What do these markings mean? I just got my baby veiled chameleon yesterday.
- Thread starter Raynetibs
- Start date
Reptofreak
Chameleon Enthusiast
Stress, most likely because your enclosure isn’t set up right.
Serbianchameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
You need a lot more plants, leafs and branches. He cant hide properly there so he’s stressed.
Chameleon is very stressed. The enclosure is set up totally wrong. Incorrect lighting for UVB as well. Moss should not be in the bottom this is an impaction risk. https://chameleonacademy.com/setting-up-a-chameleon-cage/
AmandaS
Retired Moderator
Nailed it.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hi. What you have is a start, but I’m afraid your lovely cham is needing much more. As @Beman said, your uvb lighting is incorrect. You need a linear T5 with 5% uvb bulb in order to provide enough. The coil bulbs are inadequate. It‘s hard to tell, but it looks like you have a veiled. They eat their plants, so you want to have only live safe plants, like Pothos, which can also provide more climbing roads and a place to hide. Bare bottom is best, as it is not only more hygienic but is so much easier to clean. You can scavenge for branches and sticks outside (not pine or fir trees), wash with a little dish soap, rinse, dry and place. The idea is to give your cham lots of little roads to travel on, places to hide and different gradients of temperature and humidity. Chameleon academy.com is a really great resource to learn about all of your chameleon’s needs. If you have a female, she will lay eggs whether she is mated or not so will need a lay bin.
Antoinetteandco
Member
I would get rid of that moss asap too it's a major breeding ground for bacteria and your cham could eat it. It's hard to keep track of the quality of his stole too if it's mixed into the moss
Ok, I was planning on just putting a carpet down there but then the pet store told me to get the moss if he falls it can serve as a cushion for him.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Ok, first lesson...most pet stores give the absolute wrong advice on keeping chams. Second lesson...a healthy chameleon shouldn’t fall.
Antoinetteandco
Member
A healthy chameleon typically wont fall , if they re off balance they 're usually sick. Honestly it's more likely that your chameleon will become sick from the bacteria build up
Okay I apreciate it I took it out I only have had him for a day and half so it shouldn’t be too bad. Now he is completely green after putting in all of his new things! Thank you for all the help guys!
Antoinetteandco
Member
Thats so true and I even work at one
Anytime! Don't be afraid to reach out! I 've had my veil for only 2 months and I'm still finding things in my husbandry to fix! We ve all been there!
Prince of Duval
Avid Member
What size cage is that?
It’s 16x16x30. He is about 2 months old once he gets bigger I’m gonna upgrade to a 2ftx2ftx4ft
Prince of Duval
Avid Member
He’ll be bigger before you know it.
PabloTheCham
Chameleon Enthusiast
hell be adult size in a year, but you should give him the 2x2x4 before that.
Definitely better, but definitely not good enough to keep a chameleon alive and healthy.
Biggest issue is that you have the wrong UVB (as mentioned above a few times). The bulb you have right now will result in your chameleon developing metabolic bone disease (MBD) which is fatal. Not trying to be the Grim Reaper... just stressing to you that you need to make these changes ASAP.
As mentioned above, that moss needs to go. It is causing more harm than good.
Biggest issue is that you have the wrong UVB (as mentioned above a few times). The bulb you have right now will result in your chameleon developing metabolic bone disease (MBD) which is fatal. Not trying to be the Grim Reaper... just stressing to you that you need to make these changes ASAP.
As mentioned above, that moss needs to go. It is causing more harm than good.
