Veiled chameleon super stressed in new cage

[zacklovesherps]

I have a veiled chameleon which i got at a young age this past may I think and he was really doing well his colours were super nice and light green with yellow stripes lately i bought him a zoomed reptibreeze and added new furniture and his colours totally changed he is a dull dark green and sometimes spots occur can anyone let me know why he isn't staying in his nice natural colour also when i put my hand in the cage he puffs and trie to attack previously i used to give him crickets out of my hand and now he is refusing I'm really worried
Thanks

 

[Kath44]

How long has he been in new enclosure? He may just need some time to adjust. Kath.

 

[zacklovesherps]

he's been 3 weeks now also he's drinking a lot and after that he drooled a bit today just now

 

[Kath44]

There's a sticky at top 'ask for help' if you copy and paste into message and answer each bit, members can help a bit more.
A picture of him and enclosure may help too.
Have you tried other feeders? Or is he only fed crickets? He may fancy a change.
Not sure about the drooling. Kath.

 

[zacklovesherps]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species calyptratus, sex male, and age of your chameleon 11 months approx. How long has it been in your care 8 months?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon rarely?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham crickets? What amount10 ? What is the schedule daily? How are you gut-loading your feeders mix i make and veggies?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule 3 days repeal and zoo med?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use spray bottle ? How often and how long to you mist weekly? Do you see your chameleon drinking yes?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites constancy is ok never had a decal?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you no.

Cage Info:2 hiding plants bark and 2 branches
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? screen
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? zoomed basking and uv compact 5.0 12 hours daily
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? temp gun 75
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? i spray the cage
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? plastic
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? 2m its in my reptile room
Location - Where are you geographically located? Malta europe

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. top of this post

 

[Kath44]

He may just need a change of feeder. Sometimes they can get bored of eating same thing.
You say you spray weekly? It should be daily more than once.
Check the care sheets for more info.
Hope someone can give some more input. Kath.

 

[Kath44]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

 

[zacklovesherps]

thank you kath really helpful anymore tips people ? especially about aggression

 

[Gibboltd]

The information you provided is lacking detail slightly. Can you go a little more in depth about your misting/supplementation/feeding/gutloading/temps/humidity?

 

[Gibboltd]

Also, what size is the cage you have? I know 2 plastic plants won't be enough for your chameleon to hide in, they tend to like a lot of coverage and privacy, try adding more plants/branches/vines and a real plant if you can. Here's a list of safe plants that you can place inside the cage: http://www.flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp

 

[Kath44]

Sometimes, from what I've learnt on here, is chams can go through an aggressive stage, or become less friendly than before. Some stay that way, others come round.
Kath.

 

[PoshPenny]

I would not be worried at all. He just got a new home, you changed up his whole world, new furniture too. Its almost like starting over, when they tell you to leave them alone for 2 weeks and let them adjust. He needs to get use to it is all. Some new chams to new homes also refuse to eat, its the most common thing I read on this forum.

''Hey, I got a new baby cham, I have had it 2 days and its not eating'' and the response is the same every time, give them time, it all a new to them. His ''new'' set up is new. He doesnt hate you, he is just wigged out.
You may be the constant in this equation, but you just switched up every other variable in it.

Id let him alone, offer food (not in your hand, even if he did it before in his ''old'' home) Mist him, then get out of there. Give him two weeks. Then try to hand feed with a wax worm, or something he will get excited over, a nice fat silkie, or hornworm. Also get a live plant. Add more foliage. Pictures would be great. Order a pathos, something, but he needs a live plant. I personally think they all need and deserve a live plant. They provide a snack if he is feeling chompy, they up the humidity and hold water longer to encourage drinking. My fake silk vines hold nothing, I mist them, then bam the water is gone in seconds almost. My chams pathos and fig tree hold the droplets for hours. Plus she eats them and likes it. Raise the cage a few inches too if you can to help with stress.

But just know, he loves you, he just needs time. I gave my cham a shower and she wouldnt look at me for a week. So I left her alone, now I am back in her good graces, and all is well. Except when I had to check her mouth for mucus, then she was back to hating me again. 1 week passed now we are best buds again. I had to bath her tonight because her shed is not going well, I full on gaurantee she will hate me tomorrow. Big woop, she will get over it in a week, or two, or three, but when she does, ill be there waiting in her fave green t-shirt with a wax worm in hand.

ps. Male veiled goes through a mean puberty stage, but then chill out again. I however think this all has more to do with the new set up. But in the future if he suddenly turns into a big jerk, it could just be puberty.

 

[zsazsa85]

...

Wow!
That was great PoshPenny! I really liked your speech!
I heard the same that puberty stage makes some cham more aggressive and a new cage even more! It is a new place and they try to be a "king"!
But definitely mist more and more!!!!

Good luck and happy new year!

 

[PoshPenny]

Lol thanks, just repeating all the great advise iv read on here

 

[zacklovesherps]

thanks man really helped ill be going o a plant shop to get him one but will this stress him out even more ? i do mist his cage once a week via a spray bottle the pump types i dust his crickets with zoomed calcium and d3 temp around 74.5 f i gut load the crickets with my own special recipe i make with different ingredients and fresh vegetables also water on tissues

 

[Gibboltd]

Can you take some more pics of the cham for us? He looks too big for that cage but I can't be 100% sure, other more experienced members will help and advise you, I'll try to help until they do.
We have the same cage and I have to mist my cage at least 4 times a day and keep a dripper going pretty much all day to keep the humidity up and allow my cham to drink. Once you add a live plant and more foliage he will feel like he has much more privacy to go hide and be a lot less stressed. You must take that substrate out ASAP as it can cause impaction and harbors bacteria, best to have nothing at all at the bottom of the cage. All this information is just what I've learned from these forums and the members here, I'll look for some more links I think you should read.

Edit - These are the links Sandrachameleon shared with me, they helped me understand my cham and his needs a lot more. Try to check them all out if you can.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...hameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/407-gutloading-isnt-just-crickets-roaches-gutload-everything.html
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/522-average-cost-owning-chameleon.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/662-temperature.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/syn/226-frequently-asked-questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...are-sheet.html

 

[italian chameleon]

Can you take some more pics of the cham for us? He looks too big for that cage but I can't be 100% sure, other more experienced members will help and advise you, I'll try to help until they do.
We have the same cage and I have to mist my cage at least 4 times a day and keep a dripper going pretty much all day to keep the humidity up and allow my cham to drink. Once you add a live plant and more foliage he will feel like he has much more privacy to go hide and be a lot less stressed. You must take that substrate out ASAP as it can cause impaction and harbors bacteria, best to have nothing at all at the bottom of the cage.

100% agreed! you just need a lot more branches and a couple of REAL plants (possibly pothos) in the upper part of the cage. an umbrella plant at the bottom of the cage would be nice too! your cham is stressed cause he's got almost nowhere to "walk" and/or hide!!
no drama, just add a few sticks and plants and I bet he'll be nice and friendly again!

 

[Kath44]

Also you really need to mist more than weekly. Every day, more than once.
Get some live plants and vines, branches etc.
Kath.

 

[PoshPenny]

Oh yah dude, get some more plants. Fake and real. And no it won't stress him, it will help him hide and feel more secure.

 

[PoshPenny]

If that's a 18x18x36 it is the smallest you can buy for an adult veiled. But of course bigger is always better.