The format of the site looks and feels good.

I just recently came into caring for a young veiled chameleon (less than 6 months old it appears). The previous people who took care of it didn't seem seriously interested in him. We have been researching veiled chameleons for quite awhile prior to this oppurtunity, while hestitating to make the jump until the time was right.

The time has become right for us. Immediatelywe changed his habitat from a 15x15x20 glass terrarium to a much larger scale mess enclosure (no glass at all) with plenty of foliage on one side and basking areas on the other, with a gentle mix in between. He immediately (within 20 minutes) went from a dull greenish brown to a full green hue. He looks much more relaxed and gives me the feeling he is happier.

My first question is how often should his habitat be cleaned out? We clean up his waste every day in the late afternoon. Should the vines and foliage be cleaned regularly? How often? and with what?

My second question concerns his water. Currently we are misting with treated tap water using the drops a couple pet stores suggested. I did not think normal tap water would be appropriate for such a delicate little guy. We use alot of bottle natural spring water (for the humans in the house) because we hate the chlorine flavour of tap water. Would this water also be okay to mist with?

Sorry for the long into and questions.

Regards,

Hi, and welcome to the HCN. I clean out my chams waste every other day and do a hardcore cage cleansing every 2 weeks, I just clean the vines and stuff with water, no soap. Theirs a product you can buy that conditions your water, called reptisafe it dechlorinates it and everything.

The bottled spring water is fine. Just make sure it isn't distilled water.
As for cleaning, many keepers put tree, cham and all, in the shower and let a light spray of water wash it down. like a rain shower.
Just besure it isn't too hot or too strong a spray.
You don't want to blast the poor cham off the tree!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Welcome to the site, I would have never thought to do it the way that Merlin suggested, but it sounds good. I always cleaned by hand with a bucket and rag every second or third cleaning, but I am anal about cleaning. I always cleaned fragile and skiddish animals with a coleman shower bag, I could control the flow of the water fairly easily and could point it exactly where I wanted it to go. I'm not sure if they make those anymore though, I have had mine since I was active in Boy Scouts.

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“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) but ‘That’s funny…'"
- Isaac Asimov



TKE:TT:118

Welcome to the HCN!!

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http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

Welcome to Herp Center..sounds like everyone has covered your question

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Welcome to HCN!!! Never apologize for asking us questions, it's what we are here for!!

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Welcome to HCN, glad you found us !!!!

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

Welcome to HC Network. You found the right place for asking questions.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Welcome to HC Network....looks like you got some great advice about your veiled Cham. Post some pics when you get a chance.

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Warmest Regards from Lyn