A few questions from a newbie

[MamatoElvis]

I have had my little guy for about a month. Had a great experience with Bruce from Chameleon Paradise. Bruce was very informative but I had a few questions.
Elvis is a 5 month old Ambilobe. When I first got him he ate crickets with gusto but now he's boycotting them. He now eats silkworms, hornworms, Phoenix worms, blue bottle flies and the occasional butter worm. Are the bb flies considered crunchy enough? Also as of yesterday I was just dusting the crickets, what can I dust now? I feel like the dust won't stick to the worms (maybe the Phoenix).

I'm supplementing by the schedule Bruce gave me
Calcium w/o D3 5 or 6 days a week
Miner all w/o D3 3 times a week
Multivitamin 2x per month
Calcium w/ D3 once a month

I was reading the label of the Miner all and it has calcium. Should it take the place of the calcium that day or should I be giving both?
Elvis gets outside everyday for a few hours in the morning. 8ish to about noon. noon it is above 90 degrees so I take him in. If it's not raining he gets out after 4 until 7ish. Is that enough to skip the calcium with D3 or should I still give it to him to be on the safe side?

The lights and mister are timed from 8am to 8pm. Elvis sometimes tucks away in his sleep spot around 7pm. I feel like I should turn his lights out so he can sleep properly. Should I? Or just keep to the timer?

One last question. A few years ago I planted a schefflera in the ground. It's huge with big 8 or 9 inch leaves that would be perfect when he moves into his big enclosure. If I take a cutting and root it, how do I clean it?
When I did his branches I cooked them but obviously that doesn't work here. I've never sprayed it with anything but what about parasites?
Sorry to bombard you guys with such an array of topics.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. Any pictures of your boy? I only live a couple hours south of you and it has been so hot this year. When I take my guys out in the morning I mainly keep them in the shade. They still get plenty of UV in the shade. I check it with my UV meter and it's over 100.

That's allot of supplements. If he gets some outside time almost every day I wouldn't use any d3. I'm attaching my blog for new keepers below and it tell how I supplement.

Also you can dust your worms with the supplements. You only want to lightly dust and don't make your feeders look like ghost.

I have my lights go out at 7:40 even though it's not dark until 8 or after.

You can just wash your Schefflera off outside with the hose.

Here's my blog if you'd like to take a look at it. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[MamatoElvis]

Thank you for answering. I thought it was a lot of supplements too. I've been skipping the calcium on the days I was supposed to do the Miner all. I dust very lightly and tried to choose high calcium feeders.
It has been very hot this summer. I thought when I first got him he would be outside 24/7 until October but after lurking on this forum I decided against it. He is under a covered porch so it's only direct sun until about 10ish then shade. I bring him in when it hits 90 because I figured he can't go anywhere in his enclosure to cool down at that point. I'm close to the beach so we don't usually go higher than 90 but this summer everyday it above 90.
Thanks for all the great info and I will check out the blog for your new owner info.

 

[MamatoElvis]

Also since you are so close. Any recommendations for a vet. I'm between Daytona and St. Augustine but I'll travel for someone who knows what they are doing.

 

[jannb]

Also since you are so close. Any recommendations for a vet. I'm between Daytona and St. Augustine but I'll travel for someone who knows what they are doing.

For serious problems and surgeries I travel to the Keys to see Dr. Doug Mader. He is one of the few reptile specialist in the world.....and I kid you not.
http://www.marathonvet.com/about-us/veterinarians/dr-doug-mader

For check ups, fecals and small stuff one of the vets here on the forums that also keeps chameleons is in Melbourne. I'd contact him and get a well check up and a fecal for sure. These guys are always getting parasites.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/dr-o/

 

[MamatoElvis]

Thank you. I hope I never need the one in the keys. How often do you do fecals and checkups?

 

[jannb]

Thank you. I hope I never need the one in the keys. How often do you do fecals and checkups?

I do fecals every 3 to 4 months and checkup every 6 months.