Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[jamesj]

I picked up this baby at the IHS show on sunday, he seems to have settled in ok and has eaten both today and yesterday. He is also pretty active and doesnt seem too shy, he always comes over if im feeding him.

I have him a small plastic tank shown below until he is abit bigger, that way he wont get lost in his bigger enclosure or have trouble finding food. His next enclosure is a 24x18x24 viv which he will be in until big enough to go into his adult mesh enclosure.

My question is does his current "baby" enclosure look ok for him? Ignore the cardboard tube at the bottom, not quite sure why I put that in since they are tree dwellers. The ceramic dish at the bottom contains his crickets. I mist him 2 / 3 times day but will get a drip system when hes in his bigger enclosures. He has a repti-glo 8.0 just above him which you cant see in the pic, will enough UV get through the ventilation in his tub?

Another thing, he was bright green all of yesterday and most of this morning, but he is now a darker green, anything I should worry about? I know they go dark when stressed or incorrect temps, and since he was recently moved I dont blame him for being stressed if he is.



How long do you think I should keep him in this smaller enclusore before letting him into the 24x12x24 viv?

Sorry for all the questions, but you know what its like when you first get a new species

(BTW you can see baby at the top in the middle if you want to know his size)

James

[Jan O]

Hi James, Lovely baby!! I am reluctant to offer advice to you Hun as I havent been keeping Chams that long myself. Rick will be here soon and hes the guy to ask.Of course your'e concerned and what everything just right- thats nice to hear.. I think your'e doing ok but as I said rick will advise you I'm sure. You seem well clued up as to his UV needs and his water etc. What is his basking temp? OH and whats his name!
Love Jan

[jamesj]

Hey Jan,
His basking temp is about 95* (you can just about see it on the thermometer).

His name is casper, was a friends idea and the logic behind it is...casper was a ghost, ghosts are invisible, cham blends in and looks invisible most of the time

I was thinking of setting up a drip system but would have to have something to collect the water so i didnt drown the bottom of his enclosure. Only problem is that I would have to disturb him all the time to change it when it got full. And each time I disturb him adds more stress

Hopefully Rick will give me some advice soon

[grahamsokel]

I am by no means an expert and only had a yemen for a couple of years but i keep my new baby one at 76deg and i use a 5% UV

[jamesj]

Only 76? Every caresheet I have read has said to give them a basking area between 90 - 100, unless babies need a lower one but no caresheet ive read has mentioned this?

[grahamsokel]

yes Babys need a lower temperature.
I keep my adult at a higher temp

[Jan O]

Caspers a great name, He sure will look like a ghost when he starts to shed! Like Graham I keep my baby at a lower temp too and use a 5% UV tube. My Imp is in an exo terra terrarium and to get round the excess water problem you have a few options all of which I have done. The 1st is to stand the plants in a small tray to take the water from the dripper as it drips through the lkeaves, the tray can be emptied using a turkey baster- so your not having to cause Casper too much stress. The 2nd is to buy a piece of Capillary matting, cut it to fit base of set up and cut out holes for plant pots- this matting holds litres of water- take out the matting wring it out rinse and replace. One thing which could possibly be causing Casper stress is the way into his tank- its from the top, panthers dont seem to mind this but yemens seem to see it as an instant threat- this is why so many people use the small exo terras with their front opening doors. For now Hun reeduce your overall temps and dont stress so much that you forget to enjoy your new cham. Love Jan

[jamesj]

Thanks for the replies what do you suggest I reduce his temps too? I will only be worrying all day at college tomorrow if i dont get this sorted before I go in the morning

Yea I know what you mean about the top opening, thats why Id like to get him out of that tub and into his "growing on" viv as soon as possible, then I wont have to come at him from above. But while he is so tiny, he is never going to find his food in such a big viv.

I will have a play around with the watering issue tomorrow, see what I can come up with, again this will be much easier once he is out of that tub.

[Rickeezee]

Hello James

Thanks for the pressure Jan

Firstly I am no expert at all. I just keep one or two chams.


What type of cham is it, a Yemen I am assuming? Oh and congrats on getting a chameleon!

Lose the cardboard tube it is of no benefit really and will only allow the crickets somewhere to hide in. The tissue on the base of the tank is fine and will make cleaning much easier, watch out that the crafty crickets dont manage to hide under it if they get out of the feeding dish. Also dont allow the tissue to be permanently wet as this can cause hygiene issues and lead to bacteria growth etc.

Some small locusts and small meal worms, occasional waxworms and even wee cockroaches will be gratefully eaten as will the crickets. What size crickets is the cham eating? Are you using a calcium and vitamin / mineral supplement.

Sorry to ask so many questions. Don't worry your not being interrogated


As per previous posts a little zoomed dripper would be good with collection bowl underneath, they enjoy the attraction of falling drops of water onto leaves.

If it is a Yemen than an 8% UV tube will be fine, if it's a Panther then a 5% UV tube is better. I like Zoomed tubes i think they are the best but thats just my view. What are you using to provide the heat for the basking area? Also what is the temperature at the cool end of the tank please?

If it is a Yemen the basking end temps can be around 88f-90f for a baby and higher for an adult. The cool end can be around the 75f mark. All light and heating off at night. I would suggest twelve hours on twelve off via a simple plug in timer. To obtain a heat gradient in a small tank is quite hard. I use a 20 watt halogen spot clamp lamp (homebase 5 quid), to achieve the basking temp, just shine into one corner from a top downwards position. To adjust temp just move lamp back and forth.

There are of course a myriad of variations upon a theme, this is just how I do it and it works well for me.

Can you tell me the species please that would be great thanks. All the best with your new cham! Rick
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

[jamesj]

Thanks for the reply Rick.

Yep its a Yeman. Ok today I will remove the cardboard, and put something in there to catch the dripping water from the dripper I just ordered.

The crickets he is eating are just slightly bigger than 1/4 inch. Im using pure calcium on his crickets every day, except for two days a week when he gets Nutrobal vitimins/calcium.

For heat he has a 40W spot lamp controlled by a dimmer switch until my dimming thermostat arrives. Temps is measured by a digital therm. Cool end is about 78.