Advice for a newbie!!!!

[BlankSlate]

Good morning all!!!

My name is Kourtnie and I briefly introduced myself on Wednesday, when I received my new buddy, Hefner!!!! Now that the two of us are attempting to settle in, I have a few questions and I would love to receive some advice!

Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - Species - panther chameleon, locale - Nosy Faly, sex - male, and age - 6.5 months. Hefner has spent 3 days in my care.
• Handling - I have not handled "Hef" yet as I'm letting him "get the lay of the land" and become accustomed to his new surroundings!
• Feeding - Crickets. 10-15/day. Feeding occurs in the daytime hours - around 10-11AM - free range to encourage hunting instincts. I gut-load the crickets with Flukers commercial dry food as well as Fluker's commercial orange cubes. Fluker's commercial cricket quencher with calcium is used as a water supply to discourage any drowning incidents.
• Supplements - I'm currently dusting the crickets with Rep-Cal Herptivite w/ Beta Carotene once/week and Rep-Cal (Phos-free) w/ Calcium and Vitamin D3 every other day.
• Watering - I have a ZooMed Reptirain automatic misting system that drips water every 3 hours for 30 seconds. (It is on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours.) I also have a ZooMed MotoMister spray bottle that I use to spray ONLY the Pothos plant once or twice a day.
• Fecal Description - "Hef" had his first bowel movement today (day #3). White urate and moist dark brown poop. "Hef" has never been tested for parasites.
• History - "Hef" is a 6.5 month old captive hatched Nosy Faly panther chameleon that I acquired from Screameleons! I have located a reptile vet and will be taking "Hef" for a check-up, just to have a baseline, in case he ever gets sick.

Cage Info:
• Cage Type - Zilla Fresh Air Screen aluminum screen cage - 20" tall x 18" long x 12" wide.
• Lighting - ZooMed 60-watt Daylight Blue bulb and a ZooMed 5.0 UVB bulb. Lighting schedule is 12 hours on and 12 hours off. (All lights come on at 0900 and all lights go off at 2100.)
• Temperature - Temperature ranges: basking area is 85-90 degrees; daytime/ambient is 75-85 degrees; and nighttime/ambient is 65-75 degrees. Temperatures are measured with a digital thermometer in the cage as well as a hand-held digital thermometer that I use to scan different areas from outside of the cage.
• Humidity - Humidity level ranges between 40-50%. (In order to keep the cage dry and decrease any growth of bacteria.) Humidity level is created with the use of a Pothos plant in the cage. (Pothos is misted once or twice a day.) A hygrometer is inside of the cage and can be easily viewed for current levels.
• Plants - Pothos plant and a couple of fake vines.
• Placement - The cage is located in the dining room. There are no fans or air vents located near the cage. There is a medium amount of traffic in this area. The cage is elevated off the ground with an aquarium stand.
• Location - Minneapolis, Minnesota

"Hef" will be upgrading to a larger cage very soon, but in the meantime, I would love any advice in regards to supplementation and gut-loading feeder insects. Am I supplementing correctly?? Are commercial gut-loads alright or should I stick with "au naturale"?? Again, any advice or suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated!!!!

(I enclosed a couple of pics of "Hef". He didn't mind the first pic, but he certainly started to fire up at the second shot!!)

 

[Lamour]

Welcome to the forums

Hefner is looking good! Everything that your doing seems good. I'd only suggest a little higher humidity if you can, although mine also tends to stay at that level.

I'm not sure if the orange cubes are healthy for the chameleons, hopefully someone else will chime in. As far as supplements the usual schedule is plain calcium everyday (to prevent bone disease and help growth) and multi-vitamin powder twice a month (i do the 1st and 15th to keep around the same amount of days in between)

I know many people use the calcium with D3 twice a month as well, I'd see what others say about it, I personally only use the multi-vitamin and plain calcium. (if anyone knows if this is harmful/ why so many use it as well please share!)

 

[Lathelia]

Hi again,
You seem to be well prepared, I would also suggest to mist more. 40-50% should be the lowest humidity, after misting you should get around 80%.

ple use the calcium with D3 twice a month as well, I'd see what others say about it, I personally only use the multi-vitamin and plain calcium. (if anyone knows if this is harmful/ why so many use it as well please share!)

If you don't take your cham outside a lot you should be using calcium with D3 twice a month.
I always recommend reading Sandra's blog for great info about gut loading:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/
I would definalety use fresh veggies. You can use them with commercial gutloads

Please note: I'm not a senior member, but I hope someone more experienced will chime in and second what I said