acclimation to new cage, how long?

[optra]

Hello All,

I Transferred my Chameleon to his New Adult cage Yesterday.

I have a few concerns, he seems to not want anything to do with his Basking area, I'm not sure why? In his little cage he would bask for hours. I know this might sound silly but he seems "bummed out" His appetite is normal however.

is this normal? Should i give him a few days to settle in? Before i start to worry?

 

[Rune]

How many watts? And what color?

 

[optra]

How many watts? And what color?

It's a 60 Watt Bulb, It's a Day light Blue Bulb by Zoo med. Same Bulb i used in his Little cage.

It keeps his basking area at around 88 Degrees.

 

[ataraxia]

there is no time limit on acclimation and will be different per chameleon. if you dont mind answering some of the question below. it might help speed up the process if anything is wrong.

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?

 

[optra]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

My chameleon is a Ambilobe Panther chameleon, he is about to be 5 months old the 15th of June, I've had him for about 2 months.

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

I don't handle him at all.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

He eat's cricket's, about 15-20 a day, I feed him about 8-9 before work, Which is around 9 am, His lights turn on at 7 am. and another 8-9 after work which is around 3 PM, I also feed him silkworms for Snacks every now and then. As far as Gut loading i use Cricket Crack

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I lightly dust daily with Repticalcium without D3, I use Herptivite Multivitamins twice a month, as well as Rep-cal calcium with D3 twice a month

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

My Mist King system Sprays every 3 hours for 30 seconds, Yes My chameleon Drinks often

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

His droppings are brownish in color with a bit of white at the end. NO Yellow or orange whatsoever

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Like i mentioned earlier, he eats like crazy he drinks like crazy, But since i transferred him to his new cage he seems "out of it"


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

His adult cage is 2x2x4 ft , It's a screen cage Repti breeze

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

I use a 60 watt Bulb for his basking, and for his UVB it's a reptisun 5.0, Daily Schedule is 7am to 7pm

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

His basking area is around 85-93, His middle branches are around 76. Lowest over night temp is around 65. I have a temp gun from my R/C days that i use to check his temperatures

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

His humidity typically stays around 40-60, I use a Mist King, to maintain this, it sprays every 3 hours for 30 seconds, To measure this i use zoo med humidity gauge

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

For plants i have a small Ficus, and a 2.5 foot Umbrella tree.

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 located against a wall, It isn't near any vents, or high traffic area, There is a window next to it but that window doesn't open

Location - Where are you geographically located?

Located in southern California.

I hope this helps, any advice would be highly appreciated.

 

[carol5208]

Everything you are doing seems right!! Every chameleleon is different so you cannot say exactly how many days it will take him to get used to his cage. I am sure he will be fine!!!

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

When a moved Krash to his "big boy cage" he too went off for a bit. He continued to eat/drink but wouldn't Poop.
My breeder (Kammers) said it was normal to acclimate and be a little "off".
It took about 2 weeks

 

[DavidBuchan]

Same here. 3 days and he was eating out of my hand again. Hope he settles in again soon..........

 

[optra]

Thanks for the Feedback guys, makes me feel more at ease.