Prepping to get my first chameleon
- Thread starter RyanBRZ
- Start date
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
Chameleons are notorious for not moving when it’s too hot
Brodybreaux25
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, eventually he will sit there for too long and bake. Chameleons do not feel heat the same way you and I do. It’s almost as if they don’t have an instant feedback system for pain like we do. This is why burns are the most common injury suffered by captive chameleons. As far as I know science has yet to determine why chameleons can’t tell when they are getting burned.
You will always be able to dig up contradicting husbandry articles. The best practice usually lies somewhere between the two extreams. We’re saying low 90s, your saying 100F. So let’s just say that the group of people supporting the 90s is wrong, what’s the worst that could happen? Nothing really, your cham will still run a healthy metabolism and live comfortably. On the other side of that coin let’s say that you are wrong about 100F being safe, what’s the worst that could happen? Pain, Burns, infections, and even death.
This is why we argue for slightly lower basking temps.
You will always be able to dig up contradicting husbandry articles. The best practice usually lies somewhere between the two extreams. We’re saying low 90s, your saying 100F. So let’s just say that the group of people supporting the 90s is wrong, what’s the worst that could happen? Nothing really, your cham will still run a healthy metabolism and live comfortably. On the other side of that coin let’s say that you are wrong about 100F being safe, what’s the worst that could happen? Pain, Burns, infections, and even death.
This is why we argue for slightly lower basking temps.
Brodybreaux25
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think you are confused.
No one is telling you not to use a 100W bulb. You are the only person who can try different bulbs and measure how they affect the temps in your viv. It’s up to you to find the right combination of wattage and distance to give you the temps your looking for. I support you using a 100W bulb if you say that’s what you need.
What we are telling you is that we believe a 100F basking temperature is too hot and raises the odds of you burning your Cham.
We see a lot of people come through here just like you. Come here asking for advice but doesn’t listen to a damn thing anyone says. You do the same thing in every thread I’ve seen you in.
So I ask you, why ask if you have all the answers?
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Uhm..ok, I think I understand the logic fine: get the basking area to the proper temperature, the wattage of the bulb being used is irrelevant.
And I appreciate all of the input everyone has provided, a little confused in your statement regarding me not listening to 'a damn' thing any one says. Relax dude.
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Sorry for all the posts/pictures guys, here is the latest. All vines and fake pothos are in. I loosely zip tied the live pothos vines just in case the cham climbs on them. I securly zip tied the fake pothos vines. A dwarf umbrella will be going on the bottom once it comes in. Feeding location is going to be the empty area on the right around half way up.
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ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
There’s always room for more vines and branches
amfire125
Established Member
I've seen many threads where people quote reptilesmagazine and it reports seemingly wrong information. I wouldn't trust it, even though it seems trustworthy. Everybody on this site agrees that panther chameleons' basking should be closer to 85-87 degrees...so I'd trust the veterans who have healthy animals.
Good work on the frame and plants!!
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
Looks very nice!
celeste_knitter
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have something similar & adding magnets to the top supports (1 inside, 1 outside the screen) helped with making it more stable & symmetrical.
I can vouch for @Matt Vanilla Gorilla - awesome panther breeder!
celeste_knitter
Chameleon Enthusiast
magnets!
Brodybreaux25
Chameleon Enthusiast
Agreed, neodymium magnets.
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Thanks for the input and thank you for the compliment, thats a good point, I do trust those who have more experience such as breeders and keepers on these forums. Just because it's in a magazine does not mean it is accurate. Overall I am happy with the setup, though my humidity is not ideal -- it is sitting at 30 with the sensor at the top front left corner of the cage. I read somewhere, maybe on these forums, that captive bred chameleons can thrive in lower humidity levels as long as they have adequate drinking water--I believe this was quoted from a book. I just got my mist king and light timers setup last night, I'm going to start with 11am-11pm for lighting and I'm still trying to figure out a good misting schedule. I only bought a 2 gallon bucket for a res, thinking I should go bigger because I will need to keep refilling which can get annoying since I will be buying 1 gallon distilled jugs.
Hoping to pick up my cham in a few days, I'm waiting to hear back from the breeder cbreptiles. They are around a 1 hour drive from me and they are offering an option for me to pickup from their shipping facility so it will not have to be shipped.
Thanks!
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
Just make sure where the cage is, it’s pitch black until 11, no lights coming in at 7 am or anything
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
I actually thought about that this morning as I was getting ready for work. My typical work morning is I wake up at 6, turn on my bedroom lamp which remains on for 1 hour until I leave. I am going to have to start leaving it dark .. shouldn't be a problem since all of my work stuff is in an outside closet. Are they sensitive to light that is off schedule?
Blinds are always shut so it will be pretty dark, not pitch dark though.
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
That should be fine, you just don’t want to interrupt their sleep. If you wake up at 6, you could do lights from 6 to 6 or 7 to 7
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Ah, only problem is I sometimes have to work from home after work or I want to go on forums etc. My normal bedtime is around 11 so I figured 11 to 11 would be ideal. I need to move into a new place to give my cham his own room!
ERKleRose
Chameleon Enthusiast
Whatever works best for you and your cham!
