Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all Im new to this forum.The pet store in town has had a chameliion in their store for about a month now and today it had sixteen babys.They dont know how to take care of them and might want me to raise them for them.I cant remember exactly what kind it is though.it is a wild caught adult female at 9-10 inches.and it is from tanzania.I am going to be there tomorrow to see them.I need all the info I can get on taking care of babys chams since these are my first ever and they think I have a better chance of raising them than they do.thanks for all your time and tomorrow Ill probably have the exact name of the chamelion.thanks again
nick

Regardless of the species, the babies are going to need two important things. Food and water.

Fruit flies or pinhead crickets. and a spray bottle for misting.

As soon as you provide a species, I can help with your husbandry.

Put them in something where there won't be an issue with food competition. The smaller the groups, the better. You have to hydrate these guys as much as possible. They will dry out real quick. If you can provide a safe place to feed, and the water you will be able to get by. We can work on the rest of your setup later. Don't worry about basking area or UV..just hit the basics.

i went to the petshop today and the chams are werneri chameleons.the babys are an inch to an inch and ahalf long.I dont know if Ill be taking care of any of them or not.they have have them in the smallest sized critter keepers with things to climb on and small crickets.some of them are not doing to good and are not doing to good.If they do ask me to Id like to know how to take care of them.
nick

I was hoping that you would report back that they were jacksons.

This is going to be quite a task to get these babies going. This isn't your typical species. Advise the pet store that someone , who is very dedicated, is going to have to spend a lot of time on these guys.

I can only advise what I would do with these guys:
I would get them all seperated so I could monitor the strong ones from the weaker ones. (The dominate ones will get the food, while the weaker ones will not)

I take plastic trash bins (from a dollar store) and cut out each side with a utility knife and hot-glue a patch of screen over the hole. (4" x 4"

All you will need in the beginning is a UV light. This will provide enough daytime warmup for these guys. Lay the UV fixtures over top the lined-up trash bins. Place a papertowel at the bottom of the trash bin to absorn the water and collect the feces. (change everyday) Trim a branch off your plants and place inside the bins.

Water these guys at least 3 times a day. (Dont spray them directly, but make sure the mist gets their skin completely wet)

They are going to need cool temperatures not exceeding 80 during the day. (I would set them at mid 70's until you get them going)

Split your feedings in 2. Feed half "an hour after warmup" and half at mid-day.

Great advice.....
That is a well presented "how to".
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thanks to all of you who helped me out.I hope they make it.I might even look into buying one of them when their older since they grew up in captivity.but first Ill have to see if they make it.thanks again
nick

Good luck to you!
Good for you stepping up and doing the right thing for the chams.

Joe

NP

Another source of info might be the members of ADCHAM. You need to be approved to join, but the archives of the forum are public. What I would do is search the archives and try to email posters who have had experience with werneri...there won't be that many. Another source of info could be the good keepers at Kammerflage Kreations. They are very helpful (and a bit friendlier than some adcham members IMHO!) and may know of someone who has been where you are now. Their site is www.calumma.com.

for some basics check this out:
babies first weeks