Cage Temperature and Humidity help!

[PaulZarate]

Hey all, I'm planning on getting a panther cham latter this week, and I set up the cage and put it in the conditions that he would be living in. I've turned on the lights and the temperature didn't even budge. I sprayed the whole cage with water, and no budge on the hydrometer. IS it because the reader is on the back and it's facing my room? The cage is quite big, about 30"x18"x30"

I have a 15W UVB, one 65W UVA and another 60W UVA.

Please help.

 

[graydon]

its because those gauges are terrible. go buy a digital one and it will solve your problem. Panther's require very precise temps so make sure you have them set before you get one.

what kind of lights are you using? You also need to get a live plant in there.

 

[pssh]

Analog thermometers don't work, nor do the analog hydrometers. Digital is the only way to go. You should also add more safe plants in there for coverage.

 

[PaulZarate]

yeah I'm buying a live plant tomorrow, not sure which one though. But do you think that set up I have no would be fine with the lighting I mentioned?

 

[pssh]

You dont really need two basking lights, and I dont know how hot the basking spot is since you dont have the digital thermometer.

Fill this out and we can tell you if its going to be okay:

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?



Pictures are helpful

 

[PaulZarate]

I haven't gotten the cham yet, getting him Wednesday. I'll ill out as much as I can.

* Your Chameleon - Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, Male, 3 months.
* Handling - I'll handle him maybe once a week.
* Feeding - Maybe crickets and wax worms every other day.
* Supplements - ReptoCal
* Watering - I'll spray the whole cage 1-2 times a day.
* Fecal Description -
* History - .


Cage Info:

* Cage Type - Aluminum Screen
* Lighting - 12-12 schedule one UVB (15W) and two UVA (60 and 65)
* Temperature - I just measured the temperature with a digital thermometer. At the bottom it was 73º and at the top it was from 78-83ºF.
* Humidity - spray bottle, frequently.
* Plants - I will be soon, unsure what to get.
* Placement - Cage is located in a are, not cluttered but not completely free.
* Location - NYC

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Paul,

As far as the temps go, stick the back of your hand right at the basking spot and see how it feels after a minute or two. If it doesn't feel "hot" but just warm then it is probably safe for your juvenile panther.

What is the make/model of UVB? Coil? Linear?

Ficus and/or Schefflera plants work well.

 

[PaulZarate]

It's a Linear UVB and it's from Exo-terra.

 

[panthercham]

Welcome to the forum and to chams

At 3 months you need to feed your cham everyday not every other day as they are growing. Gut load the crickets with all the good stuff...carrots, apple, kale, collard greens, yams etc.

As far as live plants you cant go past a fiscus, pothos or hibiscus. That will help in keeping humidity up. In the past I have used a lot of vines and fake plants and have had trouble keeping the humidity up as well but as soon as I went to live plants it helped a lot

When you do find a live plant remember to wash the leaves and the whole plant in soapy warm water to remove any fertilizers or pesticides etc and rinse well and replace the soil with orgainic soil and cover it with large river rocks.

Enjoy your cham!