Behavior Panther Chameleon

[TimvThiel]

Hello everybody!

I was wondering if it is ok for my new panther Blue to be basking and be high up almost all day. I had some time to observe his behavior and i noticed he spends 90% of his day on the top most branch. He basks for like 5 minutes and then goes to the middle and just chills there. This goes on for almost entire day. Only when bedtime comes he goes down, walks one round and snugs in. Will post some photos of this aswell!

He eats like a champ though. Every 2 days i feed him around 4 locust and 2 dubias. His response to food is instant and he bolts towards me when he sees im bringing the food.

Any thoughts??

 

[Beman]

Your basking spot may be a bit hotter that what you think it is. Temp gun is only going to give the surface temp. Depending on bulb strength and how close the branch actually sits to the screen I am betting it is hotter than you think. Get a temp gauge with a probe and use a tiny zip tie to hook the probe in at the branch below the heat. That is going to give you an accurate reading. Based on your other post using a 75-100 watt heat bulb at the distances that your branch appears to be is going to produce temps up over 90 degrees may be hotter since your working with a glass enclosure. He is spending most of his time in the middle of the cage because the temp is not as hot.

 

[TimvThiel]

Your basking spot may be a bit hotter that what you think it is. Temp gun is only going to give the surface temp. Depending on bulb strength and how close the branch actually sits to the screen I am betting it is hotter than you think. Get a temp gauge with a probe and use a tiny zip tie to hook the probe in at the branch below the heat. That is going to give you an accurate reading. Based on your other post using a 75-100 watt heat bulb at the distances that your branch appears to be is going to produce temps up over 90 degrees may be hotter since your working with a glass enclosure. He is spending most of his time in the middle of the cage because the temp is not as hot.

Ordered the humidity en temp gauge! Will be here soon!

 

[TimvThiel]

Your basking spot may be a bit hotter that what you think it is. Temp gun is only going to give the surface temp. Depending on bulb strength and how close the branch actually sits to the screen I am betting it is hotter than you think. Get a temp gauge with a probe and use a tiny zip tie to hook the probe in at the branch below the heat. That is going to give you an accurate reading. Based on your other post using a 75-100 watt heat bulb at the distances that your branch appears to be is going to produce temps up over 90 degrees may be hotter since your working with a glass enclosure. He is spending most of his time in the middle of the cage because the temp is not as hot.

Soo this morning in placed the new thermometer and humidity meter with probes. I came home and this was the reading. 80.4F for heat and 54% humidity.

 

[Beman]

Soo this morning in placed the new thermometer and humidity meter with probes. I came home and this was the reading. 80.4F for heat and 54% humidity.

Make sure the metal of the probe is not covered by the zip tie and the bulb is directly above this spot where you placed. Give it some time. Morning temps are going to be cooler as the cage warms up. What you want to pay attention to is this would be the at the branch temp. Which means where they rise up it is going to be hotter. So if at branch it is 80 then where they rise up at the back is probably sitting about 84. Basking should be no hotter than 85. Literally looking for a 80-85 max range at basking. So right now this temp would be good.

 

[TimvThiel]

Make sure the metal of the probe is not covered by the zip tie and the bulb is directly above this spot where you placed. Give it some time. Morning temps are going to be cooler as the cage warms up. What you want to pay attention to is this would be the at the branch temp. Which means where they rise up it is going to be hotter. So if at branch it is 80 then where they rise up at the back is probably sitting about 84. Basking should be no hotter than 85. Literally looking for a 80-85 max range at basking. So right now this temp would be good.

I will monitor daily! Thanks @Beman ! Appreciate the help!

 

[TimvThiel]

Make sure the metal of the probe is not covered by the zip tie and the bulb is directly above this spot where you placed. Give it some time. Morning temps are going to be cooler as the cage warms up. What you want to pay attention to is this would be the at the branch temp. Which means where they rise up it is going to be hotter. So if at branch it is 80 then where they rise up at the back is probably sitting about 84. Basking should be no hotter than 85. Literally looking for a 80-85 max range at basking. So right now this temp would be good.

Soo it has been a couple days now since the first post. Temp at the basking spot is steady around 82F. Humidity is 98% after misting in the evening and mornings. During the day its lowers to around 60%.

Currently he is still spending a lot of time on only 1 or 2 branches compeletely at the top. He basks and then goes to the middle and just chills there. This goes on from the minute he Wakes up and goes up top. I just never seen him using the mid section of the terrarium. Only when he goes for bed he crawls down.

Dont even know if its an issue or that he just chillin like this. Anybofy??

 

[Beman]

Soo it has been a couple days now since the first post. Temp at the basking spot is steady around 82F. Humidity is 98% after misting in the evening and mornings. During the day its lowers to around 60%.

Currently he is still spending a lot of time on only 1 or 2 branches compeletely at the top. He basks and then goes to the middle and just chills there. This goes on from the minute he Wakes up and goes up top. I just never seen him using the mid section of the terrarium. Only when he goes for bed he crawls down.

Dont even know if its an issue or that he just chillin like this. Anybofy??

So this is not abnormal behavior. He is not a baby and he does not have the need to bask a ton to help digest consistent food intake. Now that you know where the basking is at you have ruled out that it was too hot.

I would pay attention to your humidity levels though. 60% is still on the high end during the day. And if it is starting out at 98% in the morning you need to see how long it takes for that to fall. You do not want them breathing in hot moist stagnant air. With a glass enclosure you have to really dial in your misting and or fogging to ensure your day time levels are dropping to 40-50%. Sometimes this means not misting in the morning and adding a dripper instead for them to have access to water. You may have to put a small pc fan on top of the cage in a corner to help pull air up and out of the cage so it is cycling better.

 

[TimvThiel]

So this is not abnormal behavior. He is not a baby and he does not have the need to bask a ton to help digest consistent food intake. Now that you know where the basking is at you have ruled out that it was too hot.

I would pay attention to your humidity levels though. 60% is still on the high end during the day. And if it is starting out at 98% in the morning you need to see how long it takes for that to fall. You do not want them breathing in hot moist stagnant air. With a glass enclosure you have to really dial in your misting and or fogging to ensure your day time levels are dropping to 40-50%. Sometimes this means not misting in the morning and adding a dripper instead for them to have access to water. You may have to put a small pc fan on top of the cage in a corner to help pull air up and out of the cage so it is cycling better.

Thankss @Beman. I actually have the small fans!

I will check humidity! He is eating really good so im not worried just wondering if its normal!

 

[Beman]

Thankss @Beman. I actually have the small fans!

I will check humidity! He is eating really good so im not worried just wondering if its normal!

Just make sure they are faced so that they are pulling air up and out not blowing air in. Up and out works with the venting strips on the front of the cage to help with the chimney effect of air movement.