Hello

[Bruno]

Hi,

I'm new to the site and have been doing a lot of reading but I'm confused. I'm thinking of getting a panther cham. and I have read and heard different things about giving them Supplements.

Can someone please give me a EASY breakdown on what I need and how often to use it.

Thanks for all of your help

 

[laurie]

Hi Bruno, welcome. See if I can cut to the chase. For a panther very, very lightly dust every feeding with plain calcium (no D3), once every 2 weeks substitute calcium +d3, once every 2 weeks give a multi vitamin. Make sure the cal with d3 and the mulit vit are 2 weeks apart. After the cham hits 6 or 7 months follow the same schedule but only feed the cham every other day.
Does this help?

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the world of chameleons!

Here is some information that I hope will help....

Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption. Temperatures needed can vary with the species and age. For hatchling panthers I keep the temperature in the warmest area in the low 80's. For older panthers I keep it in the mid to high 80's for the most part.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[Bruno]

Hi Bruno, welcome. See if I can cut to the chase. For a panther very, very lightly dust every feeding with plain calcium (no D3), once every 2 weeks substitute calcium +d3, once every 2 weeks give a multi vitamin. Make sure the cal with d3 and the mulit vit are 2 weeks apart. After the cham hits 6 or 7 months follow the same schedule but only feed the cham every other day.
Does this help?

OK

Next question should I feed every day (how many crickets) or do you just wait till you don't see any crickets in the cage?

I'm sorry for all of the dumb questions but i'm just want to make sure I'm doing the right things

 

[Texas Ranger]

Feeding everyday question: That depends on the age, and sex. That will also answer the how many to feed question.

 

[laurie]

How often you feed depends on the age of your chameleon. For a young one, under 6 months, I feed 15 or so appropriate sized crickets every day. I try never to leave live food in the cage as it can bite your chameleon. After they get to 6 or 7 months I gradually drop the crickets down to 6 or 7 every other day, if it is a female I go down to 5 or a max of 6 every other day. The bigger variety of feeders you provide for your chams, the better it is for them.

 

[Bruno]

Thanks everyone!!!