Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just movin my questions up... Okay I decided to take your advice on taking the soil out. I was going to today and this morning I get up and he is walking on it! He was at the bottem just walking looking around. Is this good? He's never been at the bottom. But in all honesy I think he was looking for food... which comes along with another question, how do I feed him?! It seems when I put fruit flies in there and are too fast. One will climb up beside him, he spots it, turns around and just opens his mouth and it jumps and falls to the bottom. This happens over and over. Yesterday he only got 3 of them all day. But he also had 2 crickets. How much should I be feeding him? Like I said.. he's only 1in. Last night I dusted a small cricket and broke it's back legs then put in it a spoon and held it up to him. He turned his head and ate him. He didn't hunt no more after that, but this morning he was looking around for the flies.(I left 10 in there last night and only seen 4 now) So am I doing the feeding right? And as for drinking I mist him around 4 times a day. I try not to get water on him(right?), but yesterday a small drip fell on his head and then rolled to his mouth and he licked it(only time I saw him drink yesterday, how often should he?). And another question about my light... My rooms hot right now(it's like 80 outside) and his cage is always around about 81 without the basking heat light. But it seems he likes to bask when it's on. But within five mins of it on it goes to 90 so I shut it off. Do I need it right now? I'm afraid it'd get too hot. It's only 40W, too. Sorry this is so long, I know what I'm doing it's just since he's a hatchling. Oh and another question.. he naps. I read where they arn't suposse to? He sleeps all night and naps around 20mins twice a day and is awake exploring the rest. Is this because he's so young?
-----
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

If your room is 80 degrees, you don't need a basking light for a hatchling.
Babies, even Veileds, need lower temps than adults. You want the ideal ambient temp to be between 73-78 degrees.

THIS IS CRITICAL. Babies will overheat and die in a heartbeat if it's too hot.

Right now, all you need on him is the Reptisun 5.0. As he gets older, then you can bring in the basking bulb to create a basking site of 85 or even 90 for Veileds. Unless your room cools down to the low 70s, don't bother with the basking bulb right now.

The ideal lighting setup is a combo of a reptisun 5.0 tube and just a regular bulb for basking. A plant "grow light" bulb works well too.

Feed him as many crickets as he can eat. But, remove them if he does not eat them. If you don't, they will chew on him, or die and rot in the tank, breeding bacteria.

Dust them three times a week. Also, feed your crickets a high quality gutload.
Just look up what a gutload is. Gutloads from pet stores are not high quality.

Although the appears to "reach for you", don't expect him to be this docile as a juvenile or especially and adult. Chameleons are not pets for handling. It only causes them stress, despite appearances. Soon he will begin to show his true Veiled personality, which 9 times out of 10 is wanting to tear your fingers off.

Spray him often. Babies dehydrate quickly. Don't worry if he gets all wet. Rain would get him wet.

If he can't catch the flies, then don't put them in there. Crickets are fine.

And I agree, the person who sold him to you is a complete moron.

good luck.

And he should never sleep during the day. Twenty minutes is ok, but extended periods with eyes closed means trouble.

And yes, get rid of the soil. Also, put enough little potted plants in the tank to provide a lot of cover. this will make him feel more secure, less stress.

Search this forum for info on non-toxic plants.

Hope you enjoy him. Just realize that he's no iguana or gecko. Chameleons require a lot of attention to maintain properly.

Hi Cassi,

Here are some of the most recommended site for info. Cham News (the first on) has LOADS of articles on MANY different aspects or keeping Chams and are written by some VERY knowledgeable folks. It is one of the best on the web along with AdCham. You will learn much by reading these and should bookmark them so you can refer often.

The breeder you bought him from is a jerk. It is really frustrating to hear some of the info these "breeders" give out. There are many reputable and knowledgeable breeders out there and it is too bad that the ones who are not are the ones who often sell to first time cham owners.

I scanned your previous thread of Q&A but don't recall - do you have a vet? You need one, especially after having acquired such a young cham.

The Repti-sun 5.0 that you need can be VERY expensive in stores (my local PetCo gets $36 for them!) so you are best to get it online. I have found reptiledepot to have the best price and shipping. Some folks don’t like them, I have had good luck with them. It is just a suggestion http://www.reptiledepot.com/

ALL of these have info on breeding, husbandry, baby/nursery info, nutrition, species, feeders, health, vets and MUCH more:

Chameleon News
This is a top source of current information compiled and written by “tops in their field.”
www.chameleonnews.com/
caging babies: http://www.chameleonnews.com/year2003/oct2003/oct2003index.html
cost of keeping a cham: www.chameleonnews.com/year2003/july2003/costs/costs.html
see articles on nutrition: www.chameleonnews.com/year2003/index2003.html & www.chameleonnews.com/year2002/index2002.html

AdCham
www.adcham.com/

Chameleon Paradise – a site by one of our forum posters. He has FAQ, do’s and don’ts, cage building
http://www.chameleonparadise.com/

Chameleon Journals – www.chameleonjournals.com/

Reptayls – another site by a fellow KS poster
groups.msn.com/REPTAYLSChameleons

and keep asking questions here

lele
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Hello again.
Those cage temps are a little intense for a hatchling veiled so I would recommend leaving the basking light off and just having your flouresent one on, whenever you do get one.
He may have been wandering around the cage floor trying to stay cool sense those temps are a little high. (Remember: hot air rises...cool air falls.) The frequent mistings will help in lowering the cage temperature, raising the humidity, as well as hydrating your veiled. One way you may be able to help in feeding your cham is cup feeding...Just get a small cup..that your cham can get into and out of if he has to. Pinch the back legs off of some pinhead crickets and feed them to him.
Hope this helps,
Cory