Help, I caught my Panther chameleon sleeping during the day.

[ElectronicFixer]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Panther Chameleon, Male, approximately 6 months old, We've had him for 3 1/2 of those.
• Handling - 2-3x a week
• Feeding - Large crickets 5-8x per day, Superworms 3-6x per day, Gut loading the crickets with Flukers quencher and Orange food.
• Supplements - Reptical Calcium without d3 3x a week, reptical herpavite 2x a week.
• Watering -Automatic misting system 15 seconds every 3 hours, mists plant in front of basking spot and we have seen him drink from this plant before.
• Fecal Description - fecal matter appears normal, recently the urates have had a orange tint on part of it. No Google has never been tested for parasites.
• History - He chews on fake plant leaves.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Screen 18x18x30
• Lighting - Exoterra t5 uvb light, 100 watt night time red(cold house), 100 watt daytime blue(cold house), 40 watt night time (warm house) 60 watt daytime blue (warm house)
• Temperature - 82 degrees (basking spot) - 69 degrees (cage floor) Used thermometer probe in air
• Humidity - Never measured humidity as I figured it wasn't easily controlled with a screen enclosure.
• Plants - No live plants in his cage.
• Placement - Top of cage it near eye level, there is a air return vent about 10 feet away.
• Location - Jacksonville, Florida

Current Problem: We noticed Google was not eating as much since he has shed last (1 week ago), the weather has also gotten colder. He has only had 2 bowel movements since his last shed, he normally goes once per day. The last 2 days have been very cold and I ran 100 watt red night night and was running the 100+60 watt during the day since the house was around 65 degrees but have taken the 60 watt light out since he has been acting strange.

This first group of photos is of Google and his enclosure right now. I misted the plant right in front of him and noticed he was thirsty when I took these photos I'm hoping he is just a little dehydrated. The second group of photos at the bottom of the post are of the misting nozzle and plants it sprays. I seem to be having a issue keeping his plants wet long enough for him to drink before the light burns off the moisture.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Group 2

 

[alphakenc]

I seem to be having a issue keeping his plants wet long enough for him to drink before the light burns off the moisture.

Try switch the position of ur uvb light n heat light as right now on ur pic showing the heat dome light is in the back n uvb is in the front,since majority of the plants are at the back so by placing the cooler uvb strip light at the back wont vaporize the water droplets as fast as the hotter heat light.

 

[opheliaeatsbugs]

He's a cute little guy I have a veiled cham, but it's my understanding that veiled and panthers have similar care - if I'm way off base, someone will let you know

My thoughts are that he could probably use a few more plants in his enclosure - adding some real plants, like a pothos, will help keep the humidity higher (Panthers prefer it more humid than a Veiled). Even though you have a screen enclosure, it is still important to try and get the humidity to a healthy range for him - so I would suggest you get a humidity gauge. And, at some point, you might consider a larger cage? it wouldn't hurt if it was a little taller

I'm working hard to get my Veiled properly hydrated - she still has a little yellow in her poop I use a Monsoon Rainfall System and it runs 3x a day for 5-8 mins. She doesn't like an audience so I try not to watch her when she's drinking. Also, I manually mist her at least once a day. I also have a ReptiFogger that runs a couple times a day. All this to say that if Panthers need higher humidity than a Veiled, then you might need to work on that a little. Also, if he is dehydrated, you'll need to give him more/longer time to drink. 15 secs every so often doesn't sound like enough to me... but I'm still learning

If you haven't, read through the care sheets https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/ there is more detail on enclosures, humidity, and specific panther info https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/

 

[Alexander1]

Couple things, your cage looks bare, your cham needs more branches to climb around, the plant that is being sprayed has narrow leaves which make it hard for your Cham to lap up the water, don't just dismiss the humidity in the cage, that's not how it works, I use the plastic you buy at menards to winterize the windows, it's very clear, it holds in the mist from the mister and help keep some moisture in the cage, I have 3 pothos in my xl cage, your Cham is ready for a bigger cage, chameleons stop eating for various reasons, you have to do your best at giving them the space, water and heat to ease the stress, after that I would get a fecal done to check for the parasite load, he's old enough to of occumilated some through the crickets you feed him. Good luck

 

[Alexander1]

Also you have to provide d3 about twice a month unless he spends his days outside with natural sun