What to do for the time being?

[InGoodHands]

Hello everyone! This is my first thread. I am stresed on what I should do with my new juvi veiled. I just got him yesterday after waiting for the longest time to get everything ready. I have reptisun 5.0, 150w basking bulb, temps are good. Here is my problem. I made an aluminum mesh cage 2 ft x 2ft x 4ft I have a big corn plant with lots of vines and fake ivy and everything else, it looks really good. The problem is, the cage is just too big for my little guy. And there are so many hiding places, I can never see him until I look for a bit and it seems he has not eatin yet, he just stays hiddin underneath the foilage and doesnt bask. The crickets always go to the bottom, and never get aroud the chameleon Because the cage is so large. I have been giving him his space because I'm aware of relocation stress. Today is day 2 and Im getting worried. I mist his viv several times a day so he gets his water still, never seen him drink. I do have a smaller cage on the way that will be here Nov 5th. I also have a 20gal bearded dragon cage with a screen lid. I know glass is a no no but do you think it will be better to put him in that until I get my 38 gal screen viv? It seems he could catch a cricket in the 20gal, but I also know ventalation is a key factor. If I just saw him eat I wouldnt be so worried. It just seems impossible for a cricket to get near him because he is always hiding and the cage is so big. What should I do?

 

[pssh]

Use a feedig cup. Poke small holes on the bottom for drainage, use a subtle colored cup, preferably not clear. Put it lower than a basking branch and place him by it. You may not even need a smaller cage. How old is he?

He may not eat right away, but he should soon. I use the bottom of a half gal milk jug.

 

[Pure]

Cup feed him. Attach a solo plastic cup (the kind often seen at keg parties) to the side of the screen near where he is most often hiding. You can put a piece of screen in the cup just as long as the cup is tall to allow the crickets to climb up to the top of the cup.

Cup feeding not only protects your cham from cricket bites, it also allows you to monitor exactly how much he is eating.

If you do a search on cup feeding you will find a very cool DIY using an old plastic milk jug and some screen. Dodahla (sp) posted it.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Two days without food after a big relocation change isnt unusual.

You could try hanging a feeder cup under/near where he likes to hide. Put the cricket in there instead. He may be more inclined to notice them, and you would find it easier to count what he eats and wouldnt have to worry about finding hiding uneaten feeders to remove them every evening.

How old / big is he ?
If he is really small, the tank with screen lid may be okay for short term. Watch the temps carefully if you do this, keep the lighting to one side only.

 

[InGoodHands]

hey

the breeder says he is 4 months, he looks pretty small bout 3 1/2 inches excluding tail

 

[InGoodHands]

i meant to say breeder

 

[InGoodHands]

The breeder said he is 4 months he is about 3 1/2 inches excluding tail

 

[pssh]

He'll be ready for that cage in 2-3 months anyways. I'd just cup feed and use that.

 

[Julirs]

What are your temps? 150w is a very hot bulb-I usually have 75W on that size cage.

 

[InGoodHands]

Bout 90 deg right under the baskig spot, I also have a 75 watt house bulb I can use.

 

[sandrachameleon]

80F is likely quite hot enough for that size chameleon

 

[Chamero]

Great Info here on all these replies...

 

[pssh]

Basking should be no hotter than 80-ish. So that 75 would be good.

 

[Psi]

As long as he's not weak you can likely get away with a 2x2x4 cage even at that age.

My 4 month old Nosy Be Male had no issue with the cage when I got him.

Is there anything on the ground that is allowing the crickets to hide under?
With no substrate in my cage, every cricket eventually starts climbing up the sides of the cage and my guy gets them pretty quick.

If your cham isn't actively hunting down the crickets, it's possible that he is thinking that the crickets are too big for him.

I had this problem with one of my females, she was scared of any crickets bigger then 3/8"s, but 1/4's and smaller 3/8s she goes crazy running after.