I'm new to the forum, just got my baby boy yesterday and I'm already noticing some behavior that seems odd after all I've read and researched. Hopefully I'm just overreacting.
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. - Male Jackson's Chameleon, not sure of the exact of the three variations. He's about 1-2 weeks old.
How long has it been in your care? 1 day and a night.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I handled him the first time I fed him a couple hours ago, (setting him onto the cup's edge) and when I picked him out from his clutch. A few hours after he was first introduced to his cage, he also slipped and fell from the branches.. so I had to help him back up...
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I've only fed him once since I got him, a couple hours ago, he ate two small sized crickets, not pinheads, but small ones that are about half the size of his head. I haven't really gutloaded them yet, but they've been eating fishfood until I get to the store to get proper supplies.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? None yet, will soon.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I spray his tank once in the morning, and then leave his drip system on while I'm at school (having my mom refill it once or twice in my absence) When I get home, I spray about once or twice every hour/2hours.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Haven't seen any yet.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I got him from a guy who's pair laid a clutch/litter, whatever you call them. He was keeping them in a really large tank, not a screen one, but it was big, and all his chameleons were pretty happy/healthy looking. The babies were all roaming the plant with the parents, colors consisting of dark brown/black and white. I don't think the guy supplements his chameleons though, and just feeds them crickets from the store.
Cage Info: He's in a 12" by 12" by 20" high tank, with a screen top and front that I leave open sometimes while I'm in the room. Inside is a large diagonally resting birch branch, along with plenty of vines and silk leaves to climb in. Sphagnum moss at the bottom.
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? He's in a 12" by 12" by 20" high tank, with a screen top and front .
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I'm using a Zilla Day Blue Light that provides his UVA as well as a basking spot since it keeps the highest point in his cage at about 80 or less.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Cage floor is about mid to low 70s while the top of the cage reaches 80 at most. Overnight, the cage drops into the mid 60s.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? a small "Personal space humidifier" That I bought from walgreens that sits at the bottom of his tank, I'm still trying to get the timer to work, so it's off while I'm at school but on at night and while I'm home so I can monitor it. I use a "Great Choice" Hygrometer that sticks to the side of the tank. I know it's not 100% accurate but it works fine for the average.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? A dead birch branch is all, if that counts. Dead sphagnum moss.
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? It's on my dresser in my room, The top of the cage is about 4 feet from the floor.
Location - Alaska (but not the crazy far north)
Current Problem - I've done a lot of research and I know that it's not good for a chameleon to be sleeping during the day, well; mine does. I'm not sure if this is because he's still trying to adapt to his new tank, (sorry if I may have rushed into posting for this 'problem' but I just want to be sure I'm taking care of him right so if this is a problem, it won't progress further.
He ate a couple crickets a couple hours ago, but now all he's doing is sitting on his perch with his eyes closed and a dull brown body color. I sometimes try to nudge him a bit to see if he's alright, but it takes so much to get him to even open his eyes. It's like I have to pick him up and tickle him to get them to open.
Note- Last night, I almost made a post because he was doing that thing where he rubs his eye on a branch, sometimes leaving a bubble in it and it made it a bit swollen. I read around on here what to do for that and I misted his cage really well and left him for the night. It's all gone now and he looks all better. Hopefully the info I've given helps, I'm also kind of making this post to be sure I'm giving him good care(I'm also worried...). Thanks in advanced.
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. - Male Jackson's Chameleon, not sure of the exact of the three variations. He's about 1-2 weeks old.
How long has it been in your care? 1 day and a night.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I handled him the first time I fed him a couple hours ago, (setting him onto the cup's edge) and when I picked him out from his clutch. A few hours after he was first introduced to his cage, he also slipped and fell from the branches.. so I had to help him back up...
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I've only fed him once since I got him, a couple hours ago, he ate two small sized crickets, not pinheads, but small ones that are about half the size of his head. I haven't really gutloaded them yet, but they've been eating fishfood until I get to the store to get proper supplies.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? None yet, will soon.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I spray his tank once in the morning, and then leave his drip system on while I'm at school (having my mom refill it once or twice in my absence) When I get home, I spray about once or twice every hour/2hours.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Haven't seen any yet.
Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? No
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. I got him from a guy who's pair laid a clutch/litter, whatever you call them. He was keeping them in a really large tank, not a screen one, but it was big, and all his chameleons were pretty happy/healthy looking. The babies were all roaming the plant with the parents, colors consisting of dark brown/black and white. I don't think the guy supplements his chameleons though, and just feeds them crickets from the store.
Cage Info: He's in a 12" by 12" by 20" high tank, with a screen top and front that I leave open sometimes while I'm in the room. Inside is a large diagonally resting birch branch, along with plenty of vines and silk leaves to climb in. Sphagnum moss at the bottom.
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? He's in a 12" by 12" by 20" high tank, with a screen top and front .
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? I'm using a Zilla Day Blue Light that provides his UVA as well as a basking spot since it keeps the highest point in his cage at about 80 or less.
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Cage floor is about mid to low 70s while the top of the cage reaches 80 at most. Overnight, the cage drops into the mid 60s.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? a small "Personal space humidifier" That I bought from walgreens that sits at the bottom of his tank, I'm still trying to get the timer to work, so it's off while I'm at school but on at night and while I'm home so I can monitor it. I use a "Great Choice" Hygrometer that sticks to the side of the tank. I know it's not 100% accurate but it works fine for the average.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? A dead birch branch is all, if that counts. Dead sphagnum moss.
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? It's on my dresser in my room, The top of the cage is about 4 feet from the floor.
Location - Alaska (but not the crazy far north)
Current Problem - I've done a lot of research and I know that it's not good for a chameleon to be sleeping during the day, well; mine does. I'm not sure if this is because he's still trying to adapt to his new tank, (sorry if I may have rushed into posting for this 'problem' but I just want to be sure I'm taking care of him right so if this is a problem, it won't progress further.
He ate a couple crickets a couple hours ago, but now all he's doing is sitting on his perch with his eyes closed and a dull brown body color. I sometimes try to nudge him a bit to see if he's alright, but it takes so much to get him to even open his eyes. It's like I have to pick him up and tickle him to get them to open.
Note- Last night, I almost made a post because he was doing that thing where he rubs his eye on a branch, sometimes leaving a bubble in it and it made it a bit swollen. I read around on here what to do for that and I misted his cage really well and left him for the night. It's all gone now and he looks all better. Hopefully the info I've given helps, I'm also kind of making this post to be sure I'm giving him good care(I'm also worried...). Thanks in advanced.
Soon he will need a bigger screen cage though.
