F. Pardalis coloration

[Benton1576]

Hi

I was wondering, is there anything that actually promotes more coloration in F. Pardalis or is it just pure genetics that dictates how vibrant the colours are? I ask because I have an Ankaramy ( see "my Ankaramy" in general discussion for pics ) and to me he seems rather plain looking in comparison to most i have seen. Although i know that most people on here show their chameleons all fired up but i cant seem to be able to get mine to do it, even if i hold them in front of the mirror, they just stare! lol. Im just wondering if theres any vitamins or something that helps to make them more colourful?

I am currently using Herpital vitamin and d3 and herpital complete. I use them everyday, on alternate days switching between the 2. I am using powersun 100w mercury vapour bulbs for my Chams with their basking spot approx 30cm from the bulb so as not to burn the blighters! does this sound like a good combination.

They eat Roaches, Locusts, Crickets and the occasional wax worm or 2 as a treat, all dusted with the above vitamin supplements. Roaches on monday, Cricks tuesday, Locusts wednesday, Cricks thursday with the occasional waxy thrown in as a treat, then i repeat the feeding schedule.they get a nice juicy stick insect once per month too. I know this probs seems like OCD but i like to know what and when they are eating. they dont seem to eat a lot but im sure thay eat enough as they are both very alive!

If anyone wants to show me their Ankaramy to compare then i would be very grateful. mine is approx 2 years old. Thanks guys, your advise is always appreciated.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Natural sunlight does wonders.

 

[hallenhe]

Some chameleons are just "laid back" and won't fire up readily or at all. The male Ambilobe I had for nearly 5 years did nothing whatsoever in response to a mirror. Unfortunately, he saved his best color for the veterinarian and the few antibiotic shots he had to have. His sire was very colorful, so I think temperament had as much to do with it as genetics (but I don't know about his mother). Sunshine and varied, healthy diet will help him be in his best condition, and thus have his best potential for color. Unlike fish (where you can get "color enhancing fish food" that seems to really work; I think a lot of that is carotenoids), I haven't seen anything about particular vitamins, nutrients or foodstuffs enhancing a chameleon's color. He seems a pretty handsome Ankaramy to me!

 

[mlw50]

Ankaramies are also typically just a pink color, so you won't get the variation of color you see in a locale such as ambilobe.

 

[Benton1576]

hmm,

Thats what i was getting at about the vitamin thing. i used to have fish and fed them colour enhancing food so i thought that meybe there was something on the market that worked for reptiles too. he is a handsome ankaramy but not as pink as most ive seen. his eye turrets are just grey, all the time. ive seen a lot with red eye turrets. meybe i should just be happy that hes nice and healthy.

My ambilobe has some amazing colours at the moment, cant wait to see what hell look like when hes a full grown adult!

Thanks for the replies.