like a caged lion

[ayiaskepi]

Hey guys. I have not posted in a while. I have been away and quite busy.

My cham (5.5 month old male panther) is seen frequently pacing back and forth on the front bottom of the cage. This has only been happening for the past few days. His basking spot is around 93 and the cooler parts of the cage are around 81. Is he just hot? He shows no sign of overheating or dehydration. His feces are great (not literally ) and he is misted more than enough. What do you guys think???

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Hey guys. I have not posted in a while. I have been away and quite busy.

My cham (5.5 month old male panther) is seen frequently pacing back and forth on the front bottom of the cage. This has only been happening for the past few days. His basking spot is around 93 and the cooler parts of the cage are around 81. Is he just hot? He shows no sign of overheating or dehydration. His feces are great (not literally ) and he is misted more than enough. What do you guys think???

Could be the heat, if there's been a rise up in temp.. Could just be going through puberty. Any dried out sperm pugs hanging from branches? Can become restless during this stage, making that physical change to adult. Although still young at 5.5 months, Panthers can vary greatly in their development.

 

[ayiaskepi]

Thanks.

I have never seen a dried sperm plug. Actually, other than a few photos on this forum, I have never even seen a wet one. What should I be looking for?

Appreciate the advice.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Thanks.

I have never seen a dried sperm plug. Actually, other than a few photos on this forum, I have never even seen a wet one. What should I be looking for?

Appreciate the advice.

You'll know when you see it. Can be many other things though. Here's a picture to give you idea. Does he have a big appetite?

 

[ayiaskepi]

ahhh yes. I actually may have seen the leftovers of one of those, but I am not positive. He has a pretty big appetite I guess... between 8-12 1/2 inch-adult crickets a day. Every couple days I give him a few Phoenix worms as well, but I am going to be stopping those because they do not always digest well. What do you use as staple feeders? I am thinking of getting away from crix but do not know if I am ready to take the "roach plunge".

 

[jannb]

Silk worms are good.

 

[ayiaskepi]

yes, silkies are great staples, but my cham is petrified of them. I want to try them again when he gets a bit older.

They are also on the expensive side.

 

[spatulars]

Maybe try stabbing a bigger hole in the phoenix worms, more than just a pin prick. I use a safety pin on those little buggers but I stab 'em a lot.

 

[Klemins]

Why stab them? Does it make them easy digest easier (as in, stomach acids get into the worm more efficiently)?

 

[Brian]

Why stab them? Does it make them easy digest easier (as in, stomach acids get into the worm more efficiently)?

Yes it does...Whenever I feed them pheonix worms without poking or stabing them they come out indigested

Brian

 

[Brian]

Maybe try stabbing a bigger hole in the phoenix worms, more than just a pin prick. I use a safety pin on those little buggers but I stab 'em a lot.

I like to stab them them good as well

Brian

 

[chamlover]

When talking to my new vet he thought that hornworms were a better staple then silkies. I use them both. Try thinking about roaches. I also am trying really hard to like them. I have 3 different kinds now and boy i'll tell you they are alot less trouble then crickets. I have about 100 or so now in a 10 gal bucket and haven't cleaned it out in months. NO SMELL AT ALL.

Debby

 

[ColorCham427]

I'd really try cleaning that bucket! Try using crix for a staple.. i know they smell and can get loose.. but they r harmless and eat anything u feed them... im soon going to be trying roaches for my little guy with a tongue disorder. Silkworms are great... idk about hornworms as a staple??? not much nutrition value and chameleons..(atleast mine) get spoiled on them and refuse to eat anything else for a while.

 

[ayiaskepi]

Sorry I have not replied to the thread which I asked quesitons in. Been quite busy. Anyway, I would love to start on dubias if I can get away from the fear of them getting loose in the house (yes I read the threads about this). How many do I need to start a colony? I mean, including ones to feed off? I guess this is where I am confused regarding starting a dubia colony. How big of a tub is good for them?

I have to question the advice regarding hornworms. I am no expert by any means, but my research shows horns being less nutritious than some others.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Hey guys. I have not posted in a while. I have been away and quite busy.

My cham (5.5 month old male panther) is seen frequently pacing back and forth on the front bottom of the cage. This has only been happening for the past few days. His basking spot is around 93 and the cooler parts of the cage are around 81. Is he just hot? He shows no sign of overheating or dehydration. His feces are great (not literally ) and he is misted more than enough. What do you guys think???

A 93 degree basking temp and 81 ambient temp is a bit high for a panther chameleon. Especially a young one. Panthers like it cooler than veileds. Basking temp can be about 85 degrees and the temp at the bottom of the cage should be in low 70s. Sounds like he is hot to me.

Dubias are great, and by far the easiest feeder to take care of. I don't know how many you need to start with. We adopted a colony of hundreds of them, so I don't know how many a person should purchase to begin with. But someone here will tell you. We keep ours in an old glass fish tank, with egg crates, and feed them home made gutload and fruits and vegetables.