Feeders

[ChameleonLady]

I am researching the Panther Chameleon and would love to get one. My immediate concern is feeders. I know I can easily bet crickets and they are pretty hardy. My problem is what other feeders are easy to mail order and keep for them. At the moment, dubias are off my list. I could probably handle the smaller ones but the adults would give me a heart attack. I looked briefly at silk worms but they seem to be extremely fragile. I live on South Texas so I suspect I would need to mail order most feeders. For those of you that mail order, what do you get and what is your feeding routine. I want something easy to care for for the feeders, if possible. I am currently looking at a young panther. Probably around 3 month old. Thanks so much

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. This is an awesome place to learn about chameleons and meet chameleon keepers. I order everything for my chameleons online. As far as feeders go you will want to offer him a large variety of well gut loaded insects and worms. Silkworms are the most nutritional worm feeder and fairly easy to keep. Just be sure to order small sizes. I would also recommend houseflies, stick bugs, moths, Butter worms, super worms, Phoenix worms, hornworms and mantis. If you can get use to the roaches they are excellent feeders and very easy to keep. Since you will only have one chameleon you might try ordering from lindasgonebuggy.com. She sales variety packs with a small amount of 4 or 5 different feeders for like $20.00.

I'm attaching my blog for new keepers below. It's how I have successfully raised veileds and panthers for years.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ng-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment1721

 

[ChameleonLady]

Thanks so much for the information: I have a couple of questions.

Is the care for veiled and panthers the same except for temperatures ?

How long will a male baby panther stay in the 30 inch high cage?

How wide and deep should the cage be?

Can the same lights and hoods be used for the baby and adult cages with the exception of the heat light?

Do Veiled and Panther babies need to bask at 82 to 84 until 4 months old and then after 4 months, Bumping up the temps about a degree each month until you reach 85 or 86.

How do you bump the temp only 1 degree?

 

[jannb]

Thanks so much for the information: I have a couple of questions.

Is the care for veiled and panthers the same except for temperatures ?

Panthers also require a little bit higher humidity.



How long will a male baby panther stay in the 30 inch high cage?

Veileds grow faster than panthers so you could keep a panther in a 30 high until around 5 or 6 months old. A veiled would out grow a 30 high by 4 months. I recommend you get a small started cage that will fit in your car for travel like vet visits and so forth.



How wide and deep should the cage be?

18 to 20 inches for start and at least 24 for adults.



Can the same lights and hoods be used for the baby and adult cages with the exception of the heat light?

Yes it could, if you start with a long UVB light and fixture. I recommend the 24 inch long.



Do Veiled and Panther babies need to bask at 82 to 84 until 4 months old and then after 4 months, Bumping up the temps about a degree each month until you reach 85 or 86.


I bask babies up to 4 months in the low 80's. Adult panthers around 86 and adult veileds around 88 or 89. This is where you really need a digital temp. gun. I have hanging basking lights. I would not recommend laying them on the top of the cage because your Cham will probably hang on the screen under the lights and can get a burn from the basking light. If you hang your light you can raise it up or down to control the temps and you can also change the size wattage of your basking light.

How do you bump the temp only 1 degree?

By changing the basking bulb to a higher wattage and by raising and lowering the basking light.

 

[ChameleonLady]

The DIY Cages in 30” height are only 16” wide. Should I get a different type of starter cage?

Are the UVB bulbs hot or can they just be set on top of the screen?

I have a heat gun so I am ready for that

 

[jannb]

The DIY Cages in 30” height are only 16” wide. Should I get a different type of starter cage?

Are the UVB bulbs hot or can they just be set on top of the screen?

I have a heat gun so I am ready for that

The 16" wide would work just fine. Yes, the UVB light should go across the top of your cage. They do not put off allot of heat just make sure you take the plastic cover off the light because the UV can not pass through plastic.

Glad that you have a temp gun. In my opinion they are a must for Cham keepers.

 

[ChameleonLady]

Can you recommend that best hanging heat lamp? Also, how can I drain the water from using the drip system and the tray from the DIY cages? I would think maybe a tray is available you could drain BUT would I put the cage up on little blocks or something?

 

[jannb]

Can you recommend that best hanging heat lamp? Also, how can I drain the water from using the drip system and the tray from the DIY cages? I would think maybe a tray is available you could drain BUT would I put the cage up on little blocks or something?

I buy all my light fixtures at WalMart, Home Depot or Lowes. You might find it helpful to look through the pictures of the enclosure thread linked below. In the small baby cage you could drill a few holes in the bottom and have it drain into a pan or tray. Some actually just tilt the cage a little so it will drain from the corner of one side. You could easily do that with a little block.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-49688/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-2-post-your-pics-94781/

I also found this thread on drainage that you might find helpful esecially when you get a large cage.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/official-enclosure-picture-thread-2-post-your-pics-94781/