i'm rehabilitating an abandoned fischer's chameleon. his previous owner didn't know his species and thought it was normal for him to be a dark brown. he had an abscess on his left hind leg, near the pelvis, which has been drained by a vet. he's currently on baytril (diluted with water). i've never had a fischer's and wondering if anyone has any advice regarding rehabilitating them.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Fischer's, Male, no idea how old, been in my care for 3 weeks.
Handling - Daily for medication (baytril). He often willingly walks onto my hand when i stick it in the enclosure.
Feeding - gut loaded crickets (on gut loading food bought from pet store in a cricket feeder for minimum of 3 days prior to feeding), and the occasional wax worms. 12 crickets daily, on average. 3 x weekly dusted with Calcium and vitamin D3.
Supplements - zoomed, calcium and vitamin D3, 3 X daily
Watering - Mist 2 - 4 times daily. He also has a shallow water bowl, he seems to prefer to drink out of that. I'm assuming he was kept with a water dish with his previous owner, as I know this isn't a natural behavior
Fecal Description - yes been tested three times, results negative. defecates once or twice a day, looks like healthy poop. urate is sometimes yellowy so i upped misting from 2 x daily to 4 x daily and it helps, as well as providing that water dish.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - currently glass exoterra with screen lid, 1 foot wide and 2 feet tall. switching to 2 x 3 foot screen cage within a month.
Lighting - don't know the brand or model... red heat lamp, and UVB light (zoo med I think?). REd heat lamp hooked up to a thermostat, so it turns off when it gets too hot and back on when it's too cold. UVB is on 10.5 hours daily from 7:30 - 6 roughly, sometimes longer. will be getting him a timer soon.
Temperature - 71 low to 92 high. Basking spot is typically 88 - 90. I measure with a digital temp gun. No idea what the temps are like at night, this chameleon lives at my work and I'm only there for ten hours a day.
Humidity - Cheap little dial humidity gauge, will be getting a better one. Humidity seems to be around 40 - 50%. Misting for humidity.
Plants - I wish I had live plants. Currently plastic.
Placement - 3 feet off the floor, on a counter in a high traffic area
Location - vancouver BC
Current Problem - Chameleon eats well, seen drinking daily, moves around daily, grip is stronger, colour is getting more green... but still has a lump where the abscess was, still favouring that leg, still more brown than I'd like, just wanting to know how to make this lil guy thrive. During a warm sunny day i gave him some unfiltered sunlight and he went more green and yellowy, so I will try to do that weekly but Canadian weather can be pretty cold and rainy.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Fischer's, Male, no idea how old, been in my care for 3 weeks.
Handling - Daily for medication (baytril). He often willingly walks onto my hand when i stick it in the enclosure.
Feeding - gut loaded crickets (on gut loading food bought from pet store in a cricket feeder for minimum of 3 days prior to feeding), and the occasional wax worms. 12 crickets daily, on average. 3 x weekly dusted with Calcium and vitamin D3.
Supplements - zoomed, calcium and vitamin D3, 3 X daily
Watering - Mist 2 - 4 times daily. He also has a shallow water bowl, he seems to prefer to drink out of that. I'm assuming he was kept with a water dish with his previous owner, as I know this isn't a natural behavior
Fecal Description - yes been tested three times, results negative. defecates once or twice a day, looks like healthy poop. urate is sometimes yellowy so i upped misting from 2 x daily to 4 x daily and it helps, as well as providing that water dish.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - currently glass exoterra with screen lid, 1 foot wide and 2 feet tall. switching to 2 x 3 foot screen cage within a month.
Lighting - don't know the brand or model... red heat lamp, and UVB light (zoo med I think?). REd heat lamp hooked up to a thermostat, so it turns off when it gets too hot and back on when it's too cold. UVB is on 10.5 hours daily from 7:30 - 6 roughly, sometimes longer. will be getting him a timer soon.
Temperature - 71 low to 92 high. Basking spot is typically 88 - 90. I measure with a digital temp gun. No idea what the temps are like at night, this chameleon lives at my work and I'm only there for ten hours a day.
Humidity - Cheap little dial humidity gauge, will be getting a better one. Humidity seems to be around 40 - 50%. Misting for humidity.
Plants - I wish I had live plants. Currently plastic.
Placement - 3 feet off the floor, on a counter in a high traffic area
Location - vancouver BC
Current Problem - Chameleon eats well, seen drinking daily, moves around daily, grip is stronger, colour is getting more green... but still has a lump where the abscess was, still favouring that leg, still more brown than I'd like, just wanting to know how to make this lil guy thrive. During a warm sunny day i gave him some unfiltered sunlight and he went more green and yellowy, so I will try to do that weekly but Canadian weather can be pretty cold and rainy.
