leet13
New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Ambilobe panther chameleon, blue bar, male, approx 8.5 or 9 months. Have had him since Sept 28 2012. Bought from LLLReptile, shipped overnight fed ex.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? lately it has been once a day to let him climb in his cageless area by the window. yesterday he was handled 3 times because he wouldnt go back into the cage or stay in the area I made for him. He never did puff up at me or fire up so I can say all that handling yesterday probably did not stress him a lot.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I feed him crickets (med/large size), phoenix worms/butterworms/waxworms as a treat (its a combination of those types of worms 3x a week- 6 or 7 worms a week total mainly phoenix worms. I will cut back if his stools look too wet. I have 2 cricket bins and the smaller of the 2 has the ones I am feeding him that day. I give them bug burger, dino fuel raptor, carrots, occasional apple slice, some greens... oh and i feed him about 10 crickets a day.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? rep cal no d3 (1x daily) rep cal with d3 (every other sunday) , reptivite (every other sunday opposite D3), dino fuel raptor edition (sprinkled on veggies or bug burger).
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I use a spray bottle with warm water that is dedicated to ONLY him... I spray for as long as I can until my hand gets tired. Everything is dripping by that point (I do not spray him directly). I also have a red solo cup with a hole in it that drips onto leaves... Sometimes i squirt water on his tongue as he is licking branches... He notices the dripping cup but I dont see him use that.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Last dropping was yesterday. Fecal matter looked normal (i broke it open to see if anything was NOT digested and everything looked fine as far as poop goes...) urates are off white but previous was white. Never had a fecal done and I am wondering if I need to get this done soon.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. His colors were AWESOME up until 2 months ago... nothing has changed with his set up except for his basking bulb burning out and it was promptly replaced with a 100 watt bulb of a different brand...
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 175 gallon reptarium mesh... 28x28x48.. 2 sides of cage have a loose covering of clearish plastic to help hold in more humidity during the winter here... I have a background on the rear wall that I made as well... so that leaves the front, top and bottom (elevated over a washer drain pan)... I believe it is enough for proper air flow... plastic can always be removed.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I have 2 UVB bulbs (18 inches each) that sit over his 2 favorite spots to sit under... Both are reptisun 5.0 bulbs. I have it on a timer... 7 am to 7 pm.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? cage floor is 70 degrees... top of cage is 75ish... middle of cage is 72... Basking temp is 88 degrees. Lowest overnight is 65 to 68 degrees. I have an IR thermometer and 2 analogs... will get a digital with probe soon.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity is 60% to 85% (after misting) I also have a repti fogger that does not directly blow into him even though he tries to get under it at times. It blows towards one of the sides of the cage. I also have a cool mist humidifier I use at night pointed AWAY from his cage into the room, mainly for sound so I can sleep. I clean it 2x a week really well...
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have an umbrella plant which has been in there pretty much since I got him... also a corn plant but its now just in the room out of his cage. I have a small pot with an orchid in it now too.
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? It is in a the far corner of my bedroom. Thankfully my husband doesnt care. I picked that spot because of the windows near his cage have the most sun exposure... there is no real traffic in the room besides me, my pug and sometimes i let the cat lay on the bed. I only go in there during the day to mist/feed mathesar or make sure he is in his bedspot at night. Vent is at the opposite side of the room and I am pretty sure it doesnt even reach him because its not across from him but rather on the other wall.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Southern New Jersey.
Current Problem - Mathesar has been developing colors since around 3.5 to 4 months old... colors were looking GREAT up until about Mid Feb (had to look at the dates on my pics)... They started to slowly get dull looking and before you knew it he pretty much lost his colors. He looks pale when out of the cage... like he only shows pastel or light colors... inside the cage he is brown/white/speckled as if he is an overgrown baby... basically his colors look like he is a baby again.
I had to look at my old pics to determine when this color change started because its been happening so slowly.
The only thing to happen was his basking bulb was changed to a different brand and i somehow associated with color loss and bought another to replace the original type he had... I also try to get him by a window more although i know its filtered sunlight. wish it was warm enough to give him REAL sun but i will as soon as i can.
He has a REALLY strong grip... he eats normally... poops normally... does not act different... i really do not know what I am doing wrong here... definitely something is NOT right.
The pics I included of his colors were right before his last shed Feb 25th... He is due for a shed now I think but his colors have been fading SINCE!
Thank you for your replies. I am freaking out over here.
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Ambilobe panther chameleon, blue bar, male, approx 8.5 or 9 months. Have had him since Sept 28 2012. Bought from LLLReptile, shipped overnight fed ex.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? lately it has been once a day to let him climb in his cageless area by the window. yesterday he was handled 3 times because he wouldnt go back into the cage or stay in the area I made for him. He never did puff up at me or fire up so I can say all that handling yesterday probably did not stress him a lot.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I feed him crickets (med/large size), phoenix worms/butterworms/waxworms as a treat (its a combination of those types of worms 3x a week- 6 or 7 worms a week total mainly phoenix worms. I will cut back if his stools look too wet. I have 2 cricket bins and the smaller of the 2 has the ones I am feeding him that day. I give them bug burger, dino fuel raptor, carrots, occasional apple slice, some greens... oh and i feed him about 10 crickets a day.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? rep cal no d3 (1x daily) rep cal with d3 (every other sunday) , reptivite (every other sunday opposite D3), dino fuel raptor edition (sprinkled on veggies or bug burger).
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I use a spray bottle with warm water that is dedicated to ONLY him... I spray for as long as I can until my hand gets tired. Everything is dripping by that point (I do not spray him directly). I also have a red solo cup with a hole in it that drips onto leaves... Sometimes i squirt water on his tongue as he is licking branches... He notices the dripping cup but I dont see him use that.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Last dropping was yesterday. Fecal matter looked normal (i broke it open to see if anything was NOT digested and everything looked fine as far as poop goes...) urates are off white but previous was white. Never had a fecal done and I am wondering if I need to get this done soon.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. His colors were AWESOME up until 2 months ago... nothing has changed with his set up except for his basking bulb burning out and it was promptly replaced with a 100 watt bulb of a different brand...
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? 175 gallon reptarium mesh... 28x28x48.. 2 sides of cage have a loose covering of clearish plastic to help hold in more humidity during the winter here... I have a background on the rear wall that I made as well... so that leaves the front, top and bottom (elevated over a washer drain pan)... I believe it is enough for proper air flow... plastic can always be removed.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I have 2 UVB bulbs (18 inches each) that sit over his 2 favorite spots to sit under... Both are reptisun 5.0 bulbs. I have it on a timer... 7 am to 7 pm.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? cage floor is 70 degrees... top of cage is 75ish... middle of cage is 72... Basking temp is 88 degrees. Lowest overnight is 65 to 68 degrees. I have an IR thermometer and 2 analogs... will get a digital with probe soon.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity is 60% to 85% (after misting) I also have a repti fogger that does not directly blow into him even though he tries to get under it at times. It blows towards one of the sides of the cage. I also have a cool mist humidifier I use at night pointed AWAY from his cage into the room, mainly for sound so I can sleep. I clean it 2x a week really well...
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have an umbrella plant which has been in there pretty much since I got him... also a corn plant but its now just in the room out of his cage. I have a small pot with an orchid in it now too.
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? It is in a the far corner of my bedroom. Thankfully my husband doesnt care. I picked that spot because of the windows near his cage have the most sun exposure... there is no real traffic in the room besides me, my pug and sometimes i let the cat lay on the bed. I only go in there during the day to mist/feed mathesar or make sure he is in his bedspot at night. Vent is at the opposite side of the room and I am pretty sure it doesnt even reach him because its not across from him but rather on the other wall.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Southern New Jersey.
Current Problem - Mathesar has been developing colors since around 3.5 to 4 months old... colors were looking GREAT up until about Mid Feb (had to look at the dates on my pics)... They started to slowly get dull looking and before you knew it he pretty much lost his colors. He looks pale when out of the cage... like he only shows pastel or light colors... inside the cage he is brown/white/speckled as if he is an overgrown baby... basically his colors look like he is a baby again.
I had to look at my old pics to determine when this color change started because its been happening so slowly.
The only thing to happen was his basking bulb was changed to a different brand and i somehow associated with color loss and bought another to replace the original type he had... I also try to get him by a window more although i know its filtered sunlight. wish it was warm enough to give him REAL sun but i will as soon as i can.
He has a REALLY strong grip... he eats normally... poops normally... does not act different... i really do not know what I am doing wrong here... definitely something is NOT right.
The pics I included of his colors were right before his last shed Feb 25th... He is due for a shed now I think but his colors have been fading SINCE!
Thank you for your replies. I am freaking out over here.
