Hatchling Declining

[ColorsOfTheWind]

Good Evening,

I had 2 panther chameleon eggs that both hatched over the last 24 hours. One, hatched yesterday was slower to wake up out of the egg but has been doing well ever since. The second hatchling came out today. Was quick to move around and at first acted as expected. I just went to check on him and his body is pale. He is up against the glass with his eyes closed. Is he just tired and resting or is he failing to thrive. I just checked the environment. Temp Top: 82-84 F
Temp Bottom: 72-74 F
UVI Max 3.9
Humidity 77%
Is there anything I can do for him? Is there any hope of recovery?

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

That is a tough one with raising struggling baby chameleons. My best answer is to not give up on them and keep the baby as comforable and in as optimum conditions as possible. I would attempt to stay with as consistant of conditions as possible to promote recovery and not change husbandry to much and stress the baby chameleon. That is till the baby recovers. Your terrarium perameters look okay. I hope that helps some.

Was the baby sold to you as an egg?

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[kinyonga]

Glad they hatched for you at last!

Hopefully the second one is just tired and will be ok…but there is a sort of natural mortality rate..so only time will tell.

What’s the temperature in the cage? Are they both in the same cage?

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

Sorry that I haven't replied yet, we are a few days in and little one seems to have rebounded. It moves around it's cage. I've never caught either one eating so im not sure if they are ingesting the fruit flies or they are escaping.

I did purchase them both as eggs. I understand mortality does happen with these little guys. They each have their own 10x10x12 for right now and we are establishing their 24x24x48 enclosures. Again they will have their own enclosures when we move them in a couple months. I really wanted to be able to keep an eye on them since they were my fist hatchlings.

Anyone have any tips for keeping fruit flies in the cage and monitoring eating? I put a little dish with some apple and mango but the flies still get everywhere. We are using m. Hydei.

 

[MissSkittles]

I believe many say to put a small piece of mashed banana inside the enclosure to keep th fruit flies in one spot.

 

[Gingero]

Smashed blueberries work great too!

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

Thanks guys. I will run to the store today and get some different fruits. I guess I didn't think fruit flies would be so picky. We are a week in and both hatchlings seem to be doing well. I haven't actually seen them eat but I assume they are. They are definitely aware the bugs are there.

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

Is anyone here any good at sexing the little ones? Just eager to name them but so challenging without sexes.

Baby 1

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

P.S. finally saw one eat today and cleaned little tiny chameleon poop off of a leaf. I take that as a good start.

Baby 2

 

[MissSkittles]

Is anyone here any good at sexing the little ones? Just eager to name them but so challenging without sexes.

Baby 1

View attachment 362971

I’m probably the worst at sexing baby panthers and they are sooo teensy. However, I have heard it said that it can be easier to sex at hatching than at a few months old (Chameleon Academy podcasts). I would venture to guess that this is a little girl. Baby 2 I would guess to be a boy. I am probably very wrong, just so you know. The only thing I am absolutely positively certain of is that they are both just adorable little darlings.

 

[ColorsOfTheWind]

MissSkittles, That is actually what I thought but also my first time with hatchlings so I'm totally open to whatever they become. They are so perfect either way!