Veiled Chameleon?

Question

I wanted to get a baby Veiled Chameleon but before i get it i need to know every littile thing about how to take care of one like what they eat? what they need? were to put it in? how long the light needs to be turn on?how many diffrent kinds of lamps heaters or stuff like that they need? what tempature it should be in? can some one just give me a list of things i need and how to care of
it /

Answer 1

There's a lot to know about these little guys. First, if you get a male (my recommendation), they get about 20". Females get 14", but are more difficult to keep because the will produce eggs (with or without a male) and they must be provided with sandy soil at least a foot deep in which to lay the eggs. If they don't have it, they will try to retain the eggs (become egg-bound) and likely die.

The can be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium as babies, which helps keep the humidity up (they need 75% or higher), but will reach adult size in just a few months. As adults, they should have good ventilation, so most folks used screen cages, which makes humidity very difficult. I've seen newer cages that are screen only on the two ends, which would help, but I haven't seen them in stores as large as a veiled would require - an adult should have a cage 3 x 3 x 4 with the "4" being height - they do more climbing than horizontal movement. Branches should have different diameters to exercise their feet. They also like greenery for hiding (I wrap pothos vines around the artivicial "vines" and tree branches - using a live plant like this also helps the humidity).

They need high UVB (7% or 10%), heat lamp (basking area of 90-100o, 80-90o general temperature), and waterfall or dripper system for water (they won't drink standing water - waterfalls have a small reservoir, so need checked frquently; you can make a dripper with some tubing, a bottle, & clamp, or put ice cubes on screen over their tank and let them melt - you just want the water to drip onto leaves so the chameleons can lick it off. I keep a water bowl beneath just to catch the excess water. I also mist a few times daily. It's best not to use substrate - it makes cleaning easier and there's less chance of them trying to eat if if they "miss" their food.

The will eat crickets & other insects - it's good to dust them with vitamin & calcium powder about twice a week or gut load with calcium-rich food - these guys have a tendency toward metabolic bone disease. They should also be offered a dark leafy green each week, although they may not always eat it.

They don't like other chameleons, other reptiles, or being handled - they're really an anti-social animal!

I think I've covered the basics - I'll add a website, in case I've missed anything: http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/ammonia_poisoning/

Answer 2

Have you ever had any reptiles before? Chameleons are one of the most difficult reptiles to care for even for experienced Herpetologists. And you aren't supposed to hold them because the are very sensitive. If you have never had any other reptiles please reconsider your choice, but if you really are dead set on it research it on line. And good for you for asking for help before you get it. Just make sure before you get one that you know everything about it. Good Luck!