MedicMan1
Established Member
Hey there everyone. I started a thread a while back in the Health Clinic section regarding advice on how to care for a Sambava Panther Chameleon that I rescued in somewhat rough shape. Long story short, I received some amazing advice and my little guy is now quite fat and happy. I wanted to switch gears and post a new thread all about him and his journey to health and happiness, without clogging up the Health Clinic section.
The story:
I was given this amazing creature on 12/15/16. His keeper didn't have time for him anymore, and frankly, was severely neglecting him. He was born in September of 2015 and came from Kammerflage, (son of VICTARION and TYENE, daughter of TAMERLANE), and the poor guy was way under size and weight when I got him. He had no live pants or functional cover in his cage, was not misted or fed for days at a time, and was extremely timid (sometimes aggressive). I went to meet the little dude after doing several days worth of research (I knew I was taking him ahead of time, and I had a veiled as a kid, so I was STOKED). I fell for the little bloke immediately. I was very concerned with his size, weight, and overall condition. He was just skinny, dehydrated, and ANGRY. According to the former keeper, he came out of the package a bit grumpy, so he never even attempted to socialize or acclimate him to interacting with humans. He went days at a time without any typer of care. I would be grumpy too.
I posted in the Health Clinic section and received some phenomenal advice, and talked to some extremely nice and caring people.
A month later, Mr. Chameleon is now MUCH fatter, MUCH healthier, and MUCH more active. He is eating, drinking, fattening up, and being a complete goofball (hanging upside down and looking through his legs, hanging out with crickets, cocking his head when being talked to). He just shed his skin and EXPLODED with color over the last week. He is becoming more curious and less aggressive, and will tolerate being handled for short periods of time, while making sure to huff and puff at me a bit.
His care (currently):
His current cage setup is much improved and will continue to approve. I have him in the medium Zoo Med cage that he came with, and have plans for a Large Dragon Strand Atrium and MistKing setup here shortly ( he is growing BIGTIME). He is being fed crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and Dubia roaches on a rotating and random schedule, all dusted with Repashy calcium plus. He is misted at least twice daily. He has a decent size pothos and a medium ficus in his cage. His UVA/UVB lights are on a power strip timer From Zoo Med (highly recommended), with sunrise at 8am and sunset at 8pm. He has a nighttime ceramic bulb that maintains temps in the high 60's to low 70's at night, and his lights keep an ambient around 80 in the daytime, with a basking spot of 85-90. With the plants and the regular misting, I am able to maintain a humidity of around 60% constantly. It spikes into the 70's after misting and drops into the 50's a few hours later.
Once I get the funds, his setup will be MUCH larger and much more finely controlled. For now, I would like you all to meat "The chameleon with no name". I have not named him yet, as I am waiting to find out what kind of personality he is going to have once he is happy and trusts gentle hands. My girlfriend calls him Pascal, and I call him "Little guy". Any further advice or name suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Pictures, in chronological order, from day one, to yesterday...
The story:
I was given this amazing creature on 12/15/16. His keeper didn't have time for him anymore, and frankly, was severely neglecting him. He was born in September of 2015 and came from Kammerflage, (son of VICTARION and TYENE, daughter of TAMERLANE), and the poor guy was way under size and weight when I got him. He had no live pants or functional cover in his cage, was not misted or fed for days at a time, and was extremely timid (sometimes aggressive). I went to meet the little dude after doing several days worth of research (I knew I was taking him ahead of time, and I had a veiled as a kid, so I was STOKED). I fell for the little bloke immediately. I was very concerned with his size, weight, and overall condition. He was just skinny, dehydrated, and ANGRY. According to the former keeper, he came out of the package a bit grumpy, so he never even attempted to socialize or acclimate him to interacting with humans. He went days at a time without any typer of care. I would be grumpy too.
I posted in the Health Clinic section and received some phenomenal advice, and talked to some extremely nice and caring people.
A month later, Mr. Chameleon is now MUCH fatter, MUCH healthier, and MUCH more active. He is eating, drinking, fattening up, and being a complete goofball (hanging upside down and looking through his legs, hanging out with crickets, cocking his head when being talked to). He just shed his skin and EXPLODED with color over the last week. He is becoming more curious and less aggressive, and will tolerate being handled for short periods of time, while making sure to huff and puff at me a bit.
His care (currently):
His current cage setup is much improved and will continue to approve. I have him in the medium Zoo Med cage that he came with, and have plans for a Large Dragon Strand Atrium and MistKing setup here shortly ( he is growing BIGTIME). He is being fed crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and Dubia roaches on a rotating and random schedule, all dusted with Repashy calcium plus. He is misted at least twice daily. He has a decent size pothos and a medium ficus in his cage. His UVA/UVB lights are on a power strip timer From Zoo Med (highly recommended), with sunrise at 8am and sunset at 8pm. He has a nighttime ceramic bulb that maintains temps in the high 60's to low 70's at night, and his lights keep an ambient around 80 in the daytime, with a basking spot of 85-90. With the plants and the regular misting, I am able to maintain a humidity of around 60% constantly. It spikes into the 70's after misting and drops into the 50's a few hours later.
Once I get the funds, his setup will be MUCH larger and much more finely controlled. For now, I would like you all to meat "The chameleon with no name". I have not named him yet, as I am waiting to find out what kind of personality he is going to have once he is happy and trusts gentle hands. My girlfriend calls him Pascal, and I call him "Little guy". Any further advice or name suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Pictures, in chronological order, from day one, to yesterday...
Last edited:
live long and prosper, little cham
