Shaky walking baby panther cham

[CarlyMK]

Hello,

I picked up a baby panther Cham I've been waiting for, for a while yesterday. All he wanted to do was sleep when I got him home aroun 630 pm, I didn't give him food because I didn't want the crickets sitting in his stomach all night.

I've had a chameleon before, I understand when they go to stalk something they walk all shaky and slow, it's almost like the baby is in high speed, and is almost wiggling around when he walks. I'm really concerned, when I've taken him out once since I got him, he walks fine, but when he's moving around the cage he acts that way.

I've never had a cham this young before, could it just be the way they walk? Smaller steps? I'll upload a photo, he did eat a couple crickets this morning, the cage seems big for a cham that small so I have a feeding cup lower than his perch so he needs to explore a bit to get the crickets. He's 5cm without the tail.

Any advice would be great, thank you.

Here's the link to my other thread, picture is at the bottom. https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-panther-cham-enclosure-set-up-need-opinions-96773/

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Most likely just doing the " I'm a leaf, I'm a leaf" thing. To blend in and hide, his/her movement around the cage.

 

[Psychobunny]

You need a baby cage for him, not a 16X20''.
He will not be able to find his food and may get needlessly stressed

 

[CarlyMK]

Until How old?

 

[CarlyMK]

He has been acting like a normal cham, just not used to the movements of a youngin yet I suppose

 

[biochemnerd808]

"I'm a leaf!" - I've heard of folks turning a full-size enclosure into a baby cage by attaching dark cloth into the cage to make it smaller. Of course the crickets might hide on the other side of the cloth... so you might still have to get a smaller cage... and then can always sell it on Craigslist or something later.

 

[CarlyMK]

That's a good idea, I bought a plastic bin I'm going to see how that works. He's been getting around the cage quite well, he likes to stay in the shade away from the heat and UVB for some reason, he really likes the live plant. I'm really not even sure how old he is, I bought a scale because I wasn't sure if he was eating or not. He's 5cm without the tail, I've been trying to find a site that can tell me how old he is, and whether keeping him in a baby enclosure is good for now.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

A 16x20 is just fine for a baby cage, and thats typical of little ones

 

[CarlyMK]

That's great, I can't tell if he's eating the crickets or they're just good at hiding...

 

[coldbloodedAL]

That's great, I can't tell if he's eating the crickets or they're just good at hiding...

You can try to cup feed... A small bowl, insect cup, or even a empty small butter container can work. Attach it to the screen with a perch above it so he can get to it, or mount it somewhere else in the cage that is easy for him to get to. It may take a bit for him to get used to but its a great way to monitor feeding.

 

[CarlyMK]

Thank you, I'll try that!