Finally got some pygmys! Questions

[Mikael]

So I have gotten 1 male and 2 females (I think) and I plan to put them in my 20 gallon long but when I got them they are a bit tinier than anticipated. By looking at the pics should I put them all in the 20 gallon long or the exo terra 8x8x12 cage here are the pics.
http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/Mikael_m29/library/?sort=3&page=1 I couldn't separate the pics that well but u can tell the difference of the 2 chams I took but the smaller lesser colored one id the female and the bigger one is the male and the 2 females look the exact same but I just showed a pic of one. So what cage should I put them in and I am getting more plants for the 20gallon so any quick advice would help!

 

[Mikael]

Oh and how is a easier way to get the temps to drop should I use a fan?

 

[Mikael]

Will It be bad if the temps don't drop lower by 10 degrees or what if they drop to like 70 will that still be okay?

 

[sharp229]

I don't have experience with pygmies and I think there are relatively few people on here who do as opposed to other species.

However, according to the care sheet, you should have a minimum of 5 gallons per pygmy so I would think the 20 gallon is fine.

If the ambient temperature in the room you are in is less than the cage, then a fan should help with cooling. It will also help lessen the heat output by a light. However, if the room is too hot you would have to cool the room in order to reduce the temp.

According to the caresheet the temps should be 60-78F and never exceed 80F.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/pygmy/

 

[kdc5019]

If you need to cool, try using aquarium chillers (basically just computer fans that can mount to the cage).

Experiment with them blowing in and out, sometime exhausting the heat output from the light outward from the cage works better than blowing air into the cage.

You say about dropping your temps by 10 degrees?

What is the ambient temperature of your room and tank now? If its above 80 it will become lethal to your pygmys and you should drop the temp asap.

 

[Mikael]

Okay temps are 76-78 and they dropped to 73 with a fan they are pretty high cause I have a red footed tortoise and I keep one of his ceramics heat emitter on all the time. Should I put them in the 20 gallon now cause they are eating small crickets and I don't know if they will be able to catch them. They are in the little exo terra just for last night cause I was fixing up the 20 gallon but should I keep the females in there? Or should I put all the chams in the 20 gallon it is in a different room that will prob have a temp drop.

 

[Mikael]

How do they clean there eyes do I spray them or around them cause if I get some water on their eyes the squint really hard

 

[Mikael]

They are all around 1/75 inches to 2/15 inches and how often should I feed them every second day or every day

 

[johnnyev]

How do they clean there eyes do I spray them or around them cause if I get some water on their eyes the squint really hard

Yes they don't appreciate being sprayed directly, as most chameleons don't.
If you have a very fine spray they don't seem to mind so much though.

 

[johnnyev]

They are all around 1/75 inches to 2/15 inches and how often should I feed them every second day or every day

I would feed babies, juveniles every day. They are pretty much like their larger cousins, in the fact that as they mature into adulthood, they tend to feed much less & eat much less, than when young & growing. Well that's my experience anyway.

 

[Mikael]

I would feed babies, juveniles every day. They are pretty much like their larger cousins, in the fact that as they mature into adulthood, they tend to feed much less & eat much less, than when young & growing. Well that's my experience anyway.

But I don't know the age so I'm asking how often at that size approximately

 

[Mikael]

In my cage I have ABG mix from neherp but the crickets like to go under it can I maybe put a small layer of eco earth on top of it so the crickets can't hide under the substrate

 

[johnnyev]

But I don't know the age so I'm asking how often at that size approximately

At that size i would say they are juveniles. So feed every day. If you notice uneaten insects the next day, don't feed for a day or two.

 

[johnnyev]

In my cage I have ABG mix from neherp but the crickets like to go under it can I maybe put a small layer of eco earth on top of it so the crickets can't hide under the substrate

I use a substrate of natural earth/leaf litter (collected from my local forest). I have a layer of oak/magnolia leaves on top of this. My pygmies actually go down onto the substrate & under the leaves to hunt out the bugs.

Another trick is to put a small piece of veg, ie carrot on top of the substrate, tempting the crickets into view. Though as i say, i wouldn't worry too much, your pyg's will get down & hunt them out anyway, as they would do in the wild.

 

[Mikael]

Okay cause I do have leaf litter so I'm gonna take out a little of the abg and put some eco earth on top and then the leaves