Going on a trip

[GrimCamel]

So I am going away on a trip as the irresponsible adult I am. I will be away maybe 2-3 weeks (someday after new years eve) but I don't dare leave my panther behind with my the rest of my family. They're afraid of the feeders and aren't very good as misting so I've decided to take the risk and bring Incubus with me so I can be there if anything goes wrong. There is no way I can take my setup with me as it require two people to carry and I'll be traveling by train so I've decided to free range him where I'll be staying. Me and the friend I'll stay with will be preparing one of the bathrooms for him and heat it up a bit extra. With me I'll have a basking lamp and my UVB but also showercurtains etc. for humidity. Humidity is the biggest problem here and I could use some ideas about how to keep it decent, at lest for the time we'll be staying over. I am prepared for visiting him with my spray bottle at time to time but could it be any idea to leve the sink dripping slowly just to keep it humid?

As for extra, the travelling part will also be challenging. It will be in the middle of the Swedish winter which sounds worse than it is. By today the temp goes down to 3 C at night, not even minus which is very warm for being the first winter month but it's not warm for my cham. Ofc I'll be travelling mid-day but it will still be too cold. He will be travelling in a small box inside a form of bag I'll keep close to myself. I'll be preparing a waterbag (or whatever its called??) with warm water which I'll change on the train if needed but even here I clearly need some smart tips to keep this as good as possible for the little guy.

Not gonna lie, I am writing this with a huge ton of guilt, feeling like the worst owner ever to expose him to such stress but anyway, your thoughts and ideas are greatly welcomed

(And at last, sorry for grammar etc.)

 

[jehovahgmolah]

Are you sure there isn't anyone other then family to take care of him? It sounds like way too risky of a trip to me.

 

[GrimCamel]

Are you sure there isn't anyone other then family to take care of him? It sounds like way too risky of a trip to me.

I know. My youngest sis could maybe do something until she starts school again but in my experience she tends to care for animals pretty sloppy even for a 14 y-o. Other members would probably only go as far as mist him or maybe throw in an apple to the feeders but not touch them due to fear of bugs... And theres the other thing about actually eating that concerns me. I've tried to cup feed him but it didn't turn out very well so I am hand feeding him most of the time and I am the only person he is used to. I have realized this isnt the smartest way to "raise" him when it comes down to situations like this...

 

[jcarlsen]

So I am going away on a trip as the irresponsible adult I am. I will be away maybe 2-3 weeks (someday after new years eve) but I don't dare leave my panther behind with my the rest of my family. They're afraid of the feeders and aren't very good as misting so I've decided to take the risk and bring Incubus with me so I can be there if anything goes wrong. There is no way I can take my setup with me as it require two people to carry and I'll be traveling by train so I've decided to free range him where I'll be staying. Me and the friend I'll stay with will be preparing one of the bathrooms for him and heat it up a bit extra. With me I'll have a basking lamp and my UVB but also showercurtains etc. for humidity. Humidity is the biggest problem here and I could use some ideas about how to keep it decent, at lest for the time we'll be staying over. I am prepared for visiting him with my spray bottle at time to time but could it be any idea to leve the sink dripping slowly just to keep it humid?

As for extra, the travelling part will also be challenging. It will be in the middle of the Swedish winter which sounds worse than it is. By today the temp goes down to 3 C at night, not even minus which is very warm for being the first winter month but it's not warm for my cham. Ofc I'll be travelling mid-day but it will still be too cold. He will be travelling in a small box inside a form of bag I'll keep close to myself. I'll be preparing a waterbag (or whatever its called??) with warm water which I'll change on the train if needed but even here I clearly need some smart tips to keep this as good as possible for the little guy.

Not gonna lie, I am writing this with a huge ton of guilt, feeling like the worst owner ever to expose him to such stress but anyway, your thoughts and ideas are greatly welcomed

View attachment 146964

(And at last, sorry for grammar etc.)

This may be a long shot, but maybe you can find a reptile store that may be willing to board your panther for a bit. I've got a place, fortunately, that's close by and will let you leave your reptile with them for a few bucks a day. I'd say even if you were to find a place that's pretty far, it'll still be safer than trying to transport it with you without the proper enclosure.

I feel there are just too many things to go wrong, even more so with inexperienced family keeping it. Your best bet, is to get a friend or someone you can pay a little bit to do the specific things your cham needs like gut loading the feeders, dusting them, misting etc...

 

[jehovahgmolah]

Crickets like tubes. Even if you don't have a cricket cup from a pet store, use an empty paper towel tube and they can climb up in it so they don't have to touch the crickets. Do you have a tweezers or a tongs, that could be used to pick up worms and crickets and roaches too

 

[jehovahgmolah]

Sounds like you have internet access and sounds like your sister is smart. Just show her different links on here to care for your baby . Your baby needs to be safe, so I am sure you will make the right decision!

 

[GrimCamel]

This may be a long shot, but maybe you can find a reptile store that may be willing to board your panther for a bit. I've got a place, fortunately, that's close by and will let you leave your reptile with them for a few bucks a day. I'd say even if you were to find a place that's pretty far, it'll still be safer than trying to transport it with you without the proper enclosure.

I feel there are just too many things to go wrong, even more so with inexperienced family keeping it. Your best bet, is to get a friend or someone you can pay a little bit to do the specific things your cham needs like gut loading the feeders, dusting them, misting etc...

Interesting, I've never heard about such places! It feels though leaving him to my fam but maybe I can write a list or something?

Crickets like tubes. Even if you don't have a cricket cup from a pet store, use an empty paper towel tube and they can climb up in it so they don't have to touch the crickets. Do you have a tweezers or a tongs, that could be used to pick up worms and crickets and roaches too

Tongs are an epic idea! I've borrowed a pair from a friend once, didn't like using it since I dropped the roaches all the time but maybe its a lifesaver for my family. I could order my own online and have it ready when I leave!

 

[GrimCamel]

This is my "list" and info. Haha I need to check if I have trust issues or something. Most of you can't read the language I've written it in but you sure can see the amount of text I wrote this evening. Now I'll go to bed and think about things I've missed to point out

 

[ChameLIonLover]

I went on a road trip with my brothers for two weeks during the Summer Time, and my mom and girlfriend forgot to fill the misting bucket! I was so worried!

Water is important, so don't forget that! I'll be leaving again this Christmas to see family, so hopefully I can trust my girlfriend this time to take proper care of the lil' guy. Like the others, I would not carry your cham around with you. Best of luck to your cham.

As per your question regarding humidity... you should get a cheap humidifier.

 

[GrimCamel]

I went on a road trip with my brothers for two weeks during the Summer Time, and my mom and girlfriend forgot to fill the misting bucket! I was so worried!

Water is important, so don't forget that! I'll be leaving again this Christmas to see family, so hopefully I can trust my girlfriend this time to take proper care of the lil' guy. Like the others, I would not carry your cham around with you. Best of luck to your cham.

As per your question regarding humidity... you should get a cheap humidifier.

Ouch, I hope that didn't do too much damage!

Before I got Incubus I also left for a trip and asked them just to water the enclosure (since it was all set up and planted even back then) and I came home to many displeased and dry plants... I just hope they'll take it more seriously now that there's someone who lives in there.
I tried to cheap out on one when I first built the setup but all I got was a leaking and not working machine I had to send back. Guess that made me suspicious and then the breeder said to do it manually was completely ok... juuuust not when you're not there to do it :/

 

[ChameLIonLover]

Ouch, I hope that didn't do too much damage!

Before I got Incubus I also left for a trip and asked them just to water the enclosure (since it was all set up and planted even back then) and I came home to many displeased and dry plants... I just hope they'll take it more seriously now that there's someone who lives in there.
I tried to cheap out on one when I first built the setup but all I got was a leaking and not working machine I had to send back. Guess that made me suspicious and then the breeder said to do it manually was completely ok... juuuust not when you're not there to do it :/

I'm a student and do my fair share of traveling and it gets dry here enough in the midwest for me to feel it necessary to invest in a mistking. I have only one cham but it is very useful still for both chameleon AND plants. We spend a lot of money on plants; might as well keep try and keep them alive.

 

[jcarlsen]

I went on a road trip with my brothers for two weeks during the Summer Time, and my mom and girlfriend forgot to fill the misting bucket! I was so worried!

Water is important, so don't forget that! I'll be leaving again this Christmas to see family, so hopefully I can trust my girlfriend this time to take proper care of the lil' guy. Like the others, I would not carry your cham around with you. Best of luck to your cham.

As per your question regarding humidity... you should get a cheap humidifier.

Yeah, more important than anything else for your family to take care of are misting and making sure the lights are on/off and temps. Hydration is absolutely key.

Dunno if it's out of the question for you now, but it wouldn't be a bad time to look into getting an auto mister...