i am new to chameleons i need help

[dtparker21]

I just got a new oustalets chameleon I think she was so bright when I first got her now she is like a pale color i feed her with crickets that eat carrots an lettuce an celery I finely chop up and horn worms she eats like regular she's just a lil pale any suggestions

 

[Iluvheidi]

you have come to the righ place! fill this out for better help!


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


Pictures are helpful

 

[Iluvheidi]

oh and the second pic looks like shes starting a shed.

 

[TreyLcham]

looks like she is about to shed also in my opinion i would rase her basking light of the metal top so if she trys to climb on it she doesnt burn her foot or feet

 

[dtparker21]

Chameleon Info:
*- oustalets (Malagasy giant chameleon, female, don't know age. 4/19/14?*
*-everyday only like five mintets at a time.
*- hornworms an crickets?everydayt? around 10 am or 3pm? Carrots an celery an lettuce ?*
*- What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?*Not do I need to?
*- little dripper an mister ? Just started for like 30 seconds ? Do you see your chameleon drinking?*Yes
*- Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?*Brown an white an im going to ask syore where i got her .
*- Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you

Cage Info:
*- Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?*Screen 18x18x36 exo terro with one side plastic wrapped
*- What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?*13w uvb an 100w multipurpose 7am turn on uvb (spiral)around 10 I turn on the multipurpose and around 8 turn off both
*- What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?*An exo Terra analog 90°f highest lowest is 65-69
*- What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?*Perennial plants and a little dripper and misting
*- Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?*Pernnials
*- Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?*My room so a little traffic and around 6 feet
*- Where are you geographically located?*Virginia

*- The current problem you are concerned about.the pale looking color for a couple days now

 

[dtparker21]

I did raise the light about 2 inches

 

[Iluvheidi]

okay =) so im no expert but i will give my opinion. You own one of the largest chameleons species so im sure at one point you will need a bigger cage. my chameleons get calcium without d3 every feeding then twice a month they get calcium with d3. *this is pretty common with husbandry on this site and it seems to work great* but It does need to happen. Without calcium your chameleon will start to develope mbd. so search mbd in chameleons on google and it will give you a better idea how serious it is. as for the temps I think we all have to find what works best for us and our situations. In my reptile room i have constant airflow so my temps and humidty tend to go up and down so i have to adjust my setup for the changes. There are a couple oustalets owners on this site so i hope the chime in to help get you started. check out this panther chameleon care sheet. They are very close to the same but obvioulsy you will need a bigger adult cage than what is said in this care sheet! GOOD LUCK! http://www.epicchameleons.com/products.html

 

[dtparker21]

How long does it take for them to shed ??

 

[Iluvheidi]

could be days

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

usually less than a week from that point. When I first got my chams I thought they had severe burns on their back but it turned out they were just shedding, nothing to worry about.

 

[kinyonga]

Husbandry is very important if you want to have a healthy chameleon...lighting, feeding, supplementing, taking good care of the insects, providing proper temperatures.

It's important to have a UVB light so that the chameleon can produce D3 and thus use the calcium in its system. A basking light will provide a place for the chameleon to warm up so that it can digest its food properly thus absorb the nutrients it needs from its diet.

Sine many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous its recommended that the insects be dusted before they are fed to the chameleon with a phosphorous - free calcium powder. It is also recommended that you dust twice a month with a phosphorous - free calcium /D3 powder to ensure that the chameleon gets some D3 without overdosing it. D3 from supplements can build up in the system and lead to overdoses but D3 produced from exposure to UVB won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of the UVB. It's also recommended that the insects be dusted twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A. PrOformed sources of vitamin A cannot build up in the system like prEformed sources can. If your chameleon shows signs of a lack of vitamin A you can then give it some or give it once in a while as a precaution.

Calcium, vitamin A, phosphorous and vitamin D3 are all important for bone health and other things in the system and need to be in balance. You need to look at what you feed the chameleon with, what you feed the insects and the supplements when trying to balance these things.

Crickets, superworms, roaches, locusts canned fed a wide range of greens such as collards, escarole, endive, dandelion greens, etc. And veggies such as carrots, sweet red pepper, squash, zucchini, etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[ChameleonsByVanGogh]

its all good

its starting a shed its all good man keep up the good work no worries

 

[dtparker21]

How long does it take for a cham to get comfortable with you an its surroundings or does it just depend

 

[Cait0420]

Some are comfortable almost right away while others will take a long time or never be completely comfortable being held. Try hand feeding to get him used to you

 

[misshissingroaches]

Female? you need a laying bin even if you have not been breeding her, she will lay unfertile eggs. If you do not set one up she may become egg bound and die.

 

[dtparker21]

Where do I set up a laying bin at in the cage out the cage how do you know she's ready to lay eggs

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Just get a plastic container, I use 12 inch deep and 12 inch diameter. Fill it with organic soil and sand. Drill some holes in the bottom for drainage. Wet the soil to ensure she can dig a hole with out it collapsing and then just put it in the enclosure. I put a stick into the bucket so she can get in.

She usually gets pretty chunky, then stops eating, then starts exploring the bottom of the cage. You should notice a change in behavior

 

[dtparker21]

How long do they not eat for an how long can they go for without eating just wondering