Hi all, Santa delivered Lenny to our household (me, wife, 12 year old daughter, 3 dogs and aslightly unbalanced Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot) this Christmas. My daughter had been researching chameleons since a school project about a year ago and had been begging for one. Her Mom and I weren't so sure, but Santa was and the rest is history!
So far Lenny has been doing fairly well and with a bit of help from the Boards here we have pulled through one bout of mild dehydration, but it has brought us to near paranoia about his health! We have a dripper, and a live plant (can't remember what we ended up with, but it was on the approved list from this site) and mist about 2/3 to 3/4 of a standard water bottle two to three times a day. We don't see him drink often, but his poop appears (from comparison with pictures here) to show he is reasonably hydrated. His appetite is good (8-12 crix -dusted daily with Repashy all in one and a superworm a day), he has shed one time, but he seems to really slow down now and then. Is this slow down a normal metabolic process for them after they eat? Before they poop? He also sleeps at least 12 hours a day and heads for his sleeping spot by 5 pm at the latest. he is generally up when we get up at 6 and moving around. Will he stay awake more as the days lengthen?
You can read a ton about these cool creatures, but nothing beats hearing form you experts that we are headed in the right direction. I know I sound like a new parent, but that's kind of how we feel!
I completed the form below and if you could suggest any tweaks we'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance!
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Blue barred ambilobe, male, approximately 11 months old and we have had him five weeks
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? once every two or three days, he does seek out contact
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? 8-12 crix and a superworm a day in the morning, occasionally an additional criket or two or worm after school. we are using Nature Zone total Bites gutload
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repashy all in one (do we need something else?) each feeding
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Little Dripper during daytime hours, hand misting approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of a standard spray bottle two times a day
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Looks good! white tip (sometimes very slight yello tinge, and firm but moist (Yuck) remainder; have noticed a slight mucously "tail" a time or two. He came with a parasites free certificate from Santa and we have not had him tested;
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? ReptiBreeze 18x18x36 screen cage- I added lucite to the bottom 11 inches for water splash control and to increase the humidity
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zilla UVA/UVB fluorescent and a ceramic heat emitter- lights on 5:30 am to 5:30 pm, heat emitter on 24/7 and keeps his basking spot about 85 degrees
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? lowest temp is high 70's near the floor and high 80's right at the top, with his favorite basking spot about 84; his sleep spot is about 78; measured with a standard reptiel thermometer
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? We have not tracked humidity levels, we are in SoCal and I know they will be low, but we do keep a plant in the enclosure and mist twice a day with a constant drip
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? yes, can't recall now but I used this sites recommended list while I was at the nursery, completely washed it and repotted it
• 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? Den area that is low traffic and quieter, but just one room away from the family room- we are relatively quiet (except for the unbalanced bird who lives on the far side of the house!); near a window with shutters, little to no draft and provides afternoon sun in a protected manner; the top of the carge is about six feet off the floor
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Southern California, outside Los Angeles in the foothills
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. Just hoping we are doing things right and looking for any helpful hints; he seems to poop about every thrid day, looks healthy, but almost always after he has had a little handling time, any insight on this behavior? We are contantly worried about dehydration and any thoughts on watering would be great. We intend to try a shower this weekend with a graepvine bird perch that should work well and provide him some security and has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and not used by the aforementioned unbalanced bird in years.
Pictures are helpful
Thank you all for everything we have already learned form you and will learn in the future!
So far Lenny has been doing fairly well and with a bit of help from the Boards here we have pulled through one bout of mild dehydration, but it has brought us to near paranoia about his health! We have a dripper, and a live plant (can't remember what we ended up with, but it was on the approved list from this site) and mist about 2/3 to 3/4 of a standard water bottle two to three times a day. We don't see him drink often, but his poop appears (from comparison with pictures here) to show he is reasonably hydrated. His appetite is good (8-12 crix -dusted daily with Repashy all in one and a superworm a day), he has shed one time, but he seems to really slow down now and then. Is this slow down a normal metabolic process for them after they eat? Before they poop? He also sleeps at least 12 hours a day and heads for his sleeping spot by 5 pm at the latest. he is generally up when we get up at 6 and moving around. Will he stay awake more as the days lengthen?
You can read a ton about these cool creatures, but nothing beats hearing form you experts that we are headed in the right direction. I know I sound like a new parent, but that's kind of how we feel!
I completed the form below and if you could suggest any tweaks we'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance!
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Blue barred ambilobe, male, approximately 11 months old and we have had him five weeks
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? once every two or three days, he does seek out contact
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? 8-12 crix and a superworm a day in the morning, occasionally an additional criket or two or worm after school. we are using Nature Zone total Bites gutload
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repashy all in one (do we need something else?) each feeding
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Little Dripper during daytime hours, hand misting approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of a standard spray bottle two times a day
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Looks good! white tip (sometimes very slight yello tinge, and firm but moist (Yuck) remainder; have noticed a slight mucously "tail" a time or two. He came with a parasites free certificate from Santa and we have not had him tested;
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? ReptiBreeze 18x18x36 screen cage- I added lucite to the bottom 11 inches for water splash control and to increase the humidity
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Zilla UVA/UVB fluorescent and a ceramic heat emitter- lights on 5:30 am to 5:30 pm, heat emitter on 24/7 and keeps his basking spot about 85 degrees
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? lowest temp is high 70's near the floor and high 80's right at the top, with his favorite basking spot about 84; his sleep spot is about 78; measured with a standard reptiel thermometer
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? We have not tracked humidity levels, we are in SoCal and I know they will be low, but we do keep a plant in the enclosure and mist twice a day with a constant drip
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? yes, can't recall now but I used this sites recommended list while I was at the nursery, completely washed it and repotted it
• 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? Den area that is low traffic and quieter, but just one room away from the family room- we are relatively quiet (except for the unbalanced bird who lives on the far side of the house!); near a window with shutters, little to no draft and provides afternoon sun in a protected manner; the top of the carge is about six feet off the floor
• Location - Where are you geographically located? Southern California, outside Los Angeles in the foothills
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about. Just hoping we are doing things right and looking for any helpful hints; he seems to poop about every thrid day, looks healthy, but almost always after he has had a little handling time, any insight on this behavior? We are contantly worried about dehydration and any thoughts on watering would be great. We intend to try a shower this weekend with a graepvine bird perch that should work well and provide him some security and has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and not used by the aforementioned unbalanced bird in years.
Pictures are helpful
Thank you all for everything we have already learned form you and will learn in the future!