Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought today a baby male Veiled Chameleon, my first Chameleon.. it's only about 3in long(body length). I got a 20 high gallon tank(with screen lid and open side door). Right now I just have coconut fiber soil at the bottom, a few vines, and a fake plant. He seems to like to be held and is already eatting the fruit flies I have. I also got a light, it's a spotlight basking like, 40W. Is there any more information I'm missing? Thanks. =)
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
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3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

Yes there is. Have you done any prior research before purchasing the chameleon? Is he drinking? Do oyu know how to get hism to drink? are you misting the cage 2-3 times daily?

You mentioned he was in a tank...is he in a glass tank or a screen one??? HE NEEDS A SCREEN CAGE!!!! do LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of research or you won't be able to provide for him. Please make sure oyu know everything about veiled chameleons that you can find, or he will die without warning.

Like the last person said he needs an ALL screen cage, not a fish tank, he will develop serious problems in a fish tank.

DO LOTS OF RESEARCH...

Fruit flies are not a good sorce of food for chameleons, use crickets or silkworms, fruit flies should only be a treat a few times a month. Crickets and silkworms also need to be dusted with vitamines as well a few times a week.

They need misting 2-3 times a day and a dripper going for at leat 45 min a day 2 times a day over plants. Along with fake plants you need a real plant, veileds eat lots of veggies.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

get him out of the glass tank and disgard the soil he does not need it.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

Not to be rude, but um.. I HAVE done my research. I know that you have to mist them. They drink the water off of the leaves. I sprayed around him about an hour after putting him into his new home and he actually opened his mouth catching the water, *lol* But later on he was licking it off of the plants. And sorry about the 3in, he's about 3in totally.. his body is about 1in. I can't feed him crickets and worms, are you crazy? He's TINY, that's why I have fruit flies for now. I know I don't need a substrate, I just have it in for looks.. And as for the cage. It's NOT a fish tank. It's a terrarium with a screen top and screen door(on one whole side), it's only 20gal. And it's only temp while he's still a juvie, I paid $35 dollars for it and it's fine. I will progress to tall all screen when he grows some. Wanna know the breeders setup? I asked him for his opinion what to do and this is what he said: 10gal tank fine for his whole life(unless he gets real big, then move to 15, but 10s fine for a female), one vine, one plant, and just a uv light. But I do have a question I need help on. I don't know much about the uv and lightings and stuff.. I've read online, but it confusses me! I have a 40W basking spotlight right now, produces great heat and light. Now what watt do I get uv and what are these called?
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

It sounds to me like you've got a little bit more research to do so you may care for your new cham properly. We on this forum are more than willing to help new keepers and impulse buyers with their purchases, however some of them tend to get angry at this sort of thing.
Anyways, it sounds as if your veiled is newly hatched, not more than a few weeks. He will be OK in the that terrarium for about a month, but I would start now working on a larger all-screen cage. By the time he reaches adult size, he'll need a cage atleast 4' high x 2' long x 2' deep. I've just built one for a panther chameleon so I'll post pics later today. You can also buy screen cages all over the internet.
Whatever that so called "breeder" told you was false. No veiled, male or female will live comfortably in a 10 gal. or 15 gal. for more than 6 months..They'll either die or develop health problems by then. 10 gallons are reserved for hatchlings only.
You've done well with the mistings..So you're ok there. You need to get rid of your substrate however, because with the frequent mistings, you're just asking for trouble. Bacteria will develop in the substrate leading to an upper respitory infection or other health problems for your young cham.
Unless you plan on keeping your cham outside for a majority of the time, you WILL need UV lighting. It comes in two forms, flouresent bulbs and mercury vapor bulbs. For situation I would recommend the flouresent bulbs.Zoo Med's Repti-Sun 5.0 seem to be the best and many pet stores and online stores sell them. They need the UVb lighting to synthesize vitamin D3 in their systems.
Other than that...Just get on care sheets and websites and do some research. It never hurts to know.
-Cory

Thanks so much for your help. If you meant me being angry, yes I was... I came here for advice, not yelling. I felt I was basically being told I was stupid. I havn't done my research when I know I have. But then you said I have more to do, that's a lil more understandable. I want help, not disapline. Anyways, that's not the point... I spent 5 hours online reading every source I could find. The current cage I have now is exactly like you said, for him being a hatchling. I think he is only a few weeks, he's so tiny. I'm going to the petstore today to look for the bulbs. I currently don't have any money though until thursday, would he be fine until then? (I know that sounds bad, but I didn't understand the whole UV thing until now.. and yesterday I spent $20 on a basking light.) Or should I take him outside forawhile everyday? I'm also planning on buying a dripper Thursday. Oh and I'd love to see your setup pics.. thanx.
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

20 dollars for a basking light? Sound a little steep to me. Did you get a dome reflector and a bulb or just a bulb? In the future I would keep reflector but not buy anymore of those basking bulbs.. They're way to expensive and they burn out just as much as using a regular 60watt incandesent lightbulb..Which is fine. Plus they're like 1 dollar. I wouldn't take him outside unless your temps around the high 70s and 80s. If they are..Sure put him on a plant and let him bask for a few hours. As far your uv lighting, it should be fine until Thursday...But I would get that Repti-Sun 5.0 bulb as soon as possible. ReptileDepot.com has the cheapest Repti-Sun's that I have found.
You've got to understand that an experienced keeper's natural reaction to a newbie or impulse buyer is anamosity. Chameleons are demanding creatures and take lots of study and hardwork for them to thrive in captivity.
Anyways..I'm always open to help out new keepers so just keep posting your questions and I'll be glad to help.
--Cory C.

Now I'm confused with the light again, *lol* I understand the whole UV thing. UV florsent light 5.0 right? And as for the basking... yes I got the clamp reflecter with it. The basking bulb is also heated and stuff, so it takes place of the Sun one your talking about right? I think they are the same, just diff brand.
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

Wait a minute.
Stop everything!
Tell us VERY CLEARLY what the brand and name of the basking light is before you do anything.
Like someone mentioned, you don't need a reptile basking bulb for any herp, just a normal house bulb (with the proper wattage) in a reflector dome lamp.

It's RepPro Long Lasting Basking Spotlight 40W. It says... Basking Spot Lamp provides UVB rays that are important for the survial all reptiles. It was $7.95 at a show.
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

I have never heard of that brand, so I myself wouldn't trust it. However, is there anybody out there that has heard of this brand of light and does it work? You may want to add a fluorescant fixture and UVB light on top of this light in case it isn't providing enough UVB. If it is a male, and a baby, then the more UVB the merrier!

I've herd of it, I dont know how well the UVB part of it works though. Thats what I started out using (75 watt) but they blew in like a month I kept returning them and getting new ones, then I finally relized it was not worth the hastle and just used regular light bulbs and UVB strip lighting.

I dont think I'd trust that the chameleon was getting enough UVB from that little spot lamp, I'd get a strip light as well.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

Hey anemone, i'm really sorry if i sounded mean to you. I remember just a few months ago some people yelled at me for not giving them the right amount of info when i posted (it makes the poster sound ignorant if you describe your setup and are missing something important, you will understand more as your chameleon grows up and oyu post more often). Very best of luck with your cham, I salute you for getting such a young veiled, they really arent supposed to be bought that young. Make sure you give him the best of care and pay close attention to his environment. You seem to be wuite the experienced herper, so a chameleon won't be too hard to take care of if you know your stuff.
Good luck, sorry to have sounded mean.

Well if you had done all your research you should not be asking basic questions. This is a good way to get information, but dont get mad at people when they tell you your not doing something right. I'm not yelling at you out being mad with you or irrate, I'm trying to help you and your new little guy. I'm here for the love of the animal, as long as you take good advice and dont get defensive I'm happy.

He can eat crickets at that age, get pinhead crickets, at that age flies are ok as well but he should also have pinheads regularly.

Yea...the so called breeder that sold you that chameleon is the one I'm mad at...no one should sell a chameleon that young, ESPICIALLY as a first chameleon for someone. He also gave you bad advice as the other guy said.

Like I said before get rid of the soil, I dont care if it looks pretty it's not healthy for the little guy.

NOOOOWWWW.....back to dusting...are you dusting these flies and soon to be pinhead crickets? young chameleons espically at that age need plenty of vitamines to help them grow big and strong.

And like mentioned already get a strip light of the repti-sun 5.0 uv light...thats second best to outside in my oppinion.

Personally I would not handle him to much or take him outside, him being so young you need to keep the stress level to a bare min. and handling and moving alot can stress the little guy. the next 2 months are gonna be very importaint, most baby die offs happen within the first 2 months of life.

I'm glad he's already drinking and eating, this is good, are you misting with warm water or cold? he needs warm water, cold can lower his body temp and thats not good.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

I was just mad, because I felt like you were people were yelling. All I did was wanna share I got my first chameleon and I said the setup. I just wanted input on my setup. But anwyays, that doesn't matter.. Yah, I'm actually excited he is drinking and eating already.. that's usally the first main step in buying animals like this. I got such small hatchling, because that's actually all they had. I wanted a Veiled and there was one more there, but it was 3 years old and $125. I wanted a baby =) Anyways, it does make me a lil nervous with you saying he could die off within 2 months, I sure hope he doesn't. Oh and with the hadling. The breeders with handling them all(they had around 200 babys they were seeling) and I think they were kinda used to it. I just put my hand in his cage to mist or feed or move a branch or something and he reaches for me. When I get him out he climbs me and everything. This morning I got up and checked on him. He was sleeping but woke up when I opened the door and reached for me. II took him and he climbed on top of my hand, curled up and fell back asleep. Is this okay? With him being okay with it, I'm not forcing him, he reaches, *lol* It's cute. Anyways, he seems pretty healthier so far. Guess what! I got some small crickets today and half were pinheads.. I took one and dusted it and put it on the leaf beside him and he ate it! First cricket yet. So I'll probably feed both fruit flies and small crix for now. Now how much do I dust? Because some sites say everyday, but some bottles say not to much just weekly. I have Fluckers Repta-Calcium.
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Green Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.32 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

as far as dusting goes for babies under 3 months old I dust tues thurs and sat very lightly, one day I dust calcium and the other 2 days I dust sticky tongue farms miner-all. I also make sure my crickets are gutloaded before feeding them to my chameleon.

sticky tongue farms has a good gutload (smells like vitamines called vite-all) that I use. I wake up and put the crickets I'm gonna be feeding my chams into a small container with the vite-all and some mixed veggies, then when I get home from work I feed the crickets to my chams. YAY congrats on his first cricket. thats a much better food for him.

As far as the handling I doubt he's reaching for you because he wants to be near you, sorry to tell you. but you are higher than the branch he is on so he's most likely just trying to go higher. My male veiled would climb on me and look at me and his food dish waiting for food every time I opened the cage...till I bred him..now he's a monster. Since he's not stressed by you being in his cage I guess its just fine you handle him. I'd personally keep the handling to a bare minimum though.

Dont worry about him dieing, just keep in the back of your mind that at that age if he's not givin the absolute best care he could easily die. You seem like you want to give him the best so you should be just fine.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

Just so you can see what aproper setup should look like.

I also do not recomend any substrate, and an all screen enclosure. My cage is all screen with a half front viewing wincdow, covered with plants so he doesnt see his reflecion and filp out. I have 2 large hibiscous plants a a large ficus pant. If you buy any palnts for his cage, amke sure to clean them good, because nursery's use chemicals.

These are the lights I have on this cage for my panther.
3 75 watt infrared heat lamps(always on)
2 ESU 7% UVB w/ UVA 18"
1 150 watt Blue Full spectrum basking bulb

I also spray the cage heavily with warm water, and he has a waterfall and a bubbling drinking bowl to drink from. hydration is key with chameleons.

As for supplements for his food. Use Rep-Cal calcium to dust his crickets every other day. Give him a multi vitamin every ten days and Nek-Ton-Rep Color every ten days.