New cham, New home

[MplsCham]

Hi, I'm new here to the forum and have recently acquired my 4 month old male blue bar Ambilobe Panther. After many years ago of successfully keeping several species including Veils, Jackson, and an Armored chameleon (Brookesia Perarmata, this was 16 years ago, and I wish I could get another one cause he was awesome!!) I am just looking for some feedback on my current enclosure/care, to make sure everything is looking good.

Enclosure:

16"x16"x30" screen cage till he gets bigger, I'm building him a 24"x24"x48" right now.

Fully furnished with vines for travel around cage, grapewood branch, live pothos (organic soil, with medium rocks covering surface), and some fake leaves for plenty of hiding spots.

Zoo med deep dome with a 5.0 uvb compact fluorescent, and daylight bulb. Ambient temp 72°-74°, basking spot 82°.
On for 12 hours, 7:30am-7:30pm.

Mist King, single nozzle, misting at the following intervals:
10am- 3 mins
12pm- 1 min
2pm- 3 mins
4pm- 1 min
6pm- 3 mins

He seems to really like the mister, and will climb and sit under mist when it goes off, drinking droplets from his lips.

Also a dripper going all day at 1sec/drop down a plastic vines with leaves, just for another hydration option.

Floor of cage has small holes drilled for adequate drainage into tray under cage.

Cool mist humidifier running next to cage. Humidity is average 50-60%.

Cup feed 15 small crickets, gut loaded and dusted with calcium. He usually eats them all in the morning, sometimes saves a few for later in the day.

I've done a ton of research on housing, nutrition, watering, and I think I've got everything right? Any feedback would be welcome and appreciated.

 

[happy]

Hello,
i know some of the more experienced keepers recomend not using the compact fluorescent bulbs, as they have been known to cause eye issues. ive also read that they loose the uv sometimes after a month. Id suggest getting a walmart fluorescent fixture, usually 20 ish, and a linear uv bulb. myself, i have opted to use a combo bulb, rep ti-glo in 125 watts... ive noticed more color, and a better appetite since going to a combo bulb... and it makes sense as they bask where there is bright light, and you want uv, so....
post some pics, every one loves them...

 

[laurie]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you know what you are doing and have an excellent setup. The problems with the coil UVB bulb was years ago, and as far as I know there are no problems. You can always get a meter to check your light. I have moved on to the Arcadia lights. One of the Sponsors, Light Your Reptiles, distributes them. I will never go back

I will look forward to getting to know you and your Cham

 

[RobSquared]

Sounds like your chameleon will be very happy for years to come. Something I have learned is it is never to late to keep reading on chameleons. I have had my jacksons for 2 years now and still read about them. If I see a book I have never read then I buy it and read it. You can't ever learn enough about these amazing creatures. Good luck to you.

 

[MplsCham]

Thanks for the feedback! I was planning on getting him one of the linear Arcadia HO T5 dual with the 6% and 6.5k daylight bulbs for his larger enclosure. I like the quad ones that you can have a plant bulb in as well, but I'm not sure if that's overkill for a 24"x24"x48" or not?

 

[laurie]

Thanks for the feedback! I was planning on getting him one of the linear Arcadia HO T5 dual with the 6% and 6.5k daylight bulbs for his larger enclosure. I like the quad ones that you can have a plant bulb in as well, but I'm not sure if that's overkill for a 24"x24"x48" or not?

I would just make your daylight bulb a plant light, that is how I handle it. I also put 1/4 to 1/3 sand in my plants so they drain well. Staying wet all time kills most of them.

 

[distortionz]

Only things I can see is I'd probably raise the basking temp some.. I keep mine around 86-90... also use a variety of feeders not just crickets.. he well be very pleased lol.. and if you don't do it already incorporate a few feedings with d3 and a multivitamin per month to ensure he's getting all his nutrients.. what most people here do is d3 twice a month and multivitamin twice a month.. congrats and welcome back to the cham world... let us know when you get your next cham lol

 

[MplsCham]

I've got a few pothos growing right now so they are nice and viney when I finish his big cage, they have rather large drainage holes at the bottom, and I'll see how the one in his current cage does with frequent watering, otherwise I'll repot with some sand. I'm giving him Repashy Calcium Plus LoD right now 2 days on and one off. I tried to feed him meal worms, but he doesn't like them? I'm going to try dubia roaches next. And yes, I have all the supplies to build a 2nd large enclosure, so when he moves out I'll start with another 3-4 month old in his small cage!! Lol

 

[MplsCham]

Oh, and the basking temp, I was going from the care sheets I've read for babies/juveniles, which was listed a little lower than adults? Is this wrong?

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thanks for the feedback! I was planning on getting him one of the linear Arcadia HO T5 dual with the 6% and 6.5k daylight bulbs for his larger enclosure. I like the quad ones that you can have a plant bulb in as well, but I'm not sure if that's overkill for a 24"x24"x48" or not?

Todd of Light your reptiles recommended the 12% for my chameleons--quads and veileds.

 

[distortionz]

Oh, and the basking temp, I was going from the care sheets I've read for babies/juveniles, which was listed a little lower than adults? Is this wrong?

I wouldn't say that it is wrong. But imo 82 is probably a little low for a 4 month old I'd slowly raise it a little every few days and get it around 86... just my opinion.. I notice mine doing better with the temps around there.. when I had my temps at 80-82 they would stay right under the basking light a lot.. when I raised it they became more active

 

[Volta]

Im using a 24 by 24 sunblaze t5 ho 4x65ks 3x25ks 1x5.0uvb reptisun . by the thread and what ive read arcadia is what i need so in 5-6 months ill get that the fixture can use all 8 bulbs or just the inner 4 or outer two its pretty sweet

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

I would go with a quad fixture. I always used the arcadia double fixture from Todd. Once I had an extra fixture, I doubled up and tried it on an enclosure. The four bulbs works much better and penetrates much deeper into the 4 foot enclosure. 2 or 4 arcadias you cannot go wrong if switching from T8's or coils. In my opinion it is a miracle you can keep anything alive with those lights.

 

[laurie]

I would go with a quad fixture. I always used the arcadia double fixture from Todd. Once I had an extra fixture, I doubled up and tried it on an enclosure. The four bulbs works much better and penetrates much deeper into the 4 foot enclosure. 2 or 4 arcadias you cannot go wrong if switching from T8's or coils. In my opinion it is a miracle you can keep anything alive with those lights.

Excellent advice

 

[MplsCham]

I'm just worried the ambient temp will get too high with a stronger basking bulb in a 16"x16"x30" enclosure? He seems pretty active right now, basks for a bit after eating in the a.m. and before bedtime. Well, I was thinking when he moves into a bigger home the quad fixture with one 6%, 2x 6.5k, and the plant bulb, but the website said it was sold out the other day. I'll keep my eye out for when it's available. I've got at least a few months still...