>>He looks good...straight arms, etc....not too fat or thin! Keep up the good work!



YaY!:D Thanks!



>>Make sure that any plants you use in your cage are non-toxic and have been well-washed (both sides of the leaves). I also cover the soil with something to prevent the chameleon from ingesting it.



I replaced the soil with coconut-based substrate and washed it outside with a hard stream from my garden hose, both sides of the leaves, two times. Once last week, and once this week. I also have an african violet with him that I have had for over a year. I replaced its soil with organic soil, and he seems to like to nibble on the leaves :D



>>Here are some sites you might be interested in...

>>http://adcham.com/

>>http://www.chameleonnews.com/

>>http://web.archive.org/web/20060426121049/www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/

>>http://www.uvguide.co.uk/skintests.htm



Very good resources, all. Thank you!



>>Do you know about gutloading?



My crickets eat a mix of fruit(apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi) and veggies(romaine/sweet pepper/sweet potato/carrots/broccoli)/fish food/fluker's cricket quencher w/ calcium and fluker's calcium cricket food. I don't even have crickets die very often...I get kind of attached to them...



>>Do you provide UVB light from a tube light or sunlight so that the chameleon can produce D3 and thus use the calcium in the diet? The light from the tube light or the sun should not pass through glass or plastic. Appropriate basking temp. is important too so that the chameleon can digest its food properly.



Yes he has the small(18" UVB light from his first cage, which I will soon be replacing with a ceiling mounted, hard wired, 24" double UVB fixture(I feel like tim the tool man here...)



>>Do you dust with a phosphorous-free calcium powder at most feedings? Most feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phos....so this helps to make up for it.



Every day...however, the powder that I have has Vit D3 in it...I need to pick up straight calcium at the show this weekend.



>>Do you dust with a vitamin powder? If the source of vitamin A is beta carotene, it won't build up in the system like preformed vitamin A does. However, there is some controversy as to whether chameleons can convert beta carotene...so some people give a little preformed once in a while. Excess preformed vitamin A can prevent D3 from doing its job and lead to MBD. I dust twice a month with the vitamin powder.



Just read the cricket feeding regime....he gets a mix of fruits/veggies, which include those high in Vit A and Beta-Carotene I will also be picking up a Multi Vit at the show this weekend though..



>>Do you dust with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder?

>>D3 from supplements can build up in the system...so I only dust twice a month lightly with this because my chameleons don't usually get any direct sunlight.



This is what I'm using right now every day, but I'm going to switch to straight calcium after this weekend, and then a twice a month dusting



>>I'm glad to see that you don't use any substrate!

>>

>>Veileds become omnivores at about 5 months of age and will eat some greens (dandelion, kale, collards, endive, ROMAINE lettuce, etc.), veggies(carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, etc.) and a little fruit (apple, pear, melon, berries, etc.)...and even the leaves and flowers on the plants in its cage.



I can't wait...Woo hoo!



Thanks again,

Diane
-----
1.0 Veiled Chameleon (Deuce)

1.0 Mastiff (Murphy)

1.0 Humane Society Mutt (Darwin)

2.0 Cats (Tigger & Duke)

1.0 Holland Lop Rabbit (Leo)

0.2 Humans (Diane and Liz)

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