Lighting/feeding times for Panther Chameleon?

[BeardedBeings]

hi so I’m really interested in getting a Panther Chameleon. But, maybe 3-4 months of the year, there’s an occasional day where I don’t get home until around 6-7. I’ve read that chameleons ideally need 12 hours of light and 12 hours of no light, but would it be ok if the lights went on around 6:50 or 7 am and turned off at 8:30 or 9?
Also, I know that you’re supposed to feed them in the first half of the day, but I leave the house at 7:30. Would it be ok if I fed him around 7:15 or 7:20? I likely wouldn’t feed him on-the-spot but would rather but some insects in a cup and some just in his cage (but I’d leave some chameleon save veggies or food the crickets would eat rather than biting the chameleon). Do I need to wait hours after lights-on in order to add the insects?

 

[Chameleon Mike]

Panthers need to be able to digest the food for a while with the lights on otherwise it will cause problems. I have a pair of panthers and have the lights and mister on timers. I usually feed mine in the afternoon and never had problems. As far as crickets biting the chameleons that is always a risk weather or not you have food in the cage for the crickets. You may be in store for some Vet bills if you try to get one now. You might want to consider waiting till you have time for it.

 

[JacksJill]

I keep my lights on a timer on the 12 on 12 off schedule. On work days I feed before I leave in a feeder and/or hand feed the ones that will do that.
A lot of people like these feeders. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/feeder-cups.163094/#post-1408378 or you can make your own.

 

[BeardedBeings]

I keep my lights on a timer on the 12 on 12 off schedule. On work days I feed before I leave in a feeder and/or hand feed the ones that will do that.
A lot of people like these feeders. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/feeder-cups.163094/#post-1408378 or you can make your own.

So, how long after lights-on do you offer your feeders? I’d definitely feed in the morning rather than at night, but I’m worried if putting feeders in the food-cup on work days 30 minutes after lights on would be too early? Would this be alright?

 

[jamest0o0]

It'd be fine. Just throw some feeders in the cup, worms on branches, or crickets/flying insects free roam. They'll get them when lights turn on and they warm up.

 

[BeardedBeings]

It'd be fine. Just throw some feeders in the cup, worms on branches, or crickets/flying insects free roam. They'll get them when lights turn on and they warm up.

Oh, awesome! Luckily this early-feeding isn’t a year-round thing, it’s only for a few months a year, I’ll be able to pay a whole lot of special attention to him during the the summer, winter, and half of fall.

So, how to you make absolutely sure that the crickets won’t gnaw the poor chameleon to death? The breeder I’m buying from has these little tortious-feeding-balls that’s made for reptiles and has the same stuff that’s awesome for chameleons, and he grinds those up and puts it on extra veggies in the bottom of the cage for the crickets. Would this be a good method??

 

[jamest0o0]

I have substrate with plenty of leaves and crap(sometimes literally lol) laying around for the crickets to eat. I've had colonies of crickets in my enclosures for awhile now with no problems. I've never witnessed a cricket biting a cham, especially to death. They only do this in when they are starving. Keep any food the crickets will eat in the enclosure and they'll be satisfied.