Fischers Cham Care

[Mason]

Hey guys I have been researching Fischers Chameleon care and have found most of the info I need. So far I have found the care is vastly similar to the care of a panther chameleon. Anyone want to weigh in and tell me some key differences? I pick one up very soon and would like a couple last tips. Months of research have gone into my chameleon search and today is the day that journey ends. Thanks to everyone especially the senior members who answered all my silly questions. Love you all This last question will launch me into owning my first (not baby) chameleon.

I looked through all the care sheets is there any huge difference between them and panthers?

 

[GCash]

Hey guys I have been researching Fischers Chameleon care and have found most of the info I need. So far I have found the care is vastly similar to the care of a panther chameleon. Anyone want to weigh in and tell me some key differences? I pick one up very soon and would like a couple last tips. Months of research have gone into my chameleon search and today is the day that journey ends. Thanks to everyone especially the senior members who answered all my silly questions. Love you all This last question will launch me into owning my first (not baby) chameleon.

I looked through all the care sheets is there any huge difference between them and panthers?

Yes. They are montane and panthers are lowland.

 

[Mason]

I know that but thank you. All information helps. What I know about that is top of the cage needs to be 90 bottom needs to be under 80 and the middle should be in between. Just like any other cham they need the uvb lots of space to climb and hide along with regular misting and a dripper for water. That is all correct is it not?

 

[Carlton]

Hey guys I have been researching Fischers Chameleon care and have found most of the info I need. So far I have found the care is vastly similar to the care of a panther chameleon. Anyone want to weigh in and tell me some key differences? I pick one up very soon and would like a couple last tips. Months of research have gone into my chameleon search and today is the day that journey ends. Thanks to everyone especially the senior members who answered all my silly questions. Love you all This last question will launch me into owning my first (not baby) chameleon.

I looked through all the care sheets is there any huge difference between them and panthers?

What subspecies are you considering? Their care varies somewhat. No, I would not say their care is "vastly" similar to a panther. As already mentioned, they are montane species but some seem to be more cool humid obligate than others. I would not keep one like a panther. They will need cooler temps especially at night, a LOT of misting, higher humidity, and be very careful with supplement dusting (many montane species are especially sensitive to fat-soluble vitamins). They can be extremely active so will need large cages too.

 

[Mason]

The species I am considering is the K. matschiei, I believe that is the largest subspecies.
I know it better as a "monkey tailed chameleon" I am picking it up today and it is is an 18x18x36 sized enclosure. It is not full grown so it is fine for now but I will be upgrading to a much larger cage as soon as possible. Were my temps wrong when I listed them earlier? My room does get relativly cool so I do not believe that is a problem. As for supplementing all his food will be calcium dusted. Every other day with D3 and he will get a multivitamin also.

 

[Carlton]

The species I am considering is the K. matschiei, I believe that is the largest subspecies.
I know it better as a "monkey tailed chameleon" I am picking it up today and it is is an 18x18x36 sized enclosure. It is not full grown so it is fine for now but I will be upgrading to a much larger cage as soon as possible. Were my temps wrong when I listed them earlier? My room does get relativly cool so I do not believe that is a problem. As for supplementing all his food will be calcium dusted. Every other day with D3 and he will get a multivitamin also.

Dusting with D3 and multivitamins every other day is way too much! IMHO your temps are a bit warm for K. matschiei. I would only dust with these once a month to every 6 weeks. At the warmest time of year what is the low night time temp in the room? How warm during the day? What will your room humidity level be during winter heating? I've kept this species here in SE Alaska where it is moderately cool and humid most of the year and found them quite sensitive to dehydration and over-supplementation. As this cham isn't a hatchling and almost certainly wc you will need to check and treat for parasites...several cycles.

 

[Mason]

My room at the coldest during the summer can drop to about 70-75 but I can control the temperature where I am quite easily. Thank you for the supplement advice also I really appreciate your help. I will be taking him to the vet after he settle down in his new home for him to get a full check-up with a specialist. In the day my room temperature is between 74-78 but goes higher if I leave my computer on etc. It never really goes past 78
To keep him hydrated he will have a dripper hand misting quite often and an automatic mister for when I am gone.

 

[Carlton]

My room at the coldest during the summer can drop to about 70-75 but I can control the temperature where I am quite easily. Thank you for the supplement advice also I really appreciate your help. I will be taking him to the vet after he settle down in his new home for him to get a full check-up with a specialist. In the day my room temperature is between 74-78 but goes higher if I leave my computer on etc. It never really goes past 78
To keep him hydrated he will have a dripper hand misting quite often and an automatic mister for when I am gone.

You will definitely want to keep track of the higher temps in the room. You may only need to have a basking light on for a while in the morning and have a timer turn it off in the middle of the day. Or, have a more definite temp range in the lower area of the cage with travel routes and hiding foliage lower down for him to retreat to.

 

[Trace]

Here is an article on Fischer’s Chameleons of you have not read it already.

http://www.chameleonnews.com/05DecKroo.html

I saw the photo of the Fischer’s you are going to get on another one of your threads and I hate to say it but I’d be surprised if that is the actual animal you are going to receive. The species pictured is fairly rare in captivity (particularly in Canada) and aren’t collected very often for the pet trade, although mistakes do happen. I’d be willing to bet you will receive a wild caught Kinyongia multituberculata instead. Why not ask for some more updated photos of the animal in question before you commit? Post them here so we can give a positive ID as well. Wild caught chameleons are difficult to care for initially and while the cheap price and availability are tempting, you will spend more trying to rehabilitate the animal. I don’t recommend them for beginners.

 

[Mason]

I would agree with what you have said if I hadn't of seen the animal with my own two eyes a couple days ago. The breeder is a friend and I have been eyeing the animal for a while.
It is captive bred and very healthy. I am getting it so cheap due to this being a favour. Your comment is 100% valid and I will be seeing the chameleon before pickup so if It is not to my liking I do not have to buy the animal. Thanks for the help guys

 

[Trace]

That’s great that it is the same animal. He looks healthy. If that is what you want then go for it.

I was sceptical because I’ve seen so many ads over the years by people using photos found on the internet because the photos look better than what they can take, or they don’t have a camera etc. In many situations because of the lack of knowledge by the importer/store/seller they can’t tell the difference between species and thus use the wrong photo and the buyer ends up with something completely different. So when I see something rare or odd (again particularly because it’s Canada), plus the fact that there is a very recent Tanzania shipment at the various importers, I tend to question the validity of things.