Hello, my name is Lauren and I was recently (about 2 weeks ago) given a 9-10 month old female fischer's chameleon by an acquaintance who could no longer care for her (and i believe, more specifically, that she is a "standard fischer's chameleon"). I have no experience with fischer's chameleons so I wanted to try and start a thread on here to post information about how I am taking care of her in order to make sure that I am caring for her properly. I welcome any helpful information and advice that anyone has to offer, especially since I was for the most part unsuccessful in finding care sheets and care information on any other website.
As a side note, although I don't have any experience with fischer's chameleons, I am studying herpetology and currently working towards my Master's degree and do have a decent amount of experience with several other reptile species including a successful, small colony of bearded pygmy chameleons, so I have ideas about her basic care requirements. But again, without any experience with this particular species, I am sure that there are tons of people on here that know a lot about the care and husbandry of fischer's chameleons who will (hopefully) let me know if I am doing everything right and/or offer any advice about the species.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - female fischer's chameleon (almost positive she's a 'standard fischer's chameleon') 9-10 months old.
Handling - I've been handling her for short periods of time, once a day, for the past few days in order get a good look at her eyes, mouth, and check the strength of her grip but after getting her into her new enclosure the first day I brought her home I did not handle her for about a week with the hope that the 'alone time' would allow her to better acclimate to her new environment with as little stress as possible.
Feeding - I've given her about 5 or 6 small-medium sized crickets a few times since bringing her home and actually observed her eating once, but each time can no longer find any crickets in the enclosure by the next morning.
Supplements - I dust her crickets with (phosphorus free) Fluker's calcium powder with vitamin D3. I also have the Fluker's Repta-Vitamin multivitamin powder that I use with certain other reptiles but have not used with my fischer's chameleon, as of yet.
Watering -I have been misting the entire enclosure and her once in the morning and once in the evening and have an automatic fogger set up on a timer to turn on for 15 minutes, 6 additional times throughout the day. I rarely observe her drinking but have seen her drink water off of a leaf once or twice and had her open her mouth and drink while I was misting her once, a couple of days ago.
Fecal Description - she has pooped a couple times, that I have observed, and it looked normal but her urates have been very white (particularly the first week that I had her)
History - she was given to me by a friend/acquaintance who I know has experience with several species of chameleons, but due to the fact that she is going to be moving across the country soon and does not want to transport too many chameleons, decided to give her up.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - 16"x16"x20" all screen Reptibreeze with one large front opening door and a hard white floor.
Lighting - I have a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 fluorescent bulb, in a large sun-dome which is sitting directly on top of the screen top.
Temperature - I have been keeping the top of the cage at (or very close to) 80 degrees with a 60W ceramic heat bulb on an adjustable reptile lamp stand, so I am able to move the bulb closer or farther, depending on the temperature reading I get from the digital thermometer probe, positioned at the top of the enclosure.
Humidity - Usually stays between 50% and 60% between mistings/foggings, but jumps up right after mistings and when the fogger has been on.
Plants - (as for live plants): 2 small potted pothos plants and a potted ficus plant. I also have 3 long fake vines weaving all over the enclosure that I got from a pet store, as well as a long silk flower garland that I got from a craft store and cleaned with hot water, to add multiple climbing/basking levels and a lot more cover to the enclosure.
Placement - Her enclosure is in one of the corners of my living room, on the opposite side of the room as the windows, and is on top of a book shelf that is about 5 feet tall.
Location - Chicago, IL
Mostly looking for any information or advice that anyone has to offer, all I want is to make my new little beauty as comfortable as possible and offer her the best care that I possibly can, so if there is anything I am doing right or wrong, I'd love to know and would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks to anyone who reads or responds to this! I'm also more than happy to answer any possible additional questions that anyone might have.
As a side note, although I don't have any experience with fischer's chameleons, I am studying herpetology and currently working towards my Master's degree and do have a decent amount of experience with several other reptile species including a successful, small colony of bearded pygmy chameleons, so I have ideas about her basic care requirements. But again, without any experience with this particular species, I am sure that there are tons of people on here that know a lot about the care and husbandry of fischer's chameleons who will (hopefully) let me know if I am doing everything right and/or offer any advice about the species.
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - female fischer's chameleon (almost positive she's a 'standard fischer's chameleon') 9-10 months old.
Handling - I've been handling her for short periods of time, once a day, for the past few days in order get a good look at her eyes, mouth, and check the strength of her grip but after getting her into her new enclosure the first day I brought her home I did not handle her for about a week with the hope that the 'alone time' would allow her to better acclimate to her new environment with as little stress as possible.
Feeding - I've given her about 5 or 6 small-medium sized crickets a few times since bringing her home and actually observed her eating once, but each time can no longer find any crickets in the enclosure by the next morning.
Supplements - I dust her crickets with (phosphorus free) Fluker's calcium powder with vitamin D3. I also have the Fluker's Repta-Vitamin multivitamin powder that I use with certain other reptiles but have not used with my fischer's chameleon, as of yet.
Watering -I have been misting the entire enclosure and her once in the morning and once in the evening and have an automatic fogger set up on a timer to turn on for 15 minutes, 6 additional times throughout the day. I rarely observe her drinking but have seen her drink water off of a leaf once or twice and had her open her mouth and drink while I was misting her once, a couple of days ago.
Fecal Description - she has pooped a couple times, that I have observed, and it looked normal but her urates have been very white (particularly the first week that I had her)
History - she was given to me by a friend/acquaintance who I know has experience with several species of chameleons, but due to the fact that she is going to be moving across the country soon and does not want to transport too many chameleons, decided to give her up.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - 16"x16"x20" all screen Reptibreeze with one large front opening door and a hard white floor.
Lighting - I have a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 fluorescent bulb, in a large sun-dome which is sitting directly on top of the screen top.
Temperature - I have been keeping the top of the cage at (or very close to) 80 degrees with a 60W ceramic heat bulb on an adjustable reptile lamp stand, so I am able to move the bulb closer or farther, depending on the temperature reading I get from the digital thermometer probe, positioned at the top of the enclosure.
Humidity - Usually stays between 50% and 60% between mistings/foggings, but jumps up right after mistings and when the fogger has been on.
Plants - (as for live plants): 2 small potted pothos plants and a potted ficus plant. I also have 3 long fake vines weaving all over the enclosure that I got from a pet store, as well as a long silk flower garland that I got from a craft store and cleaned with hot water, to add multiple climbing/basking levels and a lot more cover to the enclosure.
Placement - Her enclosure is in one of the corners of my living room, on the opposite side of the room as the windows, and is on top of a book shelf that is about 5 feet tall.
Location - Chicago, IL
Mostly looking for any information or advice that anyone has to offer, all I want is to make my new little beauty as comfortable as possible and offer her the best care that I possibly can, so if there is anything I am doing right or wrong, I'd love to know and would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks to anyone who reads or responds to this! I'm also more than happy to answer any possible additional questions that anyone might have.