Vitamins and Shedding Problem

[Rangopantcham]

Hi, I wondered if I could have some advice please. I have read alot of conflicting things with regards to housing a cham etc and have now got a little confused.
I have a 1 year old male ambilobe panther, i have had him now for 3 weeks. He has also been to see the vet for a health check, and considering he is underweight and not sheddin properly he is in otherwise good health. I was advised to bath him and mist him at least twice a day and to make sure his humidity in his enclosure is kept between 50-70%. This is my first cham and I want to give him the best care, as it appears the people I got him from did not look after him properly.
He is now putting on weight, but he has still not shedded could I have some advice as I have been doing everything the vet said and that was over a week ago now.
Also what would you reccomend in the way of vitamins as there is a lot of brands out there.
Thank you.

 

[Peachypink]

Welcome to the forum....

What would really help is if you filled out the "How to Ask for Help" questions that are in the health clinic. Just copy and paste them with your answers here. That way we can help you make sure everything is good for him.

Chams at that age don't shed super often so I wouldn't worry that in 3 weeks you haven't seen him shed. But I would spray more than twice a day. I have an automatic mister that sprays 5 times a day. 2 times for 5 minutes each and the other 3 for one minute each. Give time inbetween to let the cage dry out or it could cause mold. Letting the humidity spike and settle back down is perfectly fine. No need for baths, it's not naural for them and could stress them out. You could place him in the sower on a sturdy plant and let warm water bounce off the wall onto the plant for 20-30 minutes, under supervision of course.

As for suppliments, calcium with no D3 every feeding, calcium with D3 twice a month and a multi vitimin twice a month. Or you could use Rapashy calcium plus as an all in one daily(I have recently switched to this and am liking it).

Hope that helps some, please fill out the form so we can help you tweak anything else that might need it.

 

[Rangopantcham]

Thank you Peachy Pink, here is all the info I think

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Red Bar Ambilobe Panther, Male, 1yr old. I have had him since 6th Sept 2016
  
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Everyday
  
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets mainly as I am trying to get him used to new food, he was previosuly fed on Mario Worms from what I could gather. I have been cup feeding as he does not seem to like them roaming free, so I put about 8 to 10 crickets per day. His lights go on at 8am I give him 10 mins to warm up and mist the cage and him, I then put his crickets in which he loves. I have to gut load the crickets with bug grub and I use the gel for water. I was also advised by the vet to give the calcium to the bugs as he won't eat anything that has ben dusted. At the moment he has had D3 once a week as we were unsure the previous owners had been giving him any calcium, D3 at all.
  
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Swell Reptiles Caclium dust (everyday) and Nutrobal Reptile at the moment once a week.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Dripper and misting by hand. I mist him at least 3 times a day for about 1 minute and bath him for 10 mins every other day as per vets instructions due to the fact he has not shedded his skin off. Yes he likes to drink off the leaves and from his head.
  
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? whiteish with brown, vet said his droppings were ok.
  
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.- Don't think previous owners cared for him that well, when I got him a few weeks back first thing we done was bought a new heat bulb and uvb light.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Wood with glass sliding doors at the front lots of vents ont the back and a tiled bottom
  
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Exo-Terra Sun glo 100w.and UVB - Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 15w
  
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? There are a couple of temp gages in there. The temp when I wake up in the morning is usually 20/21celcius an During the day temperature remains at 28celcius.
  
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? There are a couple of hydro in there which ranges from 54-80 during the day and when I wake up in the morning is usually at 88%. I try to mist him at least 3 times a day so the humidity remains around 80%.
  
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? coupl of live in there, 2 pothos and the rest are fake. (I inherited the cage with him) however I bought the live plants to go in as all he had was plastic.
  
• 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? the cage is in our bedroom as we have a bearded dragon in the living room and a dog, we noticed he doesnt like the dog so we moved him to our room (the dog is not allowed upstairs) he is also opposite a window, like 4 mtr away. and his viv is 3ft high by 2ft wide. and 3ft off the ground on a stand.
  
• Location - Where are you geographically located? England, UK

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. - Rango has been shedding ever since I got him on the 6th September 2016, and he still has alot on him now. I am really concerned as the dragon seems to shed within hours/few days. I also want to make sure he is getting all the vitamins he needs.

 

[Rangopantcham]

Thank you Peachy Pink, here is all the info I think

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Red Bar Ambilobe Panther, Male, 1yr old. I have had him since 6th Sept 2016
  
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Everyday
  
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets mainly as I am trying to get him used to new food, he was previosuly fed on Mario Worms from what I could gather. I have been cup feeding as he does not seem to like them roaming free, so I put about 8 to 10 crickets per day. His lights go on at 8am I give him 10 mins to warm up and mist the cage and him, I then put his crickets in which he loves. I have to gut load the crickets with bug grub and I use the gel for water. I was also advised by the vet to give the calcium to the bugs as he won't eat anything that has ben dusted. At the moment he has had D3 once a week as we were unsure the previous owners had been giving him any calcium, D3 at all.
  
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Swell Reptiles Caclium dust (everyday) and Nutrobal Reptile at the moment once a week.
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Dripper and misting by hand. I mist him at least 3 times a day for about 1 minute and bath him for 10 mins every other day as per vets instructions due to the fact he has not shedded his skin off. Yes he likes to drink off the leaves and from his head.
  
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? whiteish with brown, vet said his droppings were ok.
  
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.- Don't think previous owners cared for him that well, when I got him a few weeks back first thing we done was bought a new heat bulb and uvb light.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Wood with glass sliding doors at the front lots of vents ont the back and a tiled bottom
  
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Exo-Terra Sun glo 100w.and UVB - Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 15w
  
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? There are a couple of temp gages in there. The temp when I wake up in the morning is usually 20/21celcius an During the day temperature remains at 28celcius.
  
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? There are a couple of hydro in there which ranges from 54-80 during the day and when I wake up in the morning is usually at 88%. I try to mist him at least 3 times a day so the humidity remains around 80%.
  
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? coupl of live in there, 2 pothos and the rest are fake. (I inherited the cage with him) however I bought the live plants to go in as all he had was plastic.
  
• 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? the cage is in our bedroom as we have a bearded dragon in the living room and a dog, we noticed he doesnt like the dog so we moved him to our room (the dog is not allowed upstairs) he is also opposite a window, like 4 mtr away. and his viv is 3ft high by 2ft wide. and 3ft off the ground on a stand.
  
• Location - Where are you geographically located? England, UK

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. - Rango has been shedding ever since I got him on the 6th September 2016, and he still has alot on him now. I am really concerned as the dragon seems to shed within hours/few days. I also want to make sure he is getting all the vitamins he needs.

 

[Rangopantcham]

 

[Rangopantcham]

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