Another rescue... *sigh*

[Xeikeness]

So, I rescued a chameleon off of Craigslist tonight. Came with -everything-.

Granted, for free I got the lizard, the cage, enough foliage to gag a horse, a year's worth of bedding, calcium dust, a bubbling water dish, and about two weeks worth of crickets and a little misting bottle. ( the CL ad said 125, I said I wasn't going to pay anything, but if it JUST needed a good home, to contact me.)

The lizard, with his tail uncoiled, is about 10-12 inches long. Not very big. In the picture, he looked -very- ill. So I inquired as I did. Days later, I got a reply that she -did- just need him gone, and she brought him over moments ago.

He's white. With a charcoal greay patch on either side of his abdominal area, one of which has an open scratch on it. Six of the spikes on his back are charcoal grey, too. I got him inside and set up as fast as possible to heat him up, and now he's greenish brownish on his legs and face, white everywhere else, and still with those dark grey spots.

He's very emaciated and skinny, though he doesn't appear dehydrated.

So. As I sit here with four tabs open in my browser on how to care for them.... My people - what do I do?

The woman assured me he was in great health, and that the pic she posted was old. How do I get him to start eating, and fast? I put a couple mealworms in there in a dish, but he's not interested(of course, I've only had him 15 minutes or so.) He's not interested in the crickets, which seem to be more of a stressor than anything... and to make matters worse - his "big tank" he came with is only a 10 gallon. I'm doing a big "cage swap and sanitize" right now to free up a bigger cage for him until this weekend when I can buy him a BIG one.

So - what kind of cage? What should I do to get him to eat? And what is with the grey patches....?

Thank you, all of you, I love you. *hugs for everyone*

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[-KB-]

I read once that change stresses them greatly. However you set up the cage, try to change it as little as possible........but then again.........that's just something I read..........it could be completely wrong.........

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[_Sam_]

what kind of chameleon is it?

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

I'm.... not sure. I think it's a veiled chameleon. She didn't say in her add. But he/she/it has a mantle of sorts that doesn't go up, it goes more back against his/her/its neck, with spikes going down it's spine and a long, curly tail. I'm sifting through google images to try and identify it. >.<

And yes, I'm trying not to change -anything- in it's enclosure..... yet. I'm going to set up it's new enclosure similarly. Ten gallons is TOO SMALL for this lizard. Even at it's current puny size. It makes me want to just... Argh... cry or something. >.<

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[_Sam_]

yeah. 10 gal is def. too small. good that you're bumping him up. One of the hard things about chameleons is keeping the humidity just right.. and I dont remember what that % is.... Veiled seem to be easier than other chameleons but yeah.. he's pretty skinny. any guess on aprox. age?

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

I looked through about 20 pages of google images, and this is "as close" as I can find to what he/she/it looks like... but even still... that's not... right? I guess.... the mantle lays flat, and is a sharp triangle over the back of it's neck - it does NOT stand up straight. And it doesn't have any ridges or protrusions on the front of it's nose, really. *scratches head*

http://www.flchams.com/chamContainer...%20Juv%202.jpg

[Xeikeness]

No clue on what age. He's a "I got him from who got him from who got him from" sort of lizard. >.o

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Adrya]

Can you get some pictures?? It's probably a veiled by the description but...pics will help us alot better on identifying him. Even crappy webcam or phone pictures.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Adrya]

The plant foliage MUST be thick so the chameleon can feel secure..I don't see my veiled 95% of the time because he is so incredibly shy...if there is no UVA/UVB bulb, a ReptiSun 5.0 will suffice since they don't exactly need a ton of UV as they are hiding in foliage most of the time... and a normal household incandescent bulb will work fine to provide heat not more than 100 degrees.. As long as the foliage provides a gradient that they can sit under at any level from the heat... and it most likely won't eat if you're watching it. Mine won't move a millimeter if he sees me any distance from the cage watching him, no matter how much he wants the food. I have to be hiding behind something and be super still with my eyes peeking out in order to make sure he's eating... and also by the rate the number of crickets, roaches and mealworms disappear from his feed dish.

[leoares27]

I think he or she should be in a mesh enclosure also...i had a veiled and she died after she wouldn't have her second batch of unfertalized eggs...sometimes they just won't lay them...is her stomach kinda big? when mine got impacted...her skin went kinda greyish and looked almost like it was rotting off...it was aweful and when they are gravid, they do loose a lot of weight...if she is gravid and doesn't feel comfortable, she won't lay her eggs and she will die...
hope she isn't a she and isn't gravid...good luck

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

	Gravid Gravid term used in biology to describe the condition of a female oviparous when carrying young internally.

[Xeikeness]

This one's pretty affectionate. I had him out when he first got here while his cage warmed up. He seemed curious, but his breathing was calm, and his eyes weren't darting everywhere - he wasn't in a panic.

He's moving around his cage and seems alert-ish. I'll try and get some webcam pics here in the next few minutes.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

Nope, not gravid. I don't think it's an adult, for starters.... and it has never been with another chameleon, ever, from what I'm told. This was the "first lizard" of everyone who's owned it previously and in each case it was just "too much" for them to handle, so they sold it off.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

	Gravid Gravid term used in biology to describe the condition of a female oviparous when carrying young internally.

[leoares27]

thats good...and if it is a girl...she will lay eggs regardless...no need for a male...she will just have her little unfertalized eggs...

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Adrya]

Male veileds usually have significant striping on their sides and taller head crests/shields than females. There's another easy way to sex them but I can't think of it at the moment.

My boy doesn't mind my hands but when it comes to my face and me looking at him, he doesn't like it one bit. Puffs up and flattens out with his mouth open wide and hissing.

Oh.... and most chameleons need to be kept singly.

[Xeikeness]

Yep, this chameleon looks -nothing- like that. Trying to get pics now.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[CuZiMoUtSiDeThEbOx]

My little brother had a veiled and he kept him in a mesh enclosure. The chameleon lived with him for a couple of years. Got really big and then he moved him to my other brothers house and he died a couple of days later randomly. The guy he bought him from said stress from move can sometimes do that. Keep an eye out and I second the thick foliage. If you can't find him/her in there you did a good job...LOL. I'm not sure if this info is correct but he would leave 10 crickets in the cage and refill when they kill themselves in the water dish or get eaten. Good luck!!! Very interesting reptiles.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

Ok, here's the pics. I had to take him out and put him on top of my computer to get a pic that didn't look like a stark white blob. Stupid webcam.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

And the stark white blob pics, just for thoi.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[CuZiMoUtSiDeThEbOx]

I don't think those grey spots look good. but I am no expert maybe it means you have the king chameleon ruler of all!

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[Xeikeness]

He has those grey spots in the same spot on the other side(the one on the other side has a cut on it, though) and one on his left knee.

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