she digs and the best to use is play sand or a mix of regular soil with play sand. Moisten it just until it holds its shape when you make a hole. Cocoa coir, moss, calcium sand, bark and all of that is not appropriate. I don’t care how or what you have to do but somehow squeeze the bin in her enclosure. Cover the bottom half with a light sheet and don’t let her see anyone. She needs absolute privacy to feel safe enough to lay. She may not go to the bin today, but she will know it’s there and find it and they usually get started early in the morning. Do not delay or she could become eggbound.

 

[ILoveAminoAcids]

Hello! Thank you so much for your reply!

He has the bumps on his little feet, so I am 99% sure that he is male (what the breeder said at least!). His colouring is more similar to the second picture of the veiled male. Since posting, he had some super worms coated in vitamins - however, he is still lingering behind the branch. Here is a picture I took of him today while he was eating, it might nit be the best quality!

 

[MissSkittles]

Ok, yeah…that sure is a male. Can you post some pics of his enclosure, including the top with the lights? Perhaps going over your husbandry, or at least the most essential parts of it would be advised. Having correct uvb, supplement regimen, temps and humidity are the most common areas that errors are found.

 

[ILoveAminoAcids]

Its a glass tank for now - Will be updating to a different (and bigger) enclosure for him when he gets a little bigger in the next few months! The tube is for the humidity, along with the mister that is visible in the enclosure. the uv of the bulb is 5, and the heater is ceramic (not infrared or a light), its about 50/40w. Please note that there is a cooler (repticooler) for the upcoming warmer days! The temp is about 25C in basking spot (top right ledge) and 22C ambient for daytime, and dropping to about 18/17 degrees C in the evening.