Fat Panther - Constipated?

[Tazjunky]

hi everyone,

So I got a new Panther yesterday and he is kept in a 2x2x4ft Reptibreeze XL, has a 6% Arcadia T5 uvb tube and a light for the plants, and has a basking spot of 95. He is 16" long and just over 7" snout to vent. Not sure of the age, But I think roughly 8-10 months although its difficult to say what locale he is.

Problem is, he is HUGE and so heavy ( I dont have any scales but he weighs a tonne). He is also very lazy, and I mean lazy. He makes no attempt to move and leave when ever I go near him, he doesnt even move his head. He seems healthy enoough though, eats and drinks like a trooper but as of yet, I aint seen no poop and his gut hangs down something wicked when ever he settles and leans on his basking branch.

Could he be constipated? Or am I being paranoid with him being so subdued and lazy? And if he is constipated, what can I do to help him?

Here are some pics - any ideas on the local are greatly appreciated!

 

[NosyBeT360]

If he isn't pooping you may want to stop or slow feeding. chameleons don't need to eat every day and can go extended periods of time without food. Allow for him to digest his food, they need to bask to digest their food aswell so be sure he has access to his basking location. I'd do that for one or two days and see if that helps him go.

 

[ataraxia]

Your just paranoid

Congrats, just give him some time

 

[ataraxia]

If he isn't pooping you may want to stop or slow feeding.

He has only had this chameleon for one day. Why would he stop or slow this chameleon intake?

 

[Tazjunky]

Thanks, il hold back his food for a day or 2 and check for movement! Lol. He had a few big locusts today.
Anyone have an idea of locale? He is always pink with the odd bit of dark banding.

 

[ataraxia]

Not sure but if i am viewing your pictures correct. You have a red light on him?

If so, Please fill out the how to ask for help form.

 

[Tazjunky]

The light does have a slight pink tint to it as its for the plants, the pics of him lower down in the viv are a more accurate representation of his usual colour.

 

[NosyBeT360]

Whoops, I misread the one day part, disregard what I said. Sorry!!!

 

[djfishygillz]

Your just paranoid

Congrats, just give him some time

Yeah I would second that. The last thing you want to do is go and try and freak your chameleon out or stress it out the first day you get him. Do not try to make a problem out of nothing I guess is what I am say. I see a lot of people try to create problems with their chameleons on this site when their chams are fine in reality.

 

[carol5208]

he does not look fat at all to me.

 

[Tazjunky]

In general how often do panthers go the toilet? My high casqued and veiled go like clock work, but still nothing out of this guy yet but he is packing away the locusts.

He is not at all active like the other chams I have and won't even move when I open the cage and go near him he just sits and sometimes rests his face on the branch he basks on.

 

[ataraxia]

Please fill out the how to ask for help form.

Be sure he is getting enough water, read quote.

 

[mcleodschams]

In general how often do panthers go the toilet? My high casqued and veiled go like clock work, but still nothing out of this guy yet but he is packing away the locusts.

He is not at all active like the other chams I have and won't even move when I open the cage and go near him he just sits and sometimes rests his face on the branch he basks on.

i would think a drop of mineral oil on a feeder would help him pass a poo!! im not positive so let someone agree or disagree but i cant see it hurting either way when he goes it will not be pretty.( if its been a while.)

 

[Tazjunky]

Be sure he is getting enough water, read quote.

He is getting enough water and drinking fine. How does me filling in the form give me an idea of roughly how often other peoples Panthers poop? lol

Well good news, after a few morning locusts, and a bit of basking, he finally pooped and woooooooooooooooo it was Huge! Biggest iv ever seen and longer than my middle finger!

 

[ataraxia]

He is getting enough water and drinking fine. How does me filling in the form give me an idea of roughly how often other peoples Panthers poop? lol

Clearly, you dont have to fill it out. Since you are new and asking how often does a panther poop. Why not go over your care to be sure everything is good?

My nosy be's go about every two to three days
ambanja goes every single day
ambilobe is every 3-4 days
Sambava everyday
Tamatave every 2-3 days


Many husbandry factors play a part in how often a panther poops. There is no set number of days. Its how much you feed, temps, hydration, how active he is (how good you set up his cage), his individual digestive system, etc determines how often he will poop.

 

[Tazjunky]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Panther Chameleon - Locale - unsure of this , guessing 8-10 months given the colouring or lack of (but I like it none the less!) I bought him on Thursday so 3 days ago.

Handling - Only handled him to give him a shower today and when I first got him.

Feeding - Feeders are crickets and Locusts at present. been eating 4 medium to large locusts (5cm) in the morning and grazing on a few crickets throughout the day. last feeder is roughly 6pm. Feeders are gutloaded on bug grub cricket food (premade gutloader available over here in the UK) as well as carrots, greens, potato etc. He was eating Super Worms with the previous owner, but iv since stopped these for the time being.

Supplements - Using Arkvit Calcium and Multivits. Dusting with the calcium every other feed and will be dusting with the multivits once every 2 weeks. The Buggrub is loaded with vits.

Watering - At the minute I am hand misting using tepid water, 3 times daily sometimes 4. for roughly 30 seconds each time. He will also be getting a shower once a week. He has been drinking out of the end of the spray can when iv been misting.

Fecal Description -First faeces depositied today! Huge - Normal firm consistency but quite a substantial amount. Urate had a slight yellow tint to it, but was solid and roughly 1inch long and very hard. As far as i am aware no prevoius faecal tests have been carried out so todays deposit has been collected to be tested for parasites.

History - Previous owner had not long had the chameleon and aquired it from a friend who no longer had the time to look after it, hence why im not sure of the age.

Cage Info:

Cage Type - Reptibreeze XL - 2x2x4ft screen cage.

Lighting - Arcadia T5 High Output lighting - 6% Arcadia D3 UVB tube with reflector and Arcadia Tropical Pro tube and reflector for the plants. Basking lamp.

Temperature - Temperature ranges from 95f under the basking spot down to 70f at the lowest point in the viv. checked with IFR Thermometer.

Humidity - Humidity is around 50-60% at normal times and spike at 70-85 during misting. Hygrometer is used to check this (exoTerra)

Plants - Live plants - Ficus, umbrella plant on the base of the viv , pothos hanging plant and wandering Jew hanging plant. plenty of vines and walkways.

Cage is kept on a table rouhgly 20 inches off the ground in my office that I use for University work.

Location -Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Current Problem - Constipation, but he has since gone poop!

 

[ataraxia]

Looks like you are doing a great job. If i can only offer justa bit of advice.

1. Arkvit: I am not familiar with this product but i did just read a little on it. I could not find the exact information i was looking for but in the small amount of time i did look i did see that it had d3 in it along with many other vitamins. The d3 alarms me along with the other vitamins put into this product. In my limited search i could not find if the Vit A is preformed or proformed. This is something you want to know. Maybe if you can find a site that has the list of ingredients so we can look them over. If i can suggest you buying a product that is plain phos free caclium for every feeding.. No d3 or vitamins. the arkvit product may be a awesome product for twice a month dustings.

2. Its great you are giving a shower once a week. 30 seconds three or four times a day imo is not sufficient. I would spray for a minimum of 2 minutes but 5 is absolutely great. Drainage is a must for this type of misting. If this is not an option i would provide a dripper on top of your mistings. These guys drink more than you can imagine if given a chance.

 

[ataraxia]

i am also not a fan of Infrared guns. They need a surface to guage temps. So 99% of the time they are not giving the correct reading you are searching for. I strongly suggest you buying a digital thermometer with a probe to test your basking site. Please take my advice on this you will understand once you see for yourself. If the surface you are testing is reading is 95. I bet the actual site is above 100.

 

[Tazjunky]

Thanks for the tips!

I will order some plain calcium powder this eveninig if I can find some online, and keep the Arkvits for twice a month. I couldnt find any other information with regards to the vitamin A content - But while i think on, should the vitamin A be preformed or Proformed?. I will also change the vitamins to one without the D3.

What brand of Vits would you recommend? Most of the ones over here in the UK are quite confusing - i picked up some Exo-Terra vitmains and found that they contain D3 also although it isnt clearly llabelled on the box, but it is online.

I forgot to mention that I have a dripper as well, Im planningon adding a drainage hole tomorrow and ordering an Exo Terra Monsoon misting system to mist on a regular basis.

As for the temp gun, I measure the temperatures of the chameleon skin directly not the branch, but Im investing in some new basking lights and a new stat so I'll check using the sensor on that as well as directly with the gun.

My new guy - Titan as he now been officially named is a real lazy pants! he doesnt hunt, he waits for food to stroll by, he rarely moves unless its to change sides of the vine and he is so slow to move when he actually does. He never tries to escape or move away from me if i go in the cage. My Hoes dart around their cage all the time and are very active and my veiled never sat still for more than half an hour.

I weighed him this evening before lights out and he came in at 187grams, do you think he may be too heavy for his age and also be the reason he is so inactive?

 

[ataraxia]

Thanks for the tips!

I will order some plain calcium powder this eveninig if I can find some online, and keep the Arkvits for twice a month. I couldnt find any other information with regards to the vitamin A content - But while i think on, should the vitamin A be preformed or Proformed?. I will also change the vitamins to one without the D3.

For panthers you want a preformed source. Just dont over do it. Twice month is sufficient.

What brand of Vits would you recommend? Most of the ones over here in the UK are quite confusing - i picked up some Exo-Terra vitmains and found that they contain D3 also although it isnt clearly llabelled on the box, but it is online.

I personally use zoomeds and repcals plain calcium. For multivit i use reptivite.

I forgot to mention that I have a dripper as well, Im planningon adding a drainage hole tomorrow and ordering an Exo Terra Monsoon misting system to mist on a regular basis.

Awesome. Hes going to love you for that.

As for the temp gun, I measure the temperatures of the chameleon skin directly not the branch, but Im investing in some new basking lights and a new stat so I'll check using the sensor on that as well as directly with the gun.

Very good.

My new guy - Titan as he now been officially named is a real lazy pants! he doesnt hunt, he waits for food to stroll by, he rarely moves unless its to change sides of the vine and he is so slow to move when he actually does. He never tries to escape or move away from me if i go in the cage. My Hoes dart around their cage all the time and are very active and my veiled never sat still for more than half an hour.

I weighed him this evening before lights out and he came in at 187grams, do you think he may be too heavy for his age and also be the reason he is so inactive?

187 g's is a decent size ambilobe. From the pics he does not look overweight. He looks healthy just about right. Laziness can be from not wanting to become a target in his new environment, lighting maybe not to his likings, cage accessories maybe lacking...Hes still pretty new. some take a day to adjust and some take many weeks. Give him some time and with your great care he will come around. I guarantee it

See orange in quote.