Masoala questions

V

venessa214

New Member
I picked this guy up in a trade for an aquarium that I didn't have a use or the room for any longer. I was told he is a Masoala panther, two years old. He seems to be on the thin side in my opinion. I saw another thread regarding the pads, and see that his are rather...diminished. Right now I only have crickets, what would be the best way to get some weight on him? Should I feed daily, or skip a day? How many crickets should I give him? I know in the case of underfed dogs/cats you want to increase food, and ultimately their weight, slowly-would it be the same here?
He is active, especially when I take him outside. He didn't like to be misted for the first couple days, but now seems to enjoy it.
Any and all advice would be great!!

The pic is one sent to me by the previous owner. I have him in a mesh screen enclosure, and will be building a larger all screen enclosure this weekend.


photo.php
 
cant see the pics cause we are not friends.. try using photobucket and use the IMG code.

I have a masoala as well, so I'd like to see if he is one or not. Give him as many crickets as he can eat right now. Also, put him in a plant inside your shower. Aim the nozzle at a wall and let luke warm water bounce of the wall and onto the plant.. do this for 20 minutes, 2-3 times a day so he rehydrates.

Gutload the crickets with leafy greens, oranges, bee polen and many other goods.

I am putting here a few helpful links:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/575-january-2012-dry-gutload-recipe.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
 
Last edited:
OK, hopefully this works:

bob.jpg


Another question-I am under the impression that tap water is OK for chams? I have crested geckos, and use distilled water for them as they aren't supposed to have tap, so I was just going on the same basis for the chams as well.
 
venessa214 said:
OK, hopefully this works:

bob.jpg


Another question-I am under the impression that tap water is OK for chams? I have crested geckos, and use distilled water for them as they aren't supposed to have tap, so I was just going on the same basis for the chams as well.
Click to expand...

Is that where you are keeping him? If so, you need to do some work in order to improve his lifestyle.
I'll go into that if it is indeed his current housing.

Regarding the water, I go by the philosophy that if you'd willingly drink the tap water, then it's fine for them. I use tap water.
 
Welcome to the forums btw! Congrats on your new addition. Poor thing is very thin. You can see all his bones in his legs and tail. Looks like an ambilobe too. Masoala are very rare and I doubt you'd find one on Craigslist (they go for like $500+). Feed him like 10-15 large crickets daily and see how he's doing after a few weeks. You don't want him to put on a lot of weight quickly. Make sure the crickets are well gutloaded and dusted with calcium (no d3 or phosphorus) every other day because who knows what other deficiencies he has if he's that underweight. Care obviously wasn't good with the previous owner.

Veiledchams - that was the pic from the previous owner. That cage was way too small indeed.
 
ferretinmyshoes said:
Welcome to the forums btw! Congrats on your new addition. Poor thing is very thin. You can see all his bones in his legs and tail. Looks like an ambilobe too. Masoala are very rare and I doubt you'd find one on Craigslist (they go for like $500+). Feed him like 10-15 large crickets daily and see how he's doing after a few weeks. You don't want him to put on a lot of weight quickly. Make sure the crickets are well gutloaded and dusted with calcium (no d3 or phosphorus) every other day because who knows what other deficiencies he has if he's that underweight. Care obviously wasn't good with the previous owner.

Veiledchams - that was the pic from the previous owner. That cage was way too small indeed.
Click to expand...

I highlighted the part about it being a masoala. It doesnt resemble mine or the ones I have seen. I'd wait until it get backs to full health to see its good coloration. I would not, however, breed and sell as masoala as you cannot be 100% sure of its locale. If he makes it, he'll make a very nice pet chameleon or a cross-locale breeder.
 
VeiledChams said:
Alrighty Ferret, hopefully Vanessa has him in a larger cage now.
Click to expand...

Yes, he is in a 36x18x18 mesh enclosure until this weekend when we can build a larger screen enclosure.

VeiledChams said:
I highlighted the part about it being a masoala. It doesnt resemble mine or the ones I have seen. I'd wait until it get backs to full health to see its good coloration. I would not, however, breed and sell as masoala as you cannot be 100% sure of its locale. If he makes it, he'll make a very nice pet chameleon or a cross-locale breeder.
Click to expand...

My main concern with him right now is to get him healthy. He definitely tears up some food! I have been dusting his crickets. The sad part is the guy I got him from is a breeder and sells at the local reptile shows. At one time, he tried to sell me juvenile crested geckos, telling me they were temp sexed, when I already know there is no conclusive evidence that temp determines cresties.
Needless to say, I won't purchase anything from him in the future, and I feel my trade definitely weighed in the favor of the cham.
 
Last edited:
I have had this guy now for a week and a couple days. Here are some new pics of him outside:
2012-05-18131252.jpg
2012-05-18130508.jpg



Have another question-how often should they poo? Today was the first time he has since I got him last Wednesday. And it looked quite a bit different from the poo of my little Ambanja girl. (aside from being much larger than hers since she is only 6ish months old)
 
venessa214 said:
I have had this guy now for a week and a couple days. Here are some new pics of him outside:
2012-05-18131252.jpg
2012-05-18130508.jpg



Have another question-how often should they poo? Today was the first time he has since I got him last Wednesday. And it looked quite a bit different from the poo of my little Ambanja girl. (aside from being much larger than hers since she is only 6ish months old)
Click to expand...

Vanessa he is looking better than the other pic! congrats to you for doing such a good job. Keep on feeding him nicely gutloaded crickets and he should get to be a very beautiful chameleon. Mine dont poop much, maybe once a week (very large ones though).
 
I have had Comet now for a month, and I think he's doing great as far as weight and appearance. His casque has filled out, and no longer holds water when I spray him. Here is an updated pic from last night when he was sleeping:
comet.jpg


The wound on his 'hand' is from when he was feeling adventurous and decided to climb the rat cage and the rat didn't like that. It is healing nicely, he never seemed to be bothered by it, and let me put neosporin on it.

Any further ideas on what locale he might be?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Steve A
I did it: I managed to bring myself to only feed Spike every other day
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
Lt.WorfReportingForDuty
Lt.WorfReportingForDuty
S
is my chameleon okay? what should i do?
Replies
14
Views
565
kinyonga
K
lallalaura
Rescued a chameleon
Replies
5
Views
533
MissSkittles
MissSkittles
Clovey__
Tail biting, free roaming, and random questions
Replies
2
Views
457
jpm995
J
AngryGremlin
Looking for advice for multiple questions
Replies
3
Views
546
AngryGremlin
AngryGremlin
Back
Top Bottom