Hi, I just got a panther chameleon two days ago at an exotic animal show. I do not know how old he is, but he's small-baby i would think. He was active until i got him home, it seems he is always sleeping and i watch him and see that he is still breathing. He doesn't open his eyes even if i am a little noisy around his cage. He's a pale color at the moment with some large spots. The temperature is around 80 with the thermometer on top of the cage. Will increasing the temperature help him come around? He still changes color i.e. when i mist. Considering he was at the exotic animal show all day, i worry that he is still dehydrated from that.

do you have a basking bulb on him?...he needs a higher temp to bask in to get warmed up for the day. If you can take a pic of his setup and post it

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He has a ceramic heat emitter on one side of his cage and i just put another on the other side. Now the temperature is around 81. I have two lights: a uvb/uva light for during the day and a red night time light. I just don't understand what is wrong. If I mist, he turns a darker color and breathes hard.

ok your cage setup is all wrong...no red light...no ceramic heaters. You should have a reptisun 5.0 bulb for UV light and a 50-60 watt basking bulb. Both these bulbs should be mounted on top pointing down.

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the reason the heating lamps are on the side is bc the fixture for the light takes over half the top. Perhaps I could take the night-time light out and replace with a basking blub? Will the basking bulb provide sufficient heat?

u dont need a nightime light chameleons benefit from a temperature drop at night

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chameleons are so totally rad probaly raddest thing on earth:cool

Yes, you will need a flourescent bulb with a 5% uvB or better rating. This light will give off both uvA and uvb. The uvB helps them to metabolise certain chemicals in their bodies. The uvA which you do not have helps them to reconize the difference between night and day. This will also directly effect their activity levels and eating habits. A ceramic bulb does emit heat but the chameleons usually do not reconize them as that. An incandescent light bulb in a dome reflector will not only provide them with a place to bask but saturate the cage with uvA. Chameleons cannot see in the infared spectrum so the red light is of no use.

When setting up the basking bulb make a vine that runs near it but not directly under it. Use a thermometer to check the temperature at that point of the cage. I believe 90 degrees is what Panthers like but someone will correct me if I am wrong. I keep Veileds. The rest of the cage should be some where in the neibhorhood of 70-80 degrees. This will give your chameleon a chance to thermoregulate the way that it wants to. When they use this bulb and bask they accomplish a couple of things. It will heat their skin and muscles this gives them heat to lose as they travel around the cage. This also helps them to digest food properly as the heat penatrates and warms their organs. Try to position the basking bulb and flourescent light as near as possible. In the wild they would get both types of uv from one source (the sun) so try to do the same as best as you can by positioning.

Listen...no red heat bulb...no ceramic heater. Ceramic heaters are for desert lizards not chameleons. Put your UV light on top...it doesnt matter if it hangs over the sides. Basking bulb should be set on top too.

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i agree your set up is all wrong. you dont need the light at night cuz chams like it cool at night. your panther needs a 90 degree basking spot. just let the lamp hang over the side.sleeping is a sign that something i wrong a vet visit myte be needed increase your misting, change your lights , get rid of the ceramic heater and the red night light and take a look at some set ups for chams in the cage forums and do a little more research and you will be good to go

I took him to the emergency vet. I have only had him 2 days and they think it might have been a husbandry problem where he gave from. He also might have mbd . He has been shaking and apparently his jaw is swollen. Anyone ever done business with LLLreptile at show?