panther chameleon sleeping during the day

[areyouben]

Your Chameleon - Male 3 month old Panther chameleon. ive had him for 2 weeks.
Handling - ive handled him twice in 2 weeks
Feeding - i feed him about 5-10 little beatles every morning around 10. and then again later around 2
Supplements - i use reptocal calcium/D3 suppliment every other day
Watering - i mist every day 5-6 times for a few minutes each
Fecal Description -black with a little white. he poops 1-2 times a day. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? no

Cage Info:
Cage Type - all screen What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? 7am-7pm
Temperature - basking:80 floor:65-70 Lowest overnight temp?65 How do you measure these temps? dial thermometer
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? 50-80 How are you creating and maintaining these levels? misting during day and it is generally humid during the night being so close to the beach What do you use to measure humidity? dial meter
Plants - Are you using live plants? yes If so, what kind? ficus?
Placement - Where is your cage located? near a window on my dresser low traffic. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? about 5 1/2 feet
Location - Where are you geographically located? near the beach, california

Current Problem - sleeping during the day


i got a 3 month old panther chameleon about 2 weeks ago. he has been alert and roaming around his cage just fine until recently he started closing his eyes during the day. and today he pretty much slept all day, only waking up to eat a few bugs. i dont know if he's dehydrated or the lights are bothering his eyes or he is getting too much D3. he usually eats 5-10 little beatles a day. i dont have a drip system but i mist the cage 6-7 times a day. this is my first chameleon and i just made this account to ask because im worried about the lil fella. his basking temps are about 80 and the humidity stays around 50 during the day. it usually gets up to 80 during the night though along with a 10 degree temp drop.

here is a picture of my setup. the light on the right is a reptiglo 5.0 uvb 13watt and the one on the left is the basking lamp. idk the wattage on it but it diesnt seem like it gets hot enough to burn him.

and here is a picture of chemilleo. this was earlier in the day. right now he is still sleeping but he has turned whiter.

 

[Randi]

here is a picture of my setup. the light on the right is a reptiglo 5.0 uvb 13watt and the one on the left is the basking lamp. idk the wattage on it but it diesnt seem like it gets hot enough to burn him.

and here is a picture of chemilleo. this was earlier in the day. right now he is still sleeping but he has turned whiter.

The pics aren't showing. When I tried to follow the links, I got the following error: Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

Is it possible that you're trying to link an attached file rather than a jpg?

You should be using plain calcium daily (D3 is too powerful to be used every feeding and should only be once every two weeks or so). Also, what types of beetles do you use?

Edited to add: This might be helpful: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html

 

[areyouben]

i think i did try to link an attatched file, sorry im new to this >.<
lets see if this works...
this is the setup

and this is chemilleo

thats what i was thinking about the D3.
i dont know what kind of beatles they are but they came in a container of black eyed peas

 

[squeekz1992]

Welcome to the forums
You need Calcium w/ NO D3, along with a ton more foliage.

The idea with the foliage is to not be able to see from once side of the cage through the other. He will feel more secure that way.

 

[Tyler8989]

You got your beetles from a can of peoples food?! I would only feed my reptiles with insects that i know are clean and have eaten healthy foods. the problem with wild caught insects they could have anything in them poisen, virus, Ect..And anyways in my experience having a linear/long tube repti glo UVB bulb can make a difference. ESCPECIALLY in your case in which this baby chameleon has a TON of room (I usually start my guys in 10-30 gallon tanks that way its easier to feed,water, and absorb UVB better) Making these small changes may work assuming it doesnt have a virus, infection ect. In that case a Vet visit is neccessary to cure. Make sure they gey extra water while acting strange. I give my chams warm water baths or showers when they're not feeling good/ dehydrated.

 

[squeekz1992]

Also, I highly reccommend getting a digital hygrometer/thermometer. 26$ at petsmart, but very accurate. Dial gauges are crap, well, I can't say that, but they are not as accurate, and it is very important that you be able to accurately monitor humidity and temperature.

 

[squeekz1992]

You need to be feeding crickets if the beetles you are giving are really from a can if peoples food. Canned anything is not good food for a cham. You have no way of knowing what they ate before they died, if they were exposed to toxins.


Crickets only cost about 10/11 cents at a pet store, ordering food online is best too.

Ideally your cham needs variety in his diet. Ie crickets, hornworms, butterworms, pheonix worms.

You can typically find a box of butter worms at a bait n tackle shop, crickets too maybe, but you need to be giving the feeders veggies and some fruits, example carrots and a slice of apple with some celery or collard green ect.

 

[areyouben]

You got your beetles from a can of peoples food?! I would only feed my reptiles with insects that i know are clean and have eaten healthy foods. the problem with wild caught insects they could have anything in them poisen, virus, Ect..And anyways in my experience having a linear/long tube repti glo UVB bulb can make a difference. ESCPECIALLY in your case in which this baby chameleon has a TON of room (I usually start my guys in 10-30 gallon tanks that way its easier to feed,water, and absorb UVB better) Making these small changes may work assuming it doesnt have a virus, infection ect. In that case a Vet visit is neccessary to cure. Make sure they gey extra water while acting strange. I give my chams warm water baths or showers when they're not feeling good/ dehydrated.

no, i got the beetles from the breeder >.< i just keep them in a container with these dry beans in it. and as for te bulb, i cannot really afford the longer bulb ATM. and i thought it wasnt good to get a chameleon wet like that?

 

[areyouben]

Welcome to the forums
You need Calcium w/ NO D3, along with a ton more foliage.

The idea with the foliage is to not be able to see from once side of the cage through the other. He will feel more secure that way.

ill make sure to get non D3 calcium and more foliage!

 

[ChameleonMom]

The first thing I would do is remove the water dish from the bottom of your cage (standing water is NEVER a good idea - bacterial breeding ground) and then add alot more plants, as already mentioned above. Your cham is going to need various levels to bask therefore you will need either some more vines or some natural branches. The picture you provided as taken 'during the day' only has one light on. Is this the UVB or the basking light that is on? UVB is extremely important and both lights need to be on during the day. If it was me, I'd have the temps about 5 - 7 degrees higher. As for food, it is not a good idea to give a baby such as yours wild caught feeders. Food for your chameleon needs to be gutloaded with fruits and vegetables. There is also a variety of chameleon food you can buy at your local petstore that would be sufficient, in place of wild beetles.

Supplements are extremely important in the health of your chameleon, it would be nothing but beneficial for you to read the link above regarding supplements. The general rule here for supplementing is Calcium without D3 at every feeding, Calcium w/D3 twice a month and a Multivitamin once a month. Of course if you feel the need to 'tweek' your supplements, you always can but for now, this is probably good to get your little guy feeling better, barring any urgent medical issues he may already have.

I would suggest a trip to an experienced reptile vet. Take a fecal sample so it can be tested for parasites. Oh...and I'd do it soon...he's small and vulnerable. Good luck and welcome to the Forum.

 

[ataraxia]

Your Chameleon - Male 3 month old Panther chameleon. ive had him for 2 weeks.
Handling - ive handled him twice in 2 weeks
Feeding - i feed him about 5-10 little beatles every morning around 10. and then again later around 2 What type of beetles? At this age many have had success raising them on crickets. Id recommend switching also.
Supplements - i use reptocal calcium/D3 suppliment every other day Personally, i do not supplement my babies that much with d3. I like to raise them under good uvb lights and with supplementing with plain caclium without d3 and supplementing with a product like reptivite couple times a month. Gut loading all feeders very well 4-24 hours before feeding them off.
Watering - i mist every day 5-6 times for a few minutes eachI dont see any type of drainage on your cage. How are you handling that much water? It is important to hydrate your kid but you also need the cage to dry out .
Fecal Description -black with a little white. he poops 1-2 times a day. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? no

Cage Info:
Cage Type - all screen What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? 7am-7pm Where is the uvb?
Temperature - basking:80 floor:65-70 Lowest overnight temp?65 How do you measure these temps? dial thermometer I recommend raising the basking temp to 90*. Now if your animals is dehydrated you need to be sure you are hydrating them well as raising the temps will dehydrate them faster.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? 50-80 How are you creating and maintaining these levels? misting during day and it is generally humid during the night being so close to the beach What do you use to measure humidity? dial meter
Plants - Are you using live plants? yes If so, what kind? ficus?
Placement - Where is your cage located? near a window on my dresser low traffic. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? about 5 1/2 feet
Location - Where are you geographically located? near the beach, california

Current Problem - sleeping during the day

Hi there, a few things i see that i would change with your care immediately.

Typical reasons for young ones sleeping during the day.
1. Dehyrdrated.
2. Improper nutrition. Whether from the lack of or too much.
3. Improper temps
4. Illness.

Edit: Are you placing the dial thermometer under the basking light directly to monitor temps? This is done much easier with a digital w/probe set up. Most places in the U.S. have seasons and with that our house ambients change. The need to change a basking wattage is necessary at times.

 

[ChameleonMom]

no, i got the beetles from the breeder >.< i just keep them in a container with these dry beans in it. and as for te bulb, i cannot really afford the longer bulb ATM. and i thought it wasnt good to get a chameleon wet like that?

You can't keep your feeders in a container with dried beans. Your chameleon is only as healthy as the food its food eats and dried beans, only dried beans isn't going to cut it. The bulb you have is fine - I've been using coil bulbs for years with no problems. What does worry me is that you say you can't afford to buy another bulb. I'm not sure if you know, but keeping a chameleon is a fairly expensive endeavor - they require proper equipment, lights, feeders, gutloading for their food, supplements....AND, they require someone who can afford to take them to the vet when they fall ill, such as now. I don't mean to sound like a jerk but I am wondering if you did any research before you went and purchased your Panther?

I understand you are here for help, but the chameleon you brought home as a pet isn't disposable. It is relying on you to give, and get it the help it needs now to become healthy. If you are unable to do that for him, it may be best for you to rehome him to someone that can.

 

[areyouben]

The first thing I would do is remove the water dish from the bottom of your cage (standing water is NEVER a good idea - bacterial breeding ground) and then add alot more plants, as already mentioned above. Your cham is going to need various levels to bask therefore you will need either some more vines or some natural branches. The picture you provided as taken 'during the day' only has one light on. Is this the UVB or the basking light that is on? UVB is extremely important and both lights need to be on during the day. If it was me, I'd have the temps about 5 - 7 degrees higher. As for food, it is not a good idea to give a baby such as yours wild caught feeders. Food for your chameleon needs to be gutloaded with fruits and vegetables. There is also a variety of chameleon food you can buy at your local petstore that would be sufficient, in place of wild beetles.

Supplements are extremely important in the health of your chameleon, it would be nothing but beneficial for you to read the link above regarding supplements. The general rule here for supplementing is Calcium without D3 at every feeding, Calcium w/D3 twice a month and a Multivitamin once a month. Of course if you feel the need to 'tweek' your supplements, you always can but for now, this is probably good to get your little guy feeling better, barring any urgent medical issues he may already have.

I would suggest a trip to an experienced reptile vet. Take a fecal sample so it can be tested for parasites. Oh...and I'd do it soon...he's small and vulnerable. Good luck and welcome to the Forum.

the water dishes dont have water in them and are merely for "looks" haha. i will look into getting more plants for sure. the UVB is the one thats on and the other is the heat. it blew out a few hours ago and im going to get a new one tomorrow. and as for the food. they are not wild caught, i got them from the breeder. thank you for the information though, i appreciate it

 

[Tyler8989]

no, i got the beetles from the breeder >.< i just keep them in a container with these dry beans in it. and as for te bulb, i cannot really afford the longer bulb ATM. and i thought it wasnt good to get a chameleon wet like that?

I've never heard it was bad to give a chameleon a shallow warm bath, if you've heard other wise please enlighten me. But personally when I give them a warm bath their color changes to a nice "happy" color,but in this case it seems like the possible lack of branches and chameleons personal security could be causing it to sleep, there are still a few other variables though. Make sure to have a branch 6-8 inches below the UVB light were it can sit there for 12 hours a day if it needs. Same goes for heat max. 95-97 F basking area.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I've never heard it was bad to give a chameleon a shallow warm bath, if you've heard other wise please enlighten me. But personally when I give them a warm bath their color changes to a nice "happy" color,but in this case it seems like the possible lack of branches and chameleons personal security could be causing it to sleep, there are still a few other variables though. Make sure to have a branch 6-8 inches below the UVB light were it can sit there for 12 hours a day if it needs. Same goes for heat max. 95-97 F basking area.

I give my chameleons regular showers in my kitchen sink (I have a special nozzle that simulates a shower spray), at least twice a week. My 4 year old veiled will sit under the spray for hours if I let him. It is not a bad thing to let your cham 'bathe'...what is bad is having your chameleon housed in an enclosure that has water accumulated at the bottom, or is constantly wet. That is a breeding ground for a respitory infection. You should mist, yes but let your cage dry out completely between mistings. A constant water drip is enough to keep your cham hydrated between mistings - if you keep the drip in the same area you cham will learn where to go for water.

 

[areyouben]

I give my chameleons regular showers in my kitchen sink (I have a special nozzle that simulates a shower spray), at least twice a week. My 4 year old veiled will sit under the spray for hours if I let him. It is not a bad thing to let your cham 'bathe'...what is bad is having your chameleon housed in an enclosure that has water accumulated at the bottom, or is constantly wet. That is a breeding ground for a respitory infection. You should mist, yes but let your cage dry out completely between mistings. A constant water drip is enough to keep your cham hydrated between mistings - if you keep the drip in the same area you cham will learn where to go for water.

how would i go about giving him a bath? i dont think i should put him under a spicket like that since he is so small. and as for the cage, it usually dries up in between mistings

 

[ChameleonMom]

Like I mentioned, I have a special nozzle on my kitchen sink tap that sprays a 'shower-like' spray that my chams love to sit under. I have a piece of driftwood that I lean on an angle. I do not have the spray on them directly - they adjust themselves according to how wet they want to be. Often my 4 year old will lift his chin much like a cat and let the water run down his chest. If your little guy is teeny small, then yes, the weight of the water falling on him may be too much, especially if he's weak from illness already. Glad to hear the cage dries up between misting.

 

[areyouben]

I've never heard it was bad to give a chameleon a shallow warm bath, if you've heard other wise please enlighten me. But personally when I give them a warm bath their color changes to a nice "happy" color,but in this case it seems like the possible lack of branches and chameleons personal security could be causing it to sleep, there are still a few other variables though. Make sure to have a branch 6-8 inches below the UVB light were it can sit there for 12 hours a day if it needs. Same goes for heat max. 95-97 F basking area.

is this enough foliage?!?! xD

 

[areyouben]

Welcome to the forums
You need Calcium w/ NO D3, along with a ton more foliage.

The idea with the foliage is to not be able to see from once side of the cage through the other. He will feel more secure that way.

i couldnt find calcium without D3 at my local petco. i added a ton more foliage though as you can see in my last post he has been awake most of the day today hasnt explored his new plants too much though.

 

[Randi]

Is that a hibiscus? You are very lucky that you live somewhere that you can find them this time of year! I unfortunately killed the last one I had and am unable to locate anymore this year.

I had the same problem with being unable to locate the proper supplements locally at the big box stores. I went to a reptile specialty store in my area. If that isn't an option, you could always purchase online.