Need Opinions and Help! New Panther Chameleon, New setup!

[Rezzy]

So I recently just bought a 4 month Old Male Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, named Rezzy! He's gorgeous and seems to be doing okay so far! I have him in a 48"X20"X18" Custom built tank. I have branches which i have found and cooked in the oven before placing and fake leaves/flowers in the cage right now. Im currently building a new tank, but am looking to but live plants as well as fake and am also looking for ideas for live plants! He's eating about 7-10 Crickets a day and the cycle I'm doing is (open for opinions/other ideas) Every Monday Calcium W/D3, Every 10 days Dust with Multi-Vitamin, And then straight Calcium ever Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Which leaves Sundays and Wednesdays no dusting on crickets. I have a reptisun 5.0 18" light, with a 150W white lightbulb for basking. Temps are, Basking is 102F at highest, around 85F in the middle of tank, and around 70F at the bottom, as well as at night. Im currently running the Exo Terra Monsoon RS400 with Distilled water every 4 hours for 60 seconds, from 12PM-12AM so it runs 3 times a day, as well as me running it manually a few times. Lights are also on a timer from 12PM-12AM.

PROBLEM: today he's been lurking around the bottom branches, and he won't eat today. Now he's just hanging out in the top corner away from the lights and its only 5:30PM. I feel like I'm doing everything right? Any Suggestions/ Hints/Tips are helpful! Thanks

 

[jcarlsen]

So I recently just bought a 4 month Old Male Ambilobe Panther Chameleon, named Rezzy! He's gorgeous and seems to be doing okay so far! I have him in a 48"X20"X18" Custom built tank. I have branches which i have found and cooked in the oven before placing and fake leaves/flowers in the cage right now. Im currently building a new tank, but am looking to but live plants as well as fake and am also looking for ideas for live plants! He's eating about 7-10 Crickets a day and the cycle I'm doing is (open for opinions/other ideas) Every Monday Calcium W/D3, Every 10 days Dust with Multi-Vitamin, And then straight Calcium ever Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Which leaves Sundays and Wednesdays no dusting on crickets. I have a reptisun 5.0 18" light, with a 150W white lightbulb for basking. Temps are, Basking is 102F at highest, around 85F in the middle of tank, and around 70F at the bottom, as well as at night. Im currently running the Exo Terra Monsoon RS400 with Distilled water every 4 hours for 60 seconds, from 12PM-12AM so it runs 3 times a day, as well as me running it manually a few times. Lights are also on a timer from 12PM-12AM.

PROBLEM: today he's been lurking around the bottom branches, and he won't eat today. Now he's just hanging out in the top corner away from the lights and its only 5:30PM. I feel like I'm doing everything right? Any Suggestions/ Hints/Tips are helpful! Thanks

Sounds like you're doing pretty good so far, but some pics of the setup might help. One thing that came to mind is he could be getting ready to shed soon, as my little guy's appetite started going away right before he shed, but now it's back.

As far as dustings go, I just do calcium daily except Fri , and cal 3d + multi on Fridays. My guy is 5 months, and once he get's older, the multi and D3 supplements will be done 2x a month only and the calcium 3x a week.

 

[carol5208]

Wow that is a very high basking temperature for a 4 month old. I would not use a 150 watt, not even on an adult. He may get burned. I would get that lowered to about 85-90and hopefully that will also lower the temp in the mid part of your cage also. Try a 75 watt bulb to start. As stated, pics of your set up would be extremely helpful and also a picture of him. How long have you had him?