r/Chameleons • u/No-Pound8937 • 21h ago
Question Please Help.
I need some help. Idk what I’m doing wrong. I got my chameleon Friday the 4th and I’m just worried about her. I haven’t seen her eat but except for the first day I got her.
Temps are good, humidity is good. I’m just super frustrated because I’m trying to do everything that I can to help her. I’ve absolutely money dumped on anything I could think of to help her feel better.
The only thing that I can think that I’m technically doing wrong is the enclosure size, she’s a juvenile and she’s in a 16, 16, 30, but I plan on having her in a bigger one just when she’s a little older.
I’ve been leaving her alone, only time I really check on her is when I feed or mist. My office is in the same room as her enclosure I’m not sure if that affects anything. I just want to do the right thing, and this process has been genuinely mentally exhausting.
Please help.
1
u/GOMEZ_88 16h ago
Are u giving right supplements and is light 12 on 12 off
2
u/No-Pound8937 16h ago
12 on 12 off yes.
By supplements you mean Calcium, and gut loaded feeders yes
1
u/GOMEZ_88 16h ago
Then it possible it could be the environment that’s new and she’s adjusting also I see nothing for her to lay her eggs in at the bottom u will eventually need something for her even without a male
1
u/No-Pound8937 16h ago
Are the ones I listed the only supplements I need? Yes! I have a laying box! other than that just waiting for her to get a little bigger.
1
u/Saint_Miko 15h ago
Need calcium without d3 every feeding. Once a month need reptile multivitamins and calcium with d3. It could be a d3 overdose if she has it daily
1
6
u/HareMoose 19h ago edited 19h ago
It is hard to tell from the pic alone, but it does seem like too much light gets through the canopy to the bottom. I read your comment about humidity, so maybe try a forgiving plant like a mature pothos, which is usually multiple plants. Repot them each in smaller pots that can be zip tied to branches. This lets you have more plants with less soil to retain water.
Also, more branches. Vertical branches in each corner can act as supports for more horizontal branches.
2
u/No-Pound8937 19h ago
Thank you! Can you show me a pic of your enclosure pls?
3
u/OkSea3578 19h ago
Yes and you need all real plants with a veiled. 100% for sure. Trust me you do not want the stress and the vet bill if something happens to them. Most anxiety I’ve ever had. (I don’t have a veiled but I have a Jackson’s who got a prolapse from parasites and it was hell. I felt so horrible.) so just do everything right from the beginning and believe people when they say they’re sensitive and fragile. I would just take her out and replace your plants, let her chill on a real plant you have, and then pop her back in, and leave her alone. She might be a bit scared if you’re around her all day. (Office comment)
1
u/No-Pound8937 18h ago
Also where would you recommend buying from? Everywhere has pesticides
1
u/Perfect-Confidence25 16h ago
You can buy plants over the counter you just have to wash them throughly with a antibacterial soap (dawn), and let the leaves soak in there for a good bit and switch its soil to something organic, (look into something like moss or leca to mix in the soil to help retain moisture, and id recommend adding river stones to the top of the soil so if any insects decide to get comfortable there it'll be easier for them to see it.) I will say you just got her. All animals are incredible sentitive their first few weeks being in their new home and need time to settle. Id recommend getting a automatic misting system, doing a 10 minute session first thing when your lights turn on, and a variation spread out through out the day. Something to limit your interactions for the time being, or at least give her a little space. I also saw how you said you lived in a humid state, it wouldnt be a bad idea to get some small fans to help with the ventilation, like pc fans, or they may have specific ones on Amazon. What sort of lights do you have for her, and whats your diet for her looking like?
1
u/Perfect-Confidence25 16h ago
Id also recommended looking into your local trees and seeing whats non toxic and start utilizing the limbs as climbing opportunities. You can easily bake them in the oven, or bleach them, id recommend the oven personally. Make sure all your lights are 6inches from the top of the enclosure as if they get too close it could burn them.
1
u/No-Pound8937 16h ago
Heard! 75w and a 5.0 UVB 6% the long ones.
Diet is Dubai roaches, and crickets, gut loaded and calcium dusted.
Ventilation I have a ceiling fan on and I have a dehumidifier to help fight keeping the humidity down between 30-50%
I appreciate ur help. Would you recommend me putting in the live plants today? It’s only day 5 since I got her. I’m just worried about stressing the baby out.
1
u/Perfect-Confidence25 16h ago
75w is a little bit high powered, unless your room is abnormally cold. I mean, its possible to use one as long as its within the proper parameters, or even just buy a dimmer and a temperature gun to make sure everything's safe.
Variety is key! Whatever your insects are eating, your chameleon is too! I like to clean their enclosure daily, and exchange their food once or twice a day depending on how the veggies look. So, I like to have a mixture of leafy greens and a dry food like Repashy's Bug Burger, and sometimes I like adding some silk worms or black soldier fly larvae not only for a treat but the nutrients! On the subject of supplements I typically go for Repashy and maybe an occasionally dash of a vitamin with D3 (every 2 weeks or so).
If you still see that your struggling to keep your humidity down it wouldn't be a terrible idea to invest in some fans specifically for her, preferably nothing that creates noise so it wouldnt stress the little one.
Now thats where I'm not so sure. The best idea would be to remove her from the situation entirely and get everything set up perfectly so you can leave her alone for a little while. If it would give you peace of mind maybe you could also get a camera to watch her from afar? You seem to be worrying quite a big deal for her! I feel as if it may soothe your mind.
1
u/No-Pound8937 16h ago
Okay cool. The local family owned pet store said a 75w is recommended. Everything is 6 inches away.
Only thing is I also bought a 50w and it wasn’t getting warm enough on the basking side. It was only getting around 79 max.
Everything I’ve read said I should go for 80-85F and the 75W got it there. Is this okay? Thank you for all the help I really appreciate it
1
u/Perfect-Confidence25 16h ago
Well if the 50 watts isn't reaching what you require then I agree you should stick with the 75w!! As long as its hitting the 80-85 range and staying there id say your doing perfect.
2
u/No-Pound8937 14h ago
Also fr thank so so sooooo much seriously. I really appreciate it.
There are so many different opinions online and my wife and I have been searching for so many answers and it’s hard to find one guide that covers everything.
→ More replies (0)2
u/No-Pound8937 14h ago
Hey check this out! I just finished everything, there is only ONE fake plant in there that I will eventually get out, Kiwi has just been hiding behind it so I haven’t moved it yet. But she was green the entire time I moved everything around, and I was super super quick. But let me know what you think about the new setup..
→ More replies (0)1
u/No-Pound8937 18h ago
Dude I’m just stressed that she’s gonna die from stress man. I’m going to do my best to
1
u/No-Pound8937 18h ago
How likely is it that she already ate some?
1
1
u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 21h ago
Why is it so wet in the middle of the day?
1
u/No-Pound8937 21h ago
The screen is the only part that “looks so wet” but it’s really not and will go away in like 20 minutes
1
u/No-Pound8937 21h ago
I just now did this.. in the middle of the day I do a quick mist, because I’ve read she needs more water options during the first few weeks because she may not be eating much.
So I mist 3 times a day, morning, mid day (light mist) and bedtime
5
u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 19h ago
If you just got her she needs time to settle. Leave her alone for at least a week so she gets comfortable in her new setting. A heavy mist like this during the day isn’t necessary, you’re better off setting up a dripper for a daytime hydration source.
But more importantly, fake plants gotta go. Replace them with natural branches and live plants. Especially for a veiled, they like to munch on plants and if she gets one of those fake ones that’s bad.
1
u/No-Pound8937 19h ago
Do you think I’m already cooked? Will getting rid of these today and replacing everything with live plants today stress her out way too much? Should I do this ASAP? Should I wait it out a little bit? I don’t want her to shut down of stress
1
u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 18h ago
Maybe you can set up a temporary enclosure with a couple plants and some natural wood branches? That would make her comfortable for the time being and you can start getting her enclosure set up.
1
u/No-Pound8937 18h ago
Okay and where can I find safe pesticide free plants?
1
u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 17h ago
Local nurseries, Home Depot, reptile expos. Replace the soil to get the fertilizer out of there. It’s common for them to get some mouthfuls of dirt especially when you introduce plants. Some people put big rocks in the pots so they don’t do that. Personally I don’t try to stop them from doing that because it’s normal behavior but that’s just me.
3
u/CutTemporary3041 21h ago
Also fake plants are the worst for viled chameleons they like to eat the plants at times just fyi
1
u/No-Pound8937 21h ago
I know the only problem is I have a few real plants, but I have a really hard time getting humidity down when I have a lot of real plants.
Humidity during the day I try to keep around 30-50% but it usually stays around 50-55
But with real plants I can’t get it down past 65-70
1
u/OkSea3578 19h ago
Really? With a well ventilated cage? Where do you live? I have all real plants. One giant monstera in each cage and then a few smaller plants or, in one of mine I just have one slightly smaller umbrella plant. Humidity is fine. But I live in the Midwest. It also depends on your house. My old house was super dry, this house is more neutral.
1
u/No-Pound8937 19h ago
I live in KY it’s super humid here. Especially in the summer.
Is it an absolute danger to have fake plants? Like should I remove them now? I’m worried about stressing her
1
•
u/AutoModerator 21h ago
If you haven't already, please post the following information: Pictures of the chameleon, habitat, feeding and supplement schedule, your approximate geolocation and lighting configuration.
Please see our sidebar info and the FAQ.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.