Male/ Female Panther Chameleon

[Roxanimals]

Hi! New here and first time Cham mom. I’ve gone through several posts, other articles and google images but I can’t tell.

I attached several pictures as attachments of different stages and times since I’ve had it as well as its current set up.

I’m beginning to think that my “male” Panther chameleon is a girl. It is approximately 5 months and the color is very low/ dull. More turquoise began to show in the last shed and I understand it can take years but I don’t see the hemi-penal bulge. When I questioned the breeder about the color/gender and possibly not giving me the chameleon they presented in pictures they told me I was killing it and gave me a 3 day ultimatum to return it.

If it is a female I do not know what I need to set up for her and would appreciate advice. I’m happy to go through the forum and other threads on that but I need to know if it’s a girl.

Other info if it matters:
It’s eating/growing well and has probably doubled in size in the month and a half I’ve had it although it’s only shed twice.
It has a voracious appetite and enjoys hunting crickets in the enclosure, also eats medium roaches and an occasional super worm. It won’t touch meal worms or horn worms. It’s very calm, hand tame, happy to come out of its cage and doesn’t stress easily. Currently in an XL reptibreeze with an elaborate natural branch set up with golden pothos entwined everywhere. I tried several other plants but noticed that it had a hard time maneuvering around and the leaves didn’t hold water as well. I have an automatic misting system set up for 45 seconds every 8 hours that I supplement with 3-4 manual mistings a day. It is constantly thirsty and or just really loves water. I have a Zilla 20” Pro Sol fixture with a 50w clear/ white halogen and two tropical mini UVA/UVB bulbs. I do not use the night heat bulb. I also have a Giangarden HO T5 UVB lighting kit- 24w 10.0. The cage is very large and is really dark without the two lights and it loves the basking light- approximately 10” from closest basking branch. Temperature at the basking area is 80F 40% humidity and the lower other half of the cage is 70F 40% humidity. It has its own bedtime, sleeps at the lower portion of the cage and I cover the cage at night.

 

[Roxanimals]

This is a picture from today

 

[Beman]

Hi! New here and first time Cham mom. I’ve gone through several posts, other articles and google images but I can’t tell.

I attached several pictures as attachments of different stages and times since I’ve had it as well as its current set up.

I’m beginning to think that my “male” Panther chameleon is a girl. It is approximately 5 months and the color is very low/ dull. More turquoise began to show in the last shed and I understand it can take years but I don’t see the hemi-penal bulge. When I questioned the breeder about the color/gender and possibly not giving me the chameleon they presented in pictures they told me I was killing it and gave me a 3 day ultimatum to return it.

If it is a female I do not know what I need to set up for her and would appreciate advice. I’m happy to go through the forum and other threads on that but I need to know if it’s a girl.

Other info if it matters:
It’s eating/growing well and has probably doubled in size in the month and a half I’ve had it although it’s only shed twice.
It has a voracious appetite and enjoys hunting crickets in the enclosure, also eats medium roaches and an occasional super worm. It won’t touch meal worms or horn worms. It’s very calm, hand tame, happy to come out of its cage and doesn’t stress easily. Currently in an XL reptibreeze with an elaborate natural branch set up with golden pothos entwined everywhere. I tried several other plants but noticed that it had a hard time maneuvering around and the leaves didn’t hold water as well. I have an automatic misting system set up for 45 seconds every 8 hours that I supplement with 3-4 manual mistings a day. It is constantly thirsty and or just really loves water. I have a Zilla 20” Pro Sol fixture with a 50w clear/ white halogen and two tropical mini UVA/UVB bulbs. I do not use the night heat bulb. I also have a Giangarden HO T5 UVB lighting kit- 24w 10.0. The cage is very large and is really dark without the two lights and it loves the basking light- approximately 10” from closest basking branch. Temperature at the basking area is 80F 40% humidity and the lower other half of the cage is 70F 40% humidity. It has its own bedtime, sleeps at the lower portion of the cage and I cover the cage at night.
View attachment 337397

Hi there welcome to the forum. I am seeing a bulge in the tail base so I believe you do have a male...

Few things to note. You want to extend your misting time. 45 seconds really is not long enough. Most run 2-5 minute misting sessions depending on enclosure type and ambient humidity levels. You can also add a dripper to the cage by using a solo plastic cup that you poke pin holes into. Then fill with ice cubes and it will provide a slow drip. Just set it on the cage top over leaves.

For the lighting. You really do not need the coil screw in uvb bulbs. They do not help because depending on strength the do not penetrate far enough. With this said they do make some that are far too strong as well.

Can you tell me what your distance to the basking branches is with the linear T5 and the 10.0 uvb bulb? This one is a bit stronger and needs 11-12 inches to the branches below to keep the cham out of over exposure levels.

 

[Roxanimals]

Thank you! I couldn’t tell if that’s the bulge or the vent. I greatly appreciate the recommendations!

The misting time makes a lot of sense as to why I feel he needs additional misting and loves water. The system has 15 second intervals up to 1 minute and 1, 3, 8 and 12 hour misting time setting. I’ll definitely up the duration.

Do you have recommendations on other light alternatives? I only have the two lights because the cage is dark without both.

What are signs of over exposure? I just measured and from his favorite basking area the linear T5 10.0 AND the heat bulb are 8” away but he’s much closer when he’s on the branches. I thought they were much, much lower. It would take some work but I can probably move them down. Everything is zip tied together with established vines on them. I can also change the position of the lights as they’re simply sitting on top of the cage, which would be much easier.

He’s dark because he didn’t like the tape measurer, my fault.

 

[Beman]

Thank you! I couldn’t tell if that’s the bulge or the vent. I greatly appreciate the recommendations!

The misting time makes a lot of sense as to why I feel he needs additional misting and loves water. The system has 15 second intervals up to 1 minute and 1, 3, 8 and 12 hour misting time setting. I’ll definitely up the duration.

Do you have recommendations on other light alternatives? I only have the two lights because the cage is dark without both.

What are signs of over exposure? I just measured and from his favorite basking area the linear T5 10.0 AND the heat bulb are 8” away but he’s much closer when he’s on the branches. I thought they were much, much lower. It would take some work but I can probably move them down. Everything is zip tied together with established vines on them. I can also change the position of the lights as they’re simply sitting on top of the cage, which would be much easier.

He’s dark because he didn’t like the tape measurer, my fault.

Yes, to me it looks male. Females have very slender tail bases compared to males. This explains it well http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2013/04/male-or-female-how-to-sex-baby-panther.html

You must have the monsoon misting system. So you want to take it to its max which is 1 minute and go every 8 hours. But also provide the dripper I mentioned before.

So I would actually go with a plant light and remove the coil fixture holder. Jungle dawn LED bars are fantastic and light up the entire cage plus really help with plant growth. THen you would get a deep dome fixture for your heat bulb.

You can raise fixtures if you can not lower branches. Some of us use plant hangers that we mount to the wall to get stuff at the right distance.

For the UVB you want no closer than 11-12 inches from the bottom of the fixture to the branches below. This will then put the cham in the right UVB level. If you drop down to a 5.0 or 6% bulb strength you only need 8-9 inches from the bottom of the fixture to the branches below for the same correct UVB level.

Does not surprise. Mine will lunge at anything I put in the cage that is not normal for him to see.

This site will help you a lot and then ask any question you have here. https://chameleonacademy.com/chameleon-husbandry-program-getting-started-with-chameleons/

 

[MzLaurie]

Hi and welcome. Beman’s advice is backed with a lot of knowledge and a ton of research. One thing I suggest is get a done masking fixture with a dimmer switch. That way you can alter it if the temp is off instead of moving branches. Oh the bulge is at the vent. Don’t be alarmed in the future if you see him exposing himself either. That’s normal. They have one penis with two heads and at about 8 months to a year are sexually active and start patrolling the cage looking for a female. The wonderful thing about the male panthers is the constant change in the appearance. Female panthers don’t change much. It sounds like your boy has a great personality and I am so glad you decided to keep him. He looks very healthy. Now you can name him without questioning his sex. Keep us posted on his progress. I am sure each molt will bring a surprise new look!