MSMorgan
Avid Member
All,
I've read all I can, on a daily basis, of the triumphs and heartbreak from some of you. I am extremely humbled by the knowledge base on our forum and feel fortunate that I am part of this community. Hopefully someone can help out.
Chameleon Info:
•Your Chameleon [/B][/B]- 8 mo. old male, Veiled. In my care for 4 mo. now.
•Handling - 2-3 times per week (outside for some sun). As of late, when I open the cage to feed in the morning, or clean/ remove the feeders in the evening, he'll climb up my arm and perch on my head. Always seems to want out and will climb out if the door's open.
•Feeding - Currently alternating through medium crickets, medium dubias, super worms and have recently tried BSF/ larvae. When Lucky was eating regularly, He was eating five crickets, plus two or three dubias and two or three super worms per day. As of the beginning of the month he was eating like a horse on a daily basis. I am gut loading my feeders with carrots, dandelion greens, oranges, apple, and Fluker's high calcium cricket diet.
•Supplements - I am using Rep-Cal supplements. I am dusting all feeder items daily with calcium powder (No D3) . Twice a month, I dust with D3 and Herptivite w/ beta-carotene.
•Watering - I have a Mist-King watering system that is scheduled to mist three times a day for 5 min. each. I caught Lucky drinking (water) about a week ago.
•Fecal Description - As of late, fecal's have been smallish (not eating as much) and urates have been off white with pale yellow hugh (not drinking as much I suspect) Fecal tested w/ negative results. (possibly getting dehydrated or needs a "shower" tomorrow)
•History - All was going well, until I was away for three days at the beginning of this month. When I returned, I noticed that there were crickets and dubias left over in the feeder. Well, more than I expected there would be in three days. Since my return, he will no longer take feeders readily from my hand and his appetite has not been the same since we returned. The cage lighting and misting is all automated and no other animals were in the house while I was gone. All appeared to be working correctly (lights/water) upon my return. Ambient temp in the house was set at 75*
Cage Info:
•Cage Type - Jungle Hobbies XL black alum. screen cage. 24x24x48
Lighting - Basking: Exo-terra 75 w. in dome. UVB: ZooMed Repti-Sun 5.0 ; Lights are on a timer, for 12 hrs. (0630 - 1830) I will gradually cut back to ten hours as winter approaches.
•Temperature - I have three bio-climatic zones in the enclosure. Basking is at 85*, mid is @ 75-80* and lower is at 70*. The lowest overnight temp so far is 70*. I measure with heat gun and therm. @ basking spot.
•Humidity - Humidity ranges from approx 50% - 60% with three mistings @ 5 min. Intervals throughout the day @ 7, noon and 5. I measure humidity w/ a digital and analog hygrometer.
•Plants - Live: I have a fairly large Schefflera that fills 3/4 the cage. I trade out with a similar sized ficus benjamina monthly, so that plants can take a break from daily "beatings."
•Placement - The enclosure is located in a corner of the great room away from any air vents, or high traffic areas. The top of the cage is 6' from the floor, elevated by a 2x2 end table.
•Location - Northern CA.
Current Problem - I am experiencing some possibly odd behaviors from Lucky as of late. The new behaviors (past 2 weeks) I am seeing are loss of appetite (eating very little to nothing in the past week), increased movement throughout the enclosure( appears to be looking for a way out of the cage), not taking feeders/hand feeding from me and wanting out of the enclosure any time I am near. I'm wondering if this is normal for an 8 mo. old, or is there something that I'm missing? He possibly ate 2 small/ med. dubias today (may have crawled out of the cup and could not find), but left the supers which he usually scarfs up. Now, he won't touch the crickets, BSF or BSF larvae for all the tea in China. It seems like he is upset that we left him for three days. What can I do to ensure his success. I will take some pics tomorrow and try to weigh him, so that you all can comment. I appreciate you taking the time to read this long winded plea for assistance.
I've read all I can, on a daily basis, of the triumphs and heartbreak from some of you. I am extremely humbled by the knowledge base on our forum and feel fortunate that I am part of this community. Hopefully someone can help out.
Chameleon Info:
•Your Chameleon [/B][/B]- 8 mo. old male, Veiled. In my care for 4 mo. now.
•Handling - 2-3 times per week (outside for some sun). As of late, when I open the cage to feed in the morning, or clean/ remove the feeders in the evening, he'll climb up my arm and perch on my head. Always seems to want out and will climb out if the door's open.
•Feeding - Currently alternating through medium crickets, medium dubias, super worms and have recently tried BSF/ larvae. When Lucky was eating regularly, He was eating five crickets, plus two or three dubias and two or three super worms per day. As of the beginning of the month he was eating like a horse on a daily basis. I am gut loading my feeders with carrots, dandelion greens, oranges, apple, and Fluker's high calcium cricket diet.
•Supplements - I am using Rep-Cal supplements. I am dusting all feeder items daily with calcium powder (No D3) . Twice a month, I dust with D3 and Herptivite w/ beta-carotene.
•Watering - I have a Mist-King watering system that is scheduled to mist three times a day for 5 min. each. I caught Lucky drinking (water) about a week ago.
•Fecal Description - As of late, fecal's have been smallish (not eating as much) and urates have been off white with pale yellow hugh (not drinking as much I suspect) Fecal tested w/ negative results. (possibly getting dehydrated or needs a "shower" tomorrow)
•History - All was going well, until I was away for three days at the beginning of this month. When I returned, I noticed that there were crickets and dubias left over in the feeder. Well, more than I expected there would be in three days. Since my return, he will no longer take feeders readily from my hand and his appetite has not been the same since we returned. The cage lighting and misting is all automated and no other animals were in the house while I was gone. All appeared to be working correctly (lights/water) upon my return. Ambient temp in the house was set at 75*
Cage Info:
•Cage Type - Jungle Hobbies XL black alum. screen cage. 24x24x48
Lighting - Basking: Exo-terra 75 w. in dome. UVB: ZooMed Repti-Sun 5.0 ; Lights are on a timer, for 12 hrs. (0630 - 1830) I will gradually cut back to ten hours as winter approaches.
•Temperature - I have three bio-climatic zones in the enclosure. Basking is at 85*, mid is @ 75-80* and lower is at 70*. The lowest overnight temp so far is 70*. I measure with heat gun and therm. @ basking spot.
•Humidity - Humidity ranges from approx 50% - 60% with three mistings @ 5 min. Intervals throughout the day @ 7, noon and 5. I measure humidity w/ a digital and analog hygrometer.
•Plants - Live: I have a fairly large Schefflera that fills 3/4 the cage. I trade out with a similar sized ficus benjamina monthly, so that plants can take a break from daily "beatings."
•Placement - The enclosure is located in a corner of the great room away from any air vents, or high traffic areas. The top of the cage is 6' from the floor, elevated by a 2x2 end table.
•Location - Northern CA.
Current Problem - I am experiencing some possibly odd behaviors from Lucky as of late. The new behaviors (past 2 weeks) I am seeing are loss of appetite (eating very little to nothing in the past week), increased movement throughout the enclosure( appears to be looking for a way out of the cage), not taking feeders/hand feeding from me and wanting out of the enclosure any time I am near. I'm wondering if this is normal for an 8 mo. old, or is there something that I'm missing? He possibly ate 2 small/ med. dubias today (may have crawled out of the cup and could not find), but left the supers which he usually scarfs up. Now, he won't touch the crickets, BSF or BSF larvae for all the tea in China. It seems like he is upset that we left him for three days. What can I do to ensure his success. I will take some pics tomorrow and try to weigh him, so that you all can comment. I appreciate you taking the time to read this long winded plea for assistance.
