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Welcome and the chameleon looks great. I think you will love it here there is plenty of experts around to help your every concern/need:):D:D:):D:):):D
 
Thanks guys! I wanted to show him off, but I also wanted you guys to see him so you could tell me if anything was wrong or if it was all good. I've seen other posts where some people said the cham in question looked dehydrated and I'm not completely sure what I was supposed to be looking at.

I have a pump sprayer that I use by hand once a day, but I'm starting to think that isn't enough.

Also, I feed him some superworms out of my hand, he eats a few and I put the rest in a cup at the bottom. Later if the cup is empty, I will try to feed him a few more...he usually won't eat them, so I put a couple in the cup and the next morning they will be gone. Should I regulate his diet, or let him eat all he wants?

It's a bunch of questions, I know, but I want to make sure I've giving him everything he needs. Thanks again to everyone who responds!
 
He's a lovely looking chameleon!

You're right, spraying once a day is likely not enough to meet his hydration needs. Consider making a dripper and/or spraying more often.

Are superworms the only insect you are using as a feeder? Are you gutloading the superworms and other insects? Using supplements?
Asked in the spirit of trying to be helpful :)
Feel free to have a look at my blog for a bunch of useful links, including lots related to feeding. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/useful-links/
Here's a link to a thread on making a dripper: https://www.chameleonforums.com/drippers-19143/#post177210
 
Thanks guys!

Sandra---I'm looking into making a dripper like you showed in your link. How much water should it hold, and how long should it drip until it runs dry?

I'm only feeding superworms right now, I have some phoenix worms on order from a friend of mine. Another owner told me that the superworms and crickets would be just fine as long as I dusted them twice a week. His logic makes sense...the worms and crickets are fine because he's getting the nutrients through the supplements and the lighting, but just because it sounds logical doesn't mean it's correct. So I'm trying to sort it all out. I've only had the guy for a week. You won't offend me by asking questions, I feel priviledged to be here in a place where you guys can relate your knowledge and experience so I can make sure I'm giving him everything he needs!

He is housed in a 2x2x4 screened cage, I've made sure his basking bulb his 6 inches from the closest branch and it keeps that area pretty warm--I need to get a thermometer to check the temp. I keep my house around 70 degrees at night. He's eating a lot more now that I changed the bulb to a warmer one. So I think I'm on the right track. However, I haven't seen any fecal matter anywhere. I could be overlooking it, but I've actually spent time looking for it and can't find any...should I be concerned? He seems healthy to me.

How can you tell if a cham is stressed? I keep reading that they're more of a display animal, but I get him out daily for free ranging and he likes to just sit on my shoulder if I'm standing up or he sits on my back if I'm laying down on my stomach. He doesn't blow up or change color or open his mouth unless I walk past a mirror and he sees himself. To me, he seems totally relaxed and content to just hang out. I love holding him, but I don't want to keep getting him out if it's not good for him.
 
fast306stang said:
I'm looking into making a dripper like you showed in your link. How much water should it hold, and how long should it drip until it runs dry?
Click to expand...

Well, it depends somewhat on your chameleons drinking habits, how well you hydrate the prey insects, the level of humidity in the room, etc.

I use a variety of well hydrated prey, have a fairly humid room...
But I'll tell you what I do, and then you can obviously adjust according to your situation. So, I fill my dripper in the morning before I do anything else. My chameleons are habituated to this routine and are often waiting at the hose for me, or wander over to it when I arrive as they know what's coming. There are several cups of water in the dripper. It dripps at a rate of two or three drips a second. After I take care of my own morning needs (wash, brush, cup of tea etc) I feed the chameleons their breakfast and refill/top-up the dripper and adjust the drip rate to be much slower. I believe it lasts this way for a couple hours. Later in the day I mist the cages and refill the drippers again.

When you find some poop, check the colour of the urate - the white part. It should be white, perhaps with a tiny bit of orange or yellow. It should not be mostly yellow or anything other than mostly white. If the urate is not white, it is likely the chameleon is not getting sufficient water.

fast306stang said:
I'm only feeding superworms right now, I have some phoenix worms on order from a friend of mine. Another owner told me that the superworms and crickets would be just fine as long as I dusted them twice a week. His logic makes sense...the worms and crickets are fine because he's getting the nutrients through the supplements and the lighting, but just because it sounds logical doesn't mean it's correct. So I'm trying to sort it all out. I've only had the guy for a week. You won't offend me by asking questions, I feel priviledged to be here in a place where you guys can relate your knowledge and experience so I can make sure I'm giving him everything he needs!
Click to expand...

Well, I advocate for as wide a variety of prey insects as possible. Superworms (Zophobas) and crickets are a good place to start. But you must gutload them and dust lightly with calcium. You will want to use a calcium powder that does NOT contain D3 pretty much every time you offer crickets or superworms. Use a powder that does have D3 up to once a week (depends on the brand). Use a vitamin supplement powder once ever other week or so also (rely more on your gutloading than on supplements). Other good feeder options are roaches (no need to dust these), silkworms (I dont bother to dust these either), Butterworms (no need for calcium on these a they are naturally higher in it), isopods (again no need to dust), hornworms, etc. Check my blog for more info:https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/useful-links/

I personally dont think phoenix worms are worthwhile for a chameleon that is over six months of age, just because of the size.

fast306stang said:
He is housed in a 2x2x4 screened cage, I've made sure his basking bulb his 6 inches from the closest branch and it keeps that area pretty warm--I need to get a thermometer to check the temp.
Click to expand...
Yes, get a digital thermometre and humidity metre. Its important to ensure you are providing both the correct ambient and basking temps and humidity within correct ranges.
In addition to the basking/heat bulb, Do you have a tube style UVB bulb? ReptiSUN 5.0 is the best, ReptiGLO is second best.

fast306stang said:
How can you tell if a cham is stressed? I keep reading that they're more of a display animal, but I get him out daily for free ranging and he likes to just sit on my shoulder if I'm standing up or he sits on my back if I'm laying down on my stomach. He doesn't blow up or change color or open his mouth unless I walk past a mirror and he sees himself. To me, he seems totally relaxed and content to just hang out. I love holding him, but I don't want to keep getting him out if it's not good for him.
Click to expand...

Frequent holding/handling is not recommended. Signs of stress can vary and its not always obvoius, but can include: Dark vertical bars, open mouth, hissing, moving upwards (incluing to your shoulder or head), jumping/running away, holding itself very still, front arm(s) raised up and bent, ....
 
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Hurray Yoda :)

I'm an immediate fan of any offspring from Yoda. He's an amazing guy. Your boy is stunning! Royden from this forum owns Yoda now. I took some females over to Royden's so Yoda could have a little fun. The girl Yoda selected is gravid and should be laying any day. Congrats on joining us. You've gotten a lot of great information already :)
 
PardalisGirl said:
I'm an immediate fan of any offspring from Yoda. He's an amazing guy. Your boy is stunning! Royden from this forum owns Yoda now. I took some females over to Royden's so Yoda could have a little fun. The girl Yoda selected is gravid and should be laying any day. Congrats on joining us. You've gotten a lot of great information already :)
Click to expand...

let us know how that turns out! :) im think about getting another cham in the future and was thinking about going with a blue bar ambilobe. you people said they are addicting and now after having malachi for a year.... im feeling the need to get another.
 
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