It’s a 5 month old Male Panther Chameleon and has been in my care for about a week now. I don’t handle it at all as I know it causes the Chameleon stress. I don’t know the specific brand of the lights but I keep one of the lights on all night and turn the other on at 11 and off at 11.
OK, 12/12 on/off is a good interval, but ALL lights should be OFF at night, whether it's a factor in the current problem or not—just good husbandry.
I’m currently feeding it about 5-6 crickets and I’m not gut-loading them as I don’t know much about the process.
It's very simple, but highly recommended. We just had a thread where several people (self included) mention they gut load as regular feeding so as to keep healthi(er) feeders ready to "give their all" at all times.
There are charts on what to feed, and in what proportions here.
I’m not really giving it any supplements or anything as it wasn’t handed to me when he gave me the items to care for it for the rest of the week.
For just a week, it should be fine. If you wind up caring for longer/long-term, please come back and someone can help you with supplements.
I must with a spray bottle and I try to put enough to get the leaves wet so he can drink. I’ve seen it drink once but not any other times.
How often? Best to mist twice a day, near lights-on and lights-off. I like to mist halfway between as well, but if not possible due to working/school, etc. it's probably OK.
It’s fecal matter is a very dark brown but I have not seen any urine.
Reptiles don't urinate; they excrete "urates" (the white/off-white part of the stool). Best if it's slightly off-white/cream colored, but again, short term. If there's a problem, I'd make a note to give to the owner when your cousin collects him.
I don’t know if it’s been tested for parasites or anything about it really.
For a week or two, that shouldn't be your responsibility. Parasites generally take longer than that to develop, so if he has any, he most likely had them already.
It’s in a screen tank with mesh on all sides. I’m not sure about the dimensions but I’m sure it’s plenty of room for the Chameleon. The temp range is 70-90 degrees and I measure them with a thermometer. The humidity is around 50% and I maintain it with occasional sprays of mist from a bottle. I measure it using a hygrometer. I was not given live plants in the set up which I know is a bad thing since it nibbles on them a lot.
Panthers don't generally nibble. Could it be drinking? They do drink by licking (or maybe what looks like nibbling) water off of the leaves. Live plants do help establish & maintain humidity, but again, short-term—not your responsibility. If it winds up permanent, or you decide to get one of your own, let's talk!
The cage is located near a 40 gallon aquarium (I specialize in aquatic animals) and I’ve turned off any air stones that might be too noisy for him. His cage sits on a 2 foot table that’s located in an area that’s mostly occupied by me. I do like to have a fan in my room but I don’t know if it’s causing him any stress. I am located in Michigan in the United States of America. I don’t really know much about reptiles as I’m more into aquatic animals but I’m trying my best to get as much help as possible and to make sure it’s ok.
The fan shouldn't be a problem. From
Wikipedia:
[C]hameleons do not have an outer or a middle
ear, so there is neither an ear opening nor an eardrum. However, chameleons are not deaf: they can detect sound frequencies in the range of 200–600 Hz.
It really would help if you could/would copy/paste the questionnaire into a post on this thread, and edit in your answers/info. in bold or another color. The folks here are used to dealing with that form regularly, so it's easier for them to spot potential problems & offer help. Same with the pics. It's really S.O.P. here.
I've had both at various times, and many more. Hamsters can be a scream.
