I've made the jump. My Panther Chameleon will be here in 2 weeks. Looking for any last minute advice.

[StevensUneven]

This is a follow up to my previous post “Looking for advice before getting my first panther chameleon”. I have made some changes over time but more importantly just made the purchase of my first chameleon.

Chameleon Info:​

• Your Chameleon - Panther Chameleon. Male Ambilobe. Here is the exact one. Hatched Jan 2024. Purchased from Kammerflage. Still coming up with names. I will make sure to update along the way with my journey.
• Feeding -
  • Black Soldier Fly Larvae (50 Count - Medium)
  • 1/4" - 3/8" Small Dubia Roaches (25 Count)
  • 1/4" Banded Cricket Cup (120 Count)
  • Currently gut loading with Repashy Bug Burger and various fruit/veggies I can get from the store.
  • Storing in a couple 2.2 gallon tanks with heat pads.
• Supplements -
  • Repti Calcium without D3 (or phosphorus): with every feeding.
  • Repashy Calcium Plus LoD (D3 and Multivitamin): 1st and 15th of every month.
• Fecal Description - Reviewing Chameleon Poop 101.
• Daily Schedule -
  • 6:55 AM
    • Mist for 1 minute
  • 7:00 AM
    • Fogger stops
  • 9:00 AM
    • UVB and plant lights turn on
    • Heat lamp starts warming up
  • 9:30 AM
    • Basking spot at 80 degrees, maintains 80 all day with the herpstat.
  • 10:00 AM
    • Fan turns on
  • 4:00 PM
    • Add dripper to the enclosure, if needed
  • 6:00 PM
    • Heat lamp cools down over 30 minutes, then turns off
    • Fan turns off
  • 8:45 PM
    • Mist for 2 minutes
  • 9:00 PM
    • UVB and plant lights turn off
  • 11:00 PM
    • Mist for 1 minute
    • Fogger turns on

Cage Info:​

• Cage Type -
  • Dragonstrand Tall Hybrid Chameleon Cage System
• Lighting -
  • Solarmeter 6.5R. Getting about 3.0 at the basking spot. Picture Attached.
  • (UVB) The Bio Dude Solar Grow T5 HO Single Bulb Light Strip 24"
  • (UVB) Arcadia Forest D3 6% UVB T5 Bulb
  • (Plants) Arcadia Jungle Dawn 22 Watt LED Terrarium Light Bar
• Temperature -
  • Herpstat 2 SpyderWeb for maintaining basking spot temperatures.
  • Box of 60-watt incandescent bulbs
  • 10" dome reflector on top of the enclosure, slightly tilted towards the branch.
• Humidity -
  • Starter MistKing Misting System V 5.0
  • AUAAQ Top fill Reptile Fogger
• Plants -
  • Dracaena Lemon Lime (Middle)
  • Money Plant (Middle)
  • ZZ Plant (Bottom)
  • Pothos (Everywhere)
• Extras -
  • 3 x Govee Temperature Humidity Monitors (top near the basking spot, bottom, and outside the enclosure)
  • 120mm fan resting on the top of the enclosure in the back left corner. Blowing air in. Only runs during the day to help lower humidity.
  • Sheet to cover the front of the enclosure for privacy during day and darkness at night.
• Placement - Small office away from everyone and rarely used.
• Location - Midwest Region (Northern Indiana)

 

[MissSkittles]

Everything sounds and looks great to my eyes. What are your night time temps? Since you’ve got everything else perfect, I expect you are only going to be running the fogger when the temps are below at least 68. Your little guy is a beauty! How exciting! I hope the next two weeks fly by for you.

 

[StevensUneven]

So far I've only been able to get it down to 68-70 in the enclosure at night however I have been turning the fogger on every night regardless, that was actually helping bring the temps down. Should I only be turning it on when it gets below 68?

 

[isaiah33]

So far I've only been able to get it down to 68-70 in the enclosure at night however I have been turning the fogger on every night regardless, that was actually helping bring the temps down. Should I only be turning it on when it gets below 68?

Yes they can get respiratory infections if you use above 68

 

[StevensUneven]

Thank you, I did not realize, I will see about opening some vents in the room and seeing if I can get it colder at night. Otherwise, we'll wait to winter to use it.

 

[isaiah33]

Thank you, I did not realize, I will see about opening some vents in the room and seeing if I can get it colder at night. Otherwise, we'll wait to winter to use it.

I normally just wait till winter because I can't get my temps down but do what you think is best

 

[ToastyCham]

This is a follow up to my previous post “Looking for advice before getting my first panther chameleon”. I have made some changes over time but more importantly just made the purchase of my first chameleon.

Chameleon Info:​

• Your Chameleon - Panther Chameleon. Male Ambilobe. Here is the exact one. Hatched Jan 2024. Purchased from Kammerflage. Still coming up with names. I will make sure to update along the way with my journey.
• Feeding -
  • Black Soldier Fly Larvae (50 Count - Medium)
  • 1/4" - 3/8" Small Dubia Roaches (25 Count)
  • 1/4" Banded Cricket Cup (120 Count)
  • Currently gut loading with Repashy Bug Burger and various fruit/veggies I can get from the store.
  • Storing in a couple 2.2 gallon tanks with heat pads.
• Supplements -
  • Repti Calcium without D3 (or phosphorus): with every feeding.
  • Repashy Calcium Plus LoD (D3 and Multivitamin): 1st and 15th of every month.
• Fecal Description - Reviewing Chameleon Poop 101.
• Daily Schedule -
  • 6:55 AM
    • Mist for 1 minute
  • 7:00 AM
    • Fogger stops
  • 9:00 AM
    • UVB and plant lights turn on
    • Heat lamp starts warming up
  • 9:30 AM
    • Basking spot at 80 degrees, maintains 80 all day with the herpstat.
  • 10:00 AM
    • Fan turns on
  • 4:00 PM
    • Add dripper to the enclosure, if needed
  • 6:00 PM
    • Heat lamp cools down over 30 minutes, then turns off
    • Fan turns off
  • 8:45 PM
    • Mist for 2 minutes
  • 9:00 PM
    • UVB and plant lights turn off
  • 11:00 PM
    • Mist for 1 minute
    • Fogger turns on

Cage Info:​

• Cage Type -
  • Dragonstrand Tall Hybrid Chameleon Cage System
• Lighting -
  • Solarmeter 6.5R. Getting about 3.0 at the basking spot. Picture Attached.
  • (UVB) The Bio Dude Solar Grow T5 HO Single Bulb Light Strip 24"
  • (UVB) Arcadia Forest D3 6% UVB T5 Bulb
  • (Plants) Arcadia Jungle Dawn 22 Watt LED Terrarium Light Bar
• Temperature -
  • Herpstat 2 SpyderWeb for maintaining basking spot temperatures.
  • Box of 60-watt incandescent bulbs
  • 10" dome reflector on top of the enclosure, slightly tilted towards the branch.
• Humidity -
  • Starter MistKing Misting System V 5.0
  • AUAAQ Top fill Reptile Fogger
• Plants -
  • Dracaena Lemon Lime (Middle)
  • Money Plant (Middle)
  • ZZ Plant (Bottom)
  • Pothos (Everywhere)
• Extras -
  • 3 x Govee Temperature Humidity Monitors (top near the basking spot, bottom, and outside the enclosure)
  • 120mm fan resting on the top of the enclosure in the back left corner. Blowing air in. Only runs during the day to help lower humidity.
  • Sheet to cover the front of the enclosure for privacy during day and darkness at night.
• Placement - Small office away from everyone and rarely used.
• Location - Midwest Region (Northern Indiana)

Oh congrats! Getting a chameleon is so exciting! You chose one of the best site sponsers.

 

[StevensUneven]

With the absence of the fogger, is there any suggestions for how often and how long I should run the mister? I assume high humidity at night will be harder achieve.

 

[isaiah33]

With the absence of the fogger, is there any suggestions for how often and how long I should run the mister? I assume high humidity at night will be harder achieve.

1-2 minutes would be good, run it right before the lights go on and right after the lights go off is how I do it

 

[ToastyCham]

With the absence of the fogger, is there any suggestions for how often and how long I should run the mister? I assume high humidity at night will be harder achieve.

I have a few misting sessions throughout the night that are about 10-15 seconds to help boost humidity.

 

[MissSkittles]

With night temps of 68-70, you can still do a boost of humidity at night, either with your fogger or mister. I wouldn’t go all the way up to 100% though. I can’t even come close to anything below around 73/74 at night so I don’t even have a fogger. I do have my mister set to give a couple of 15 second mistings during the night for a modest boost of humidity. This works well for me.

 

[naterowley]

With 68-70 over night temp I would personally not have a problem fogging. I do run my fogger for less time than you from 12a-5a, with a few 15 sec misting through out the night. For your morning and evening mist I do 3 mins instead of 2. I run 2 misting nozzles. With your computer fan running it should be able to help dry out the cage during the day which is the part you need for preventing the mentioned RI risks. You can always add another if you need to. I run 2 fans on my panther. If you need to, don’t be afraid to try different airflow directions of the fan, you should be able to see differences physically and in your app. Don’t be afraid to use the height in the top where your chameleon can’t reach the top to screen climb with an occasional branch sticking out of your top level. Be aware of UVB and heat placement when adding what I call “random branches to no where”. Those branches that go no where are my chameleons favorite branches! You’re off to a great start and your chameleon is gonna be in awesome hands with you!

 

[Sonny13]

Looks great and what an exciting moment I wish everybody would take it that serious from the first second, well done!! He will be forever thankful and bring you lots of joy

 

[MzLaurie]

With night temps of 68-70, you can still do a boost of humidity at night, either with your fogger or mister. I wouldn’t go all the way up to 100% though. I can’t even come close to anything below around 73/74 at night so I don’t even have a fogger. I do have my mister set to give a couple of 15 second mistings during the night for a modest boost of humidity. This works well for me.

This works well for me too. Mainly water the leaves of the plants and it drops the humidity. Just don’t mist him at night could lead to RI.

 

[MzLaurie]

You can always cover the outside of one or two sides of the cage to help with humidity. I did the back and the sides the cords go down. A vinyl shower curtain liner works. Cut it to size and tape it to the frame. But I want to tell you that you have done a fantastic job. Soon your new son will be in his home a investigating everything. You might want to get some thinner branches that go to the bottom in case he can’t climb up the thick branches you have there now. But I am sure you will learn what he needs from watching him closely. As for a name, maybe start a thread asking for suggestions! Congratulations!

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

I added a cool mist humidifier to help bring my temp down to 68. Cool mist only. I actually run it 6pm- 7am. I fog 11pm-4am.

 

[elizaann2]

Looks awesome! He is a lucky cham! Congrats!