Am I doing everything correctly?

[feks]

Hi folks,

After 2 months with my Panther, I decided to create this topic to really see if I'm doing everything correctly. Now my male Panther is almost 5 months.

Enclosure: Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Large (18 x 18 x 36") with EXO TERRA 60W + Arcadia Pro T5 UVB.

Temperature: I was using 100W, but in my opinion it was very hot, so I changed to 60W.

Lights: I turn the lights at 9AM and off at 9PM (12 per 12 hours)

Food and Diet: Giving 6~7 crickets at 10AM and 6~7 at 6PM (Between 12~14 crickets daily). Using ReptiCalcium without D3 ever day and Repashy Vitamin and Calcium twice a month (15 days after). I also have a Arcadia CalciumPromg, however I do not know how to use and when I can introduce this on his Diet (anyone can give me a tip?

Gutload: Using Sweet Potatoes, carrots, collards, mango, papaya (I blended everything in a blender, put it in the freezer, and I'm putting it on cricket case) - Is better to fed the cricket just 24 hours before I give to my chame?

Misting System: Run 30 minutes before the ligts (8:30PM) for 2 minutes + 2 minutes after 30 minutes the lights off (9:30PM) + 1 minute at 1:30AM. Honestly I think the humidity is not good, for example, now is 40%.

Dripper: I am using the dripper all day.

Fogger: I bought this fogger ( https://www.amazon.ca/Coospider-Ter...child=1&keywords=fogger&qid=1635448139&sr=8-5 ) yesterday, Received it today, anyone can help me what is the best time to turn on and turn off?

Thanks

Fernando

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Am I doing everything correctly?​

Nope. But don't feel bad—nobody does at first.

It would help the reviewers here if you would please copy/paste the questionnaire, and answer the questions there.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Enclosure: Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Large (18 x 18 x 36") with EXO TERRA 60W + Arcadia Pro T5 UVB.

He should be in a 24 x 24 x 48 by now, or very soon.

Temperature: I was using 100W, but in my opinion it was very hot, so I changed to 60W.

Is that a std. incandescent or a spot? Spots are no good; they create hotspots rather than gradients.

Lights: I turn the lights at 9AM and off at 9PM (12 per 12 hours)

Just curious if you've noticed he's up before the lights come on and turns in way before they turn off.

Gutload: Using Sweet Potatoes, carrots, collards, mango, papaya (I blended everything in a blender, put it in the freezer, and I'm putting it on cricket case) - Is better to fed the cricket just 24 hours before I give to my chame?

Some do it that way, and some just keep their feeders gutloaded all the time so they don't need to worry about it. It's all good.

Misting System: Run 30 minutes before the ligts (8:30PM) for 2 minutes + 2 minutes after 30 minutes the lights off (9:30PM) + 1 minute at 1:30AM. Honestly I think the humidity is not good, for example, now is 40%.

Everyone is different because we all live in different areas & climes. What's important is achieving & maintaining temps & humidities.

I mist 6 times per day—2 minutes each session.

• 6 am (Lights-On)
• Noon
• 6 pm (Lights-Off)
• 9 pm
• Midnight
• 3 am

Rinse, repeat.

My timers are set for the above, even though it's still DST for a couple more days.
Clocks move ahead and back—timers don't have to.

Dripper: I am using the dripper all day.

Fogger: I bought this fogger ( https://www.amazon.ca/Coospider-Ter...child=1&keywords=fogger&qid=1635448139&sr=8-5 ) yesterday, Received it today, anyone can help me what is the best time to turn on and turn off?

Sorry, no help here; I don't use one. My misting schedule keeps RH & Temps where they need to be.

Thanks

Fernando

 

[feks]

Nope. But don't feel bad—nobody does at first.

It would help the reviewers here if you would please copy/paste the questionnaire, and answer the questions there.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/


He should be in a 24 x 24 x 48 by now, or very soon.


Is that a std. incandescent or a spot? Spots are no good; they create hotspots rather than gradients.


Just curious if you've noticed he's up before the lights come on and turns in way before they turn off.


Some do it that way, and some just keep their feeders gutloaded all the time so they don't need to worry about it. It's all good.


Everyone is different because we all live in different areas & climes. What's important is achieving & maintaining temps & humidities.

I mist 6 times per day—2 minutes each session.

• 6 am (Lights-On)
• Noon
• 6 pm (Lights-Off)
• 9 pm
• Midnight
• 3 am

Rinse, repeat.

My timers are set for the above, even though it's still DST for a couple more days.
Clocks move ahead and back—timers don't have to.





Sorry, no help here; I don't use one. My misting schedule keeps RH & Temps where they need to be.

Hi Klyde,

I am using exo terra light ( https://www.petsmart.ca/reptile/env...lamps/exo-terra-daylight-heat-lamp-14806.html )
I noticed he goes down between 6~7pm , so do you think is better to change the lights to 6am to 6pm ?

regarding the size of the enclosure , when I Bought the chame, the breeder said that the large is enough

 

[Lindasjackson]

Most people here have the lights going 7am and off by 7 pm I think. My Cham still goes to sleep by 5 pm a lot of the time. You should only use a fogger at night when temps are below 67. If you need to fog, try 1 am to 5 am and that’s it. You should only need to fog if your humidity is too low at night.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Hi Klyde,

I am using exo terra light ( https://www.petsmart.ca/reptile/env...lamps/exo-terra-daylight-heat-lamp-14806.html )

That bulb should be fine. It's this type that I was cautioning about. I should have mentioned (for future reference), flood lights are fine; they do create a gradient.

I noticed he goes down between 6~7pm , so do you think is better to change the lights to 6am to 6pm ?

That's where mine are set, but there are some factors to consider. My enclosure is right near a large box window, and there are other windows & door lites within line of sight of the enclosure.

Some have their enclosures in basements, spare/reptile rooms, etc. where external (i.e. daylight) light can more easily be controlled via blackout drapes, etc. In situations like that, times are more flexible because the chameleon has no other input.

regarding the size of the enclosure , when I Bought the chame, the breeder said that the large is enough

IDK, but could s/he have meant 'for the time being'?

Source: https://chameleonacademy.com/panther-chameleon-care/

See also:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/
http://www.anapsid.org/enclsize.html

 

[Alycia]

On your uvb what % is it. That will be a contributing factor as to whether or not it needs to be raised off the enclosure.

 

[feks]

It is a 6%

I made some adjustments:

Now the lights are 7AM to 7PM. Misting 6:30AM, 7:30PM and 1:00AM.

I will install the fogger today and setup it from 1am to 5am, because the % is 50% at night.

Thanks

 

[ERKleRose]

Welcome on here! I have a few questions, but for the best feedback you'll want to fill out the form @Klyde O'Scope linked.

-What's the distance from your cham's UVB bulb to his baking branch?
-What's his basking temp, and how do you measure it?
-Which Repashy supplement do you use?