new chameleon owner

[Connan_183]

I just purchased a male ambilobe juvenile panther chameleon. I am really excited for this new journey and being the best chameleon owner that I can be! My cham is very shy and I know it's going to take some time before he can trust me. Once I opened the box he was very active and kind of pale. I bought my cham from backwater reptiles. Once I placed him in his cage he turned into a green and brown color. I've been reading that these colors may signify that he is cold, stressed, or just trying to soak up the heat. The temperature according to my analog reader is 79.9 with a moderate humidifier reading of 50-55. I also have the lights hooked up that came in the chameleon kit I had purchased at Petsmart. He's been eating good and drinking water from the misting system I set up. I wanted opinions to see if he looks healthy. I'm a novice so I just want to know what I can do to make things more comfortable for him to be healthy and begin to trust me as his owner. Thank you for your time and consideration. A picture is posted below:

 

[inkdguy35]

live plants. helps with humidity and gives him places to hide and feel safe

 

[Connan_183]

live plants. helps with humidity and gives him places to hide and feel safe

What type of plants do you suggest?

 

[inkdguy35]

hibiscus and schleffera are always good go to plants as well as pothos. you can always check the safe plant list for more. a link should be easily found on this forum. also a dripper of water would be a good idea

 

[Connan_183]

hibiscus and schleffera are always good go to plants as well as pothos. you can always check the safe plant list for more. a link should be easily found on this forum. also a dripper of water would be a good idea

My mister goes off every 4 hours for 12 seconds. Do you think that's enough? Is a dripper necessary if I have a mister? I'm going to buy a pothos plant bc it seems like the least maintenance. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Jared910]

My mister goes off every 4 hours for 12 seconds. Do you think that's enough? Is a dripper necessary if I have a mister? I'm going to buy a pothos plant bc it seems like the least maintenance. Thanks for the advice!

No thats not enough! It needs to go on for much longer than 12 seconds. It takes a couple minutes for many chameleons to even recognize the water, move into position, start drinking, etc. My first mist of the day is about 6 minutes, 3 hours later i do 4 minutes, and 3 hours later I do another 5 minutes. Start misting longer right now, he's probably thirsty as we speak.

 

[inkdguy35]

longer mistings are great no doubt, but humidity control is most important. the point of the dripper is to give them moving water to drink from without having to run the mister more often just so they will drink. if it keeps the humidity in range you can run the mister as often as needed and for as long as needed. I can't imagine life without mine

 

[listen2justin]

longer mistings are great no doubt, but humidity control is most important. the point of the dripper is to give them moving water to drink from without having to run the mister more often just so they will drink. if it keeps the humidity in range you can run the mister as often as needed and for as long as needed. I can't imagine life without mine

agreed. i was trying to find a balance between the time i need to mist so my cham would drink and not having my cage soaked up all day and my plants drowning. i came to the conclusion that a dripper is the best way to give my cham water to drink and run the mister at shorter lengths. granted, 12 seconds is still too short. i run a minute 30 at the shortest.

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the forum and the world of chameleons!

If you want feed back on how you are keeping your chameleon, answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum.

 

[Connan_183]

No thats not enough! It needs to go on for much longer than 12 seconds. It takes a couple minutes for many chameleons to even recognize the water, move into position, start drinking, etc. My first mist of the day is about 6 minutes, 3 hours later i do 4 minutes, and 3 hours later I do another 5 minutes. Start misting longer right now, he's probably thirsty as we speak.

Thank you! I don't have 5 minutes listed on my duration. The

No thats not enough! It needs to go on for much longer than 12 seconds. It takes a couple minutes for many chameleons to even recognize the water, move into position, start drinking, etc. My first mist of the day is about 6 minutes, 3 hours later i do 4 minutes, and 3 hours later I do another 5 minutes. Start misting longer right now, he's probably thirsty as we speak.

My mister does not have that long of a duration.
my cycles are every 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 hours
my durations are 2, 4 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 60, 120 seconds

What do you suggest I place the settings according to my mister? He did poop today and I did see him drink as well. His poop was not hard at all, soft and formed. Thanks for the advice! I appreciate your help!

 

[Connan_183]

longer mistings are great no doubt, but humidity control is most important. the point of the dripper is to give them moving water to drink from without having to run the mister more often just so they will drink. if it keeps the humidity in range you can run the mister as often as needed and for as long as needed. I can't imagine life without mine

Thank you for this advice! I will go ahead and look at drippers.

 

[Connan_183]

agreed. i was trying to find a balance between the time i need to mist so my cham would drink and not having my cage soaked up all day and my plants drowning. i came to the conclusion that a dripper is the best way to give my cham water to drink and run the mister at shorter lengths. granted, 12 seconds is still too short. i run a minute 30 at the shortest.

thank you! I was also worried about my cage being soaked and my plants drowning. I bought a pothos plant. And I will invest in a dripper.

 

[Connan_183]

Welcome to the forum and the world of chameleons!

If you want feed back on how you are keeping your chameleon, answer the questions in the how to ask for help thread at the top of the health forum.

Thank you. I will post questions from now on in that part of the forum! Good to be here and be guided!

 

[Connan_183]

here is a picture of my cage.

 

[JacksJill]

Welcome to the forum. Good start on decorating your cage. Give him some time and privacy to settle in.
I agree with your type of mister a dripper will be a big help. Rather than drowned your plants you can put a covered container that bugs are sold in with the screen lid under the drip to collect the excess water. It will need to be emptied every day or two.
Congrats on your new friend.

 

[Connan_183]

agreed. i was trying to find a balance between the time i need to mist so my cham would drink and not having my cage soaked up all day and my plants drowning. i came to the conclusion that a dripper is the best way to give my cham water to drink and run the mister at shorter lengths. granted, 12 seconds is still too short. i run a minute 30 at the shortest.

What misting system do you use? Just wondering. I bought the monsoon solo misting system and the longest duration is only 120 seconds.

 

[kinyonga]

Thank you. I will post questions from now on in that part of the forum! Good to be here and be guided!

I didn't say to post questions in that part of the forum...Im suggesting since you are new to chameleons if you answer the questions I suggested that we could check to see if you're doing anything that wouldn't be good for your chameleon,

 

[Connan_183]

I didn't say to post questions in that part of the forum...Im suggesting since you are new to chameleons if you answer the questions I suggested that we could check to see if you're doing anything that wouldn't be good for your chameleon,

Oh I see, sorry for misreading. I'm tired, been working all day. :-( can't seem to get focused.

 

[kinyonga]

No problem.

 

[Connan_183]

Welcome to the forum. Good start on decorating your cage. Give him some time and privacy to settle in.
I agree with your type of mister a dripper will be a big help. Rather than drowned your plants you can put a covered container that bugs are sold in with the screen lid under the drip to collect the excess water. It will need to be emptied every day or two.
Congrats on your new friend.

Thank you for such a warm welcoming! I am always afraid to be bullied as a new chameleon owner. I just want to do my best! I appreciate the compliment on my cage and I will definitely get a bowl to empty the excess water! Thanks for the tip!