Question about vitamins, lighting, and food

EDIT: Chameleon info two posts below....

Hey guys, I just got a male Nosy Be Panther Chameleon 3 days ago. His name is Leo, he is 5 months old, and well before I bought him I did a lot of research and even now I am, but I just can't find a solid answer to my question... The guys in the reptile store sold me a kit that included a terrarium, crickets, vines, a 2 combo deep dome for bulbs, an infrared light, and a UVB light. I bought the Calcium supplement separately, but i don't know if i bought the right one. They said they recommended it so i guess it was fine, but now that i'm reading a lot of posts i am afraid i might have bought the wrong one. I read in these forums that my chameleon should have calcium every day but vitamin d3 twice a month. The supplement that i bought is called Repashy Superfoods Calcium Plus, vitamin and calcium supplement. In the ingredients section it says that it includes vitamin D supplement, Vitamin A supplement, and Vitamin E supplement.

Is vitamin D supplement same as vitamin D3?? should i dust his crickets daily or twice a month? should i but another supplement????

my other question is... do i really need a basking light?? cause in the reptile shop they only gave me the UVB and infrared light for the night and told me it was fine with that..... i keep the uvb light on throught the day and the infrared at nights... and Leo seems to be doing OK, since the weather here is about 20-30 °C, and with the UVB heating seems that hes fine... but what do you think???

And when should i change his food? I read that chameleons get tired of their food very easily... but i just got him and with when i bought him i got 2 cricket containers size 3/4 that contain 50 crickets each... When should i buy him a different food????

One more question.... can i use a regular 50W desk lamp to be his basking light??

Thanks for the help.. im sorry for the long reading.. i am just really worried and the guys in the reptile shop seem to be annoyed by me..

Thanks

1. Repashy calcium plus is fine to give every feeding (no need for any other supplements). You dont want to get a product like repcal with d3 and feed everyday as it has higher levels of the d3 in it.

2. yes you need a basking spot. this allows your little guy to thermo regulate his temps to a)digest food b)have warmth to hunt and catch food efficiently c) have an appetite and the list goes on. i personally set my babies up as adults with a 88-90* basking temp.

3. he will be fine with crickets for a while to go. If you want to implement a diversified feeding regiment. You can do so at anytime you wish. Just make sure the feeders offered are appropriate size.

also you do not need a light on at night. If heat is needed at night. It is best to use a ceramic coil bulb. This truely only needs to be used if your temps fall below 50 degrees.

please fill this out.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
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?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
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?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Thanks a lot!

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Nosy Be Panther Chameleon, male, age: 5 months. Time in my care - 3 days.
Handling - like 5 mins a day.
Feeding - Only crickets atm, i give him like 7-11 a day, but sometimes they spare. Usually in the afternoons, like at 2pm. Im gutloading them with romaine lettuce, apple, orange, carrots.
Supplements - Repashy calcium plus vitamin and calcium supplement.. at 2pm.
Watering - I use various techniques, i spray my chameleons cage with boiled water like 3 times a day, i also use an upside down thermos that is dripping constant water, i also recently used the melting ice cubes techinque.... yes i have seen him drink..
Fecal Description - The first two days i saw regular brown poo with a little white-yellow part at the end, i then incorporated a soil substrate that i bought at a reptile shop and some leaves too and so i cant find his poop now. I havent had tested his poop yet.
History - no

Cage Info:

Cage Type - screen... large...24x24x48 inches
Lighting - i threw away the boxes but i have a UVB light and a infrared light combo, both were reptisun, and one was 5.0, can't remember which one.. sorry. I turn on the UVB light at about 9am and off at 10 pm, then i turn on the infrared and turn it off at 7am
Temperature - havent measured temperatures, about to buy thermomether, but ambient temperature is about 20°c so his cage must be warmer than that...
Humidity - havent bought a hygrometer, but will soon..
Plants - no, plastic plants...
Placement - IT's at my room, on top of a desk, not near a fan, not many people enter my room, just me while im at the computer(most of the time).
Location - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Mexico.

One more question.... can i use a regular 50W desk lamp to be his basking light??

LeoM said:

Thanks a lot!

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Nosy Be Panther Chameleon, male, age: 5 months. Time in my care - 3 days.
Handling - like 5 mins a day.
Feeding - Only crickets atm, i give him like 7-11 a day, but sometimes they spare. Usually in the afternoons, like at 2pm. Im gutloading them with romaine lettuce, apple, orange, carrots.
Supplements - Repashy calcium plus vitamin and calcium supplement.. at 2pm.
Watering - I use various techniques, i spray my chameleons cage with boiled water like 3 times a day, i also use an upside down thermos that is dripping constant water, i also recently used the melting ice cubes techinque.... yes i have seen him drink..
Fecal Description - The first two days i saw regular brown poo with a little white-yellow part at the end, i then incorporated a soil substrate that i bought at a reptile shop and some leaves too and so i cant find his poop now. I havent had tested his poop yet.I would remove all substrates and use either bare bottom, newpaper or paper towel. The reason for this is that your substrate is lose. Your little guy when shooting for prey can pick up substrate with his prey. At this age his digestive system is very small and can easily become impacted if this continues.
History - no

Cage Info:

Cage Type - screen... large...24x24x48 inches If you notice him not finishing atleast 10 crickets a day at the moment (10 is about normal for his age). I would split his cage with some foam board you get at any hardware store vertically. this will allow him to hunt his food more efficiently.
Lighting - i threw away the boxes but i have a UVB light and a infrared light combo, both were reptisun, and one was 5.0, can't remember which one.. sorry. I turn on the UVB light at about 9am and off at 10 pm, then i turn on the infrared and turn it off at 7amThis is extremely important to know. If you bought the combo pack with a infrared bulb in it. You more than likely just have a daylight bulb which is not producing uvb. the only combo pack i am aware of with a uvb bulb has a spot basking bulb with it. Please take the bulb out of the fixture and see what it says around the base. then let us know to check it out for you. picture of it would help.
Temperature - havent measured temperatures, about to buy thermomether, but ambient temperature is about 20°c so his cage must be warmer than that...You will need to buy a digital thermometer with a probe as soon as you can. For you little guy to prosper he will need his temps to be within range. VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO GUESS!
Humidity - havent bought a hygrometer, but will soon..
Plants - no, plastic plants...
Placement - IT's at my room, on top of a desk, not near a fan, not many people enter my room, just me while im at the computer(most of the time).
Location - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Mexico.

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Hope this helps you

LeoM said:

One more question.... can i use a regular 50W desk lamp to be his basking light??

Click to expand...

if it has a normal house bulb yes.

ataraxia said:

Hope this helps you

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It has... thanks a lot!! the bulb of the uvb says EXO TERRA repti glo 5.0 UVB.... the red light says.. EXO TERRA repti glo 50W 120v 60hz... maybe i could use the red one as a basking light???

why does it have to be a digital thermometer with a probe?? i really dont think i could afford to buy another expensive accesory... could i just buy the regular thermometer with hygrometer combo?

no problem..

Ditch the red light and put a regular house bulb in its place. If your house ambient temps are around the low to mid 70's and his basking spot is around 6-12 inches from the bulb. i would go with a 40-60 watt bulb.

Thanks a lot for your help, i really appreciate it, youve helped a lot my friend

ataraxia said:

no problem..

Ditch the red light and put a regular house bulb in its place. If your house ambient temps are around the low to mid 70's and his basking spot is around 6-12 inches from the bulb. i would go with a 40-60 watt bulb.

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Heres a picture of my new setup with your recommendation ataraxia, i improvised a basking light with a regular house light and i removed all the substrate...

If thats a double dome hood you can just put the household bulb in 1 side & have the UVB bulb on the other. You have an Exo Terra compact flouresent? its a coil type rite? You should add more plants to your cage it looks to need some... it looks a little sparce. You can use artificial plants now you have live 1's already. The Repashy Calcium Plus is an excellent supliment thats all you should need and use.Can we see a pic of your little guy or gal? We love pics

LeoM, you may find the information within these links useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/syn/226-frequently-asked-questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...hameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

Davonat said:

If thats a double dome hood you can just put the household bulb in 1 side & have the UVB bulb on the other. You have an Exo Terra compact flouresent? its a coil type rite? You should add more plants to your cage it looks to need some... it looks a little sparce. You can use artificial plants now you have live 1's already. The Repashy Calcium Plus is an excellent supliment thats all you should need and use.Can we see a pic of your little guy or gal? We love pics

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That's what I thought, but i read that the basking spot shouldn't be less than a foot away from the bulb, and yes, i have a UVB EXO TERRA repti glo 5.0 compact flouresent, coil type. I was thinking about more plants, but Leo is still really small, and i want him to find the crickets easily, and with less plants it is easier to find them and to see if he is actually eating, they are all plastic plants btw...


Heres a pic of Leo

sandrachameleon said:

LeoM, you may find the information within these links useful:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ryan-jarosek/119-new-arrival-bringing-home.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/syn/226-frequently-asked-questions.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs...hameleons.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/92-hydration-importance.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/65-supplements.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/573-chameleon-physiology-supplements.html

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Thanks i've read most of them