info needed

[plant bootlegg]

so i've recently obtained a fischer's chameleon, and it seems fairly healthy. this is my second chameleon as i have had a veiled a few years ago that i got when it was 2 and it lived for 2 years with me in a tree in my living room. problem is that in general, i can not find very much information about this particular species. anyone have a fischer's? is there anything that can be suggested? anything majorly different from the veiled other than diet? he is very social, and seems to like sitting on my hand looking around.

things i am concerned about:

uv lighting
temperature gradient
safe plants(he has been enjoying sitting on a large peace lily we have a lot)
is an exoterra screen terrarium (18x18x24) good enough or should i get the reptibreeze? (either 18x18x36 or 23x23.75x48)

any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Ellron]

so i've recently obtained a fischer's chameleon, and it seems fairly healthy. this is my second chameleon as i have had a veiled a few years ago that i got when it was 2 and it lived for 2 years with me in a tree in my living room. problem is that in general, i can not find very much information about this particular species. anyone have a fischer's? is there anything that can be suggested? anything majorly different from the veiled other than diet? he is very social, and seems to like sitting on my hand looking around.

things i am concerned about:

uv lighting
temperature gradient
safe plants(he has been enjoying sitting on a large peace lily we have a lot)
is an exoterra screen terrarium (18x18x24) good enough or should i get the reptibreeze? (either 18x18x36 or 23x23.75x48)

any help would be greatly appreciated!!

The cage size should be okay.
Check out the safe plant list in my blog, click the link in my sig.
Temp gradient is standard for most chams I think, high in basking zone, and proggresivley lower throughout.
I am not sure if this data is 100% accurate.
UV lighting I think is the same aswell.

 

[Ellron]

Here are a couple of care sheets.
Petco, take with a grain of salt
Thinkquest
Cool Pictures
Habitat Design

 

[plant bootlegg]

which cage size should be ok? i really want to decide on it quick because right now he is in medium glass exoterra cabinet style terrarium. it has vents in the front, and a screen top, but i want to get him a full screen one. he has mostly been out and about wandering around, so i'm not sure if i want such a huge house for him if he will primarily be in there for mostly sleep.

 

[Elizadolots]

They like it cooler and wetter. Think 80 degrees at the basking spot, cool downs to 60 at night are dandy. Humidity up over 70% most of the day. They like to climb up and down a lot, so lots of hanging vines and stuff. Less is more when it comes to supplements.

They are usually wild caught so it would be a really good idea to arrange a fecal exam with the vet.

If you haven't bought the cage, then go for the 36 inches or the 48. They can be healthy in the shorter cage, but as I said, they like to go up and down and a taller cage encourages that. 36 should be enough because they aren't really big, but if it works out that 48 fits the price range and space that might be better. Down the road (years and years) that will be a more flexible size for a subsequent chameleon.

 

[kinyonga]

I've kept them in the exo-terra cages.

I keep them much the same as veileds except for the temperatures. The basking area for mine has always been kept in the low 80's.

 

[plant bootlegg]

i like the exo terra one because even though its plastic framed (seemingly) it seems sturdier than the reptibreeze screen enclosures. but most places i've read that it needs 24x24x36.

 

[Elizadolots]

There are advantages and disadvantages to all cage types. You just have to try to maximize the good things about whatever cage type you decide to use. For a Fischer's I do think that the 36 or 48 inch height is good. I think you'll see your chameleon everywhere in that cage. However, if you have space issues, I think you can make a smaller cage work.