How much to feed my new chameleon

[jaredg87]

I have a 4 month old ambanja panther chameleon. He is a male and about 5 inches in length minus his long tail.
I accidently purchased 1 inch crickets instead of 1/2 inch crickets :/
Can he eat them at this age?
and if so how many should i feed him? daily or every other day?
and if not how many 1/2 inchers should i feed him a day or every other day.

Thanks so much!

and any ideas on treats for him would be great too this is my first chameleon.

 

[Ashendust54]

First of all welcome to the forums! I was in a very similar spot as you just last week when i got my little guy. This forum will be of great assistance. To better understand how his habits are i would recommend filling out this list so we can give you a good idea how his eating habits should be.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[jaredg87]

Thanks so much



Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - panther chameleon, male, age:4 months. I have had him for about 2 weeks now.
Handling - Every other day, i'm not sure if over handling is bad but i would love to play with him daily.
Feeding -I am feeding him adult crickets. 4-6 a day depending on the size. I gut load my crickets with flukers orange cubes. complete cricket diet. flukers high-calcium cricket diet. Ground up cat food in a tiny dose.
Supplements - I dust with rep cal multivitamins and rep cal calcium with vitD
vitamins 2 times a week and calcium 1 time a week
Watering - I use a misting system. I mist 4 times a day for 15 second intervals. I have seen him drink but not everytime im looking at him.
Fecal Description - his waste has been either dark brown or white. brown is runnier and white is pretty solid. He has never been tested for parasites
History - i purchased him from flchams

Cage Info:
Cage Type - his cage is all screen. 24x24x48
Lighting - I have 2 lights a 75 watt heat bulb i do 12 hours on 12 hours off for basking. 5.0 Fluorescent Bulb i leave on 24 hours a day.
Temperature - the top of he cage his basking area sits at around 99 degrees F and the bottom of the cage sits around 80 degrees. Lowest over night temp is 80 degrees. I measure these with in cage electric thermometers, one sits in the top of the cage the other sits at the bottom
Humidity - humidity levels are between 80 in the day and low of 65 at night. I use the auto misting system and the heat to keep it humid. I measure it with a humidity gauge i keep in the cage
Plants - No live plants
Placement - He is located in a walk in closet of good size. I would try my living room but he does not like my cats or dogs. So I keep him solitary which he seems to like much much better.
Location - I live in mcallen Texas which is Deep south texas.

Current Problem - I just want to make sure im doing everything right. He seems to be eating fine drinking fine. basking during the day. Sleeps at night.
What does it look like before hes gonna shed?
any advice on what i'm doing right or wrong would be great.
this is my first chameleon and I want the best for him.


03-17-2012 12:49 PM

 

[jaredg87]

anybody please?

 

[camimom]

Thanks so much



Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - panther chameleon, male, age:4 months. I have had him for about 2 weeks now.
Handling - Every other day, i'm not sure if over handling is bad but i would love to play with him daily.
Feeding -I am feeding him adult crickets. 4-6 a day depending on the size. I gut load my crickets with flukers orange cubes. complete cricket diet. flukers high-calcium cricket diet. Ground up cat food in a tiny dose. he should be eating medium, small crickets, not large. he could choke, and let him eat as many as he can. please look up sandrachameleons blogs on gutloading. and STOP using the cat food. its high in protein.
Supplements - I dust with rep cal multivitamins and rep cal calcium with vitD
vitamins 2 times a week and calcium 1 time a week you need to dust with calcium without d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month, multivitamin twice a month.
Watering - I use a misting system. I mist 4 times a day for 15 second intervals. I have seen him drink but not everytime im looking at him.
Fecal Description - his waste has been either dark brown or white. brown is runnier and white is pretty solid. He has never been tested for parasitesthe brown is the feces, the white is the pee (urates). white is good, means hes hydrated. how much runnier is the brown though.
History - i purchased him from flchams

Cage Info:
Cage Type - his cage is all screen. 24x24x48
Lighting - I have 2 lights a 75 watt heat bulb i do 12 hours on 12 hours off for basking. 5.0 Fluorescent Bulb i leave on 24 hours a day. is this the uvb bulb, if so, it has to be off at night. no lights at night.
Temperature - the top of he cage his basking area sits at around 99 degrees F and the bottom of the cage sits around 80 degrees. Lowest over night temp is 80 degrees. I measure these with in cage electric thermometers, one sits in the top of the cage the other sits at the bottom these temps are way to high for a baby, much less an adult. basking should be no more tan 85 at his age, and night temps should be down around 70-75. you are cooking him!
Humidity - humidity levels are between 80 in the day and low of 65 at night. I use the auto misting system and the heat to keep it humid. I measure it with a humidity gauge i keep in the cage i hope you arent misting at night.
Plants - No live plants
Placement - He is located in a walk in closet of good size. I would try my living room but he does not like my cats or dogs. So I keep him solitary which he seems to like much much better.
Location - I live in mcallen Texas which is Deep south texas.

Current Problem - I just want to make sure im doing everything right. He seems to be eating fine drinking fine. basking during the day. Sleeps at night.
What does it look like before hes gonna shed?they will get dull in color, skin looks extra dry, they may cage cruise alot, and rub on things, may 'yawn' to crack the skin on their face, and may reduce eating or stop all together.
any advice on what i'm doing right or wrong would be great.
this is my first chameleon and I want the best for him.


03-17-2012 12:49 PM

my suggestions in red.

 

[ChamomilleCame]

Thanks so much



Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - panther chameleon, male, age:4 months. I have had him for about 2 weeks now.
Handling - Every other day, i'm not sure if over handling is bad but i would love to play with him daily.
Feeding -I am feeding him adult crickets. 4-6 a day depending on the size. I gut load my crickets with flukers orange cubes. complete cricket diet. flukers high-calcium cricket diet. Ground up cat food in a tiny dose.
Supplements - I dust with rep cal multivitamins and rep cal calcium with vitD
vitamins 2 times a week and calcium 1 time a week
Watering - I use a misting system. I mist 4 times a day for 15 second intervals. I have seen him drink but not everytime im looking at him.
Fecal Description - his waste has been either dark brown or white. brown is runnier and white is pretty solid. He has never been tested for parasites
History - i purchased him from flchams

Cage Info:
Cage Type - his cage is all screen. 24x24x48
Lighting - I have 2 lights a 75 watt heat bulb i do 12 hours on 12 hours off for basking. 5.0 Fluorescent Bulb i leave on 24 hours a day.
Temperature - the top of he cage his basking area sits at around 99 degrees F and the bottom of the cage sits around 80 degrees. Lowest over night temp is 80 degrees. I measure these with in cage electric thermometers, one sits in the top of the cage the other sits at the bottom
Humidity - humidity levels are between 80 in the day and low of 65 at night. I use the auto misting system and the heat to keep it humid. I measure it with a humidity gauge i keep in the cage
Plants - No live plants
Placement - He is located in a walk in closet of good size. I would try my living room but he does not like my cats or dogs. So I keep him solitary which he seems to like much much better.
Location - I live in mcallen Texas which is Deep south texas.

Current Problem - I just want to make sure im doing everything right. He seems to be eating fine drinking fine. basking during the day. Sleeps at night.
What does it look like before hes gonna shed?
any advice on what i'm doing right or wrong would be great.
this is my first chameleon and I want the best for him.


03-17-2012 12:49 PM

Let him eat as much as he wants, until he gets full. At that age, they really need food. When he gets older, you can feed him less.
The handling thing shouldn't be an all day thing unless he wants to. I think what you are doing right now is fine.
Gutloading- don't gutload with that stuff. It's better to use fruits and veggies. There is a blog that I can post soon so you can check it out.
Calcium supplementing should be every day for veileds. Not sure how. any veiled owners chime in please. What calcium are you using?
Multivits are 2x a month
By flourecent you mean UVB, right? If so what brand? And it should be on 12 hours a day, not 24! It should be more of a natural thing like the sun. That's what were going for.
Not sure if 80% humidity is too much... Veiled owners chime in again
Before shedding, they usually wrinkle a little and start eating less.
Really hope that helped good luck

 

[jaredg87]

thank you so much!

OK so I've reduced his basking area it sits at 85 degree F and bottom of the cage around 75

I gave away the large crickets to a friend with a iguana. I purchased small crickets and ill feed him as you said and am looking into that gut loading guide you recommended.

his brown waste is not super soft if looks like a little pile of poop not watery at all. kinda like a little brown clay pile.

OK so at night time its lights out got it.

I am not misting at night at all. Only during the day when his light is on do I mist.

I will post some pics of his home and him if that will help

Thanks so much for your assistance I appreciate it.

 

[Lukeclifton]

Automatic mister

What automatic mister do you have and do you recommend it?