@nikoniko
Niko: I have a male panther chameleon ( pardalis), who is about 10 months and I have had him for about 4 months.
Handling: Not very often because he is still not completely comfortable with it but he is starting to warm up to me. I would say once a week if not every other week. Or only if I have to.
Feeding: I was feeding him mainly crickets but after more research, I recently decided to switch to dubias (since they are healthier). He used to eat about 6-7 crickets every day, now he eats about 3-4 dubias. I gut load the dubias and superworms with mustard greens, kale, mango and sweet potato. I offer him superworms and hornworms on occasion about 2-3 times a week. I still feed him everyday since he is only 10 months old.
Supplements: I dust the bugs with calcium powder without D3 everyday and on the last day of the week I will switch off with D3 and with a multivitamin powder. Calcium w/o D3 and w/D3: Rep-Cal , multivitamin: Zoo Med reptivite (w/o D3)
Watering: I water him twice a day (unless humidity gets low) for about 2-3 minutes, I manually mist him because I am saving for a Mist King at the moment. I only see him actually drink in the morning, later in the day he has been going to bed early so usually I can't see him drink.
Fecal Description: His fecal matter has been very consistent, a solid but mushy brown with the normal solid white "pee". On occasion, the white pee has some light orange coloration but resolves the next day. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a vet around me that knows about chameleons, so no he has not been tested yet.
History: No known history the pet store didn't even tell me his birthday or how old he was, based on his size I assumed he was about 6 months when I got him.
Cage type: I have a screen cage that is 2x2x4
Lighting: I have a 12'' T5HO Reptisun 5.0 uvb and a 60 watt ZooMed blue daylight bulb, that I turn on at 8 am and off at 8 pm. Lately, I have been turning them off early because he is ready for bed earlier.
This really should be extended to a 24 inch fixture.
Temperature: His basking lamp is about 80-90 degrees and his overall temp ranges from 75-80 F but normally stays around 75 degrees F. lowest temp at might only drops to about 67-70 F I use a temp gun as well as a digital thermometer that stays in the cage.
90 is a bit hot. I would do 85 max. He could be moving down to get out of the heat as well.
Humidity: Lately I have been having issues with keeping the humidity up, I recently got a humidifier that sits outside of his cage that I turn on when misting doesn't work. I try to keep the humidity level above 65%. I mist as well as use the humidifier and I have a digital hemostat in the cage as well to read the percentage.
Daytime humidity should be between 50-60% Make sure you are not running the humidifier into the cage during the day. Only use it at night.
Plants: I have two live plants one is a Croton plant and a Coffea tree and I am planning on adding some pothos. The rest are fake branches and vines.
Placement: The cage is located inside my room, I am the only one who is normally in the room. He is next to a window but this remains closed as well as a independent A/C unit that usually remains off. The is 4 ft from the floor I am working on getting a stand for it at the moment I just upgraded his cage this last month.
Really need him up on a table. The sleeping early could be due to a stress reaction with him now being so close to the floor.
Location: I live in southern California
Current Problem: My cham has been going to bed earlier and earlier and I don't know why. This started when I put him in his new/bigger cage.
I would get a lamp... No overhead lights on when his lights are off. You can get a black out curtain to wrap the side of the cage. But I would not throw it over the whole thing all night as you will not have air flow. If his sleep is getting disturbed all night with people turning lights on and off this can also cause him to go to sleep earlier.
If the roommates have an issues with lights at night then moving the cage may be the best idea, maybe into your room.
Everything else in your husbandry is perfect.
Note that you can move him to an every other day feeding as he is old enough for it now. It would be 3 feeders every other day.
https://chameleonacademy.com/panther-chameleon-care/
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