I finally have my first cham, and LOTS of questions !!

[jims]

Hi,

SO this is it! I finally own my first chameleon and like the title says, i'm full of questions. I had read a lot about chameleons before getting one, but I realize now that nothing replaces practice. So here are my questions, but first, some pictures:









This little guy has been sold to me as a 6/7 months old ambilobe red bar (but the guy from the store wasn't that sure...) and although at night he turns kind of orange / light red, during the day, he's more green with what to me loks like... blue bars. So what do you think, red bars or blue bars ? (or something else..)

So far I had no problem to feed him as he eats around 6 to 7 crickets a day. He also drinks from the nozzle when I manually spray his enclosure but I've never seen him lick the leaves. Should I be concerned ?

For the first 2 days, he didn't move much and stayed on the same branch, but now he's being more active and he goes up and down (up during the day, and he sleeps on the lower branches). He never goes under his heating lamp and i'm just wondering that it might be too hot. The temperature is around 35°C/95°F. Is this too much ?

He's been pooping also everyday (after misting..), and I guess this is a good sign, but (sorry I'm gonna get graphic here),his pooped starts kind white/light yellow and almost liquid (kind of like a bird), but then finishes as big and dark brown with all the cricket remains (legs) ? Again, is this normal ?
I'm going to get some roaches for him today to change from the crickets, and we'll see what happens.

Anyway, this is it for now. I'm so excited with him and love him dearly, even my wife who was reluctant at first just adores him now. They are for sure amazing animal !!

 

[zlew]

I dont think you need to be too worried about not seeing him drink from the leaves. He may be doing it while you're not there, mine wont do anything in front of me.
You may want to try lowering the basking temp to 90 degrees--it can depened on the chameleon how warm they like to bask. Mine is a baby, but he still prefers the warmer side of the general basking range. As for the poop, I'm not an expert, but that sounds pretty normal, although ive never seen cricket remains in my chameleons poop. Beautiful chameleon.

 

[Psychobunny]

Don't worry about graphic poop talk, we love to talk poop here

You are seeing undigested insect fragments in his poop because he is not metabolizing properly. Your basking lamp is too hot, and you may not have it the right distance from him.

I use 60W incan bulbs with reflective dome fixture, and when I use a digital thermometer with probe to measure the temp, it's high 80'sF, at a distance of 10''.
I have never had to use a bulb higher then 60W.

You want him far enough away from the lamp or he may get a skin burn.
Chams regulate by their internal body temp, so, like a chicken in a over hot oven, he will burn on the outside well before reaching the proper internal temp.

If you don't have a digital thermometer with a probe, you should get one.

As far as drinking goes, they all seem to do their own thing.
Some of mine will lick wet leaves, others prefer to drink from a bottle cap, some drink the water that falls on their head and trickles down, etc.
Doesn't matter how they drink, as long as they get some water inside them.

The first 2 pics, I could swear he looks like a Nosy Be, but then you said he is Ambilobe

Can you post a pic of your cage set up?

 

[jims]

Thank you for your answers.

You can view all the details and see pictures of my terrarium here.
Let me know if there's anything wrong. I realised that it might be too crowded. I have no substrate but it's hard to reach when he poops in the back. I may have to re-do it.

You're right, my heating lamp might be too close, it's a solar raptor 70w. I will elevate it and see if changes anything.

As far as the locale, I have really no idea what it is (i'm no expert), again, it was sold to me as an Ambilobe Red Bar and although when he sleeps he turns pale red, during the day he's more greenish turquoise. I thought nosy be were blue, could they be turquoise ?

 

[jims]

I'm including a new picture of him when he sleeps. Sorry, it's kind of blurry.

 

[junglefries]

If that was his first outdoor adventure, it could explain his colors. I see the ambilobe in the others. If you can get him outside in 84-85°f sun and relaxed on his own little branch or perch, you will see his true colors. It may even take a couple trips. Lots of mine take several trips outside before really coloring up after relaxing. It is just too new and stressful at first. Make sure to get that digital temp probe, about $7.99 on amazon or reputable pet store. Poop talk is always welcome, even the ladies get into on here. Almost no boundaries on that subject, the cham's health outweighs the grossness. Takes some pics of his colors when you see them and post under chameleon identification. Should help.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

He looks like an ambilobe to me, however at this stage it is hard to say whether a red or blue bar. His colors will continue to evolve an change over the next year. These are amazing creatures and will continue to amaze you every day, enjoy your new guy!

 

[crazychamzoo]

He almost looks like a cross between a Ambilobe and a Faly to me, regardless he is beautiful.