my cham is acting really weird
- Thread starter turtle
- Start date
panthercham
New Member
When? At what time of the day? Is this something he is doing regularly or in the evening when he is settling down for the night?
I see you are new so welcome to the forum. It may give everyone here a better idea if you can fill this in:
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
* Location - 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?
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.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
I see you are new so welcome to the forum. It may give everyone here a better idea if you can fill this in:
Cage Info:
* Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
* Lighting - What brand, model, and type 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?
* Location - 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?
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.
* Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful
i have a screen cage, its located in my room and he is a male panther chameleon about 3-4 months old. i spray him in the morning before i go to school, when i get back from school and around 5 oclock, sometimes if its dry i will spray his cage more. i have a real plant called a benjaina ficas. he is changing from green to brown but mostly brown and he just shed. i have had him not even a week yet and people told me to start holding him later so im ganna try and keep working with him on monday. im also using a 40 wat house bulb. I bought him at the pamona reptile show from the flchams guy and he helped me get all the stuff. i also have a little dripper that i keep on durring the day but he doesnt seem to like it or use it so......whats wrong?????????? im really worried i really care about him. i will try to post some pics on monday or tuesday. im ganna try to give u pics then but i dont know how to find u on here.
Vince
New Member
I would take your cham to a vet, being lethargic is NOT a good sign. Especially at a young age.
You mentioned he/she just went through a shed, is it completely done shedding or is it possible the bottom of the feet could still be shedding?? I know my cham will be active till his feet start to shed, then he just sits there for the most part.
You mentioned he/she just went through a shed, is it completely done shedding or is it possible the bottom of the feet could still be shedding?? I know my cham will be active till his feet start to shed, then he just sits there for the most part.
panthercham
New Member
Well if you bought him from FL Chams and you say that they helped you get all the stuff then I have faith that they have set you up right but try and answer all the questions. Sometimes its the little things that you can overlook that is whats causing the problem. Please try and get photos even if its from a cell phone or something.
He may need a vet trip so keep a close eye on him. I see a few things that could cause be making him stressed at the moment and that is:
Try not to hold him or touch him at the moment...that can come later when he is settled in to his new home and is feeling a bit more secure. give him some space and privacy while still keeping an eye on him and his health.
What are your current temperatures and where are you located? With a 40 watt bulb he may be a bit cold and that is why he is sluggish. Panthers need a basking temp of between 80 - 90F. I use a 60 watt bulb but you may need more if you are in a colder area and your house is colder.
Just keep posting on his progress and ask lots of questions
He may need a vet trip so keep a close eye on him. I see a few things that could cause be making him stressed at the moment and that is:
- He is very young
- He went through the stress of a reptile show, transportaion and a new home
- He has just shed
Try not to hold him or touch him at the moment...that can come later when he is settled in to his new home and is feeling a bit more secure. give him some space and privacy while still keeping an eye on him and his health.
What are your current temperatures and where are you located? With a 40 watt bulb he may be a bit cold and that is why he is sluggish. Panthers need a basking temp of between 80 - 90F. I use a 60 watt bulb but you may need more if you are in a colder area and your house is colder.
Just keep posting on his progress and ask lots of questions
Julirs
New Member
Ok Turtle-no panic necessary. You are off to a great start. It sounds like your new baby is just scared and adjusting. I would wait a full 2 weeks to start handling him. Let him get used to his new home then maybe start trying to handfeed him-you have to gain his trust and get him to accept you as a normal part of his world. Patience is key. My question would be as above-do you have a UVB light-this is critical to your chameleons health. No harm done yet, but you will need to get one today. Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 linear flourescent tube (no compacts or you could end up with lethal eye issues). I don't drip anything, and if you are misting him several times a day he should be fine. White and black poops are your best indicator of hydration-yellow means you need to water a bit more. Are you gutloading your crickets with fruits and veggies? Do you have your supplements?
ya i think he is sill kinda going threw shedding with his feet. i know forsher that he is still going threw it with his tail but im just really worried about him
ya he is eating his crickets like madness. he is eating like he hasn't eaten in a year!
i have the UVB bulb for him and It's not compact. Also I don't know how to gut-load my crickets so.....? and yes i have the supplements the calcium and the other one. I feed him the calcium on monday, wednesday, and friday or saturday and i mix the calcium with the other ones on wednesday.
Julirs
New Member
To gutload some people place the amount of crickets they are feeding the next day in a smaller container filled with fruits and veggies and maybe a dry gutload in addition. Personally since I usually have 2000 crickets at a time, they always have a dry feed available and I throw fruits and veggies in with them daily. Your feeders are only as good as what you feed them! What exactly is the "other" supplement-and you shouldn't be mixing...
What exactly is the "other" supplement-and you shouldn't be mixing...
You can feed/gutload your crickets with greens (dandelion, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrot, sweet potato, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, celery leaves, etc.)
What brand of calcium are you using? What is the other supplement you are using?
What brand of calcium are you using? What is the other supplement you are using?
Shaner
New Member
If you can, go the the store and buy the zoo med calcium powder WITHOUT the D3 in it.
With your cham that young I would dust your crix daily. what I do is put some at the bottom of the feeding cup and they run around and collect the calcium on their body so he/she gets enough.
Once they reach 6 months you can start dusting every other day. As babies they need as much calcium as they can get. If you notice powder coming out of their nostrils, stop dusting for a few days, they are getting too much.
With your cham that young I would dust your crix daily. what I do is put some at the bottom of the feeding cup and they run around and collect the calcium on their body so he/she gets enough.
Once they reach 6 months you can start dusting every other day. As babies they need as much calcium as they can get. If you notice powder coming out of their nostrils, stop dusting for a few days, they are getting too much.
