New keeper here!

[coastalvibesmama]

You absolutely can sit them right on top of the enclosure. I put my Jungle Dawn in front, then the UVB, and the heat lamp goes in the back corner. Just make sure you use the wired probe to set your basking branch at the correct height under the heat lamp. I like 40 and 50 watt incandescent bulbs for basking. Also I recommend you get this:

https://www.amazon.com/Kasa-Smart-P...MI_7SrgpvQhAMVUGVHAR1ozAD4EAQYASABEgJMAvD_BwE

Awesome! I will order that next! Thank you! So just a regular incandescent bulb? Right now it has what came with the chameleon kit, which I now know is all wrong, replacing things one at a time. Can I use the double lamp fixture that came with it for the incandescent bulb? (One side I wouldn't turn on)

 

[Andrew1283]

Awesome! I will order that next! Thank you! So just a regular incandescent bulb? Right now it has what came with the chameleon kit, which I now know is all wrong, replacing things one at a time. Can I use the double lamp fixture that came with it for the incandescent bulb? (One side I wouldn't turn on)

If you ask me, I would just store the double dome in case you have insects later. That double dome is about $75.00 at Petsmart so don’t throw it out. Just get a little cheap 5.5” dome at your pet store for $25.00. Don’t get a deep dome. I have attached a pic of what’s probably best. And Petsmart and Petco have 50 watt bulbs. Get the frosted flood light. Make sure you do not get the Halogen spotlight. They are similar packaging.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

If you ask me, I would just store the double dome in case you have insects later. That double dome is about $75.00 at Petsmart so don’t throw it out. Just get a little cheap 5.5” dome at your pet store for $25.00. Don’t get a deep dome. I have attached a pic of what’s probably best. And Petsmart and Petco have 50 watt bulbs. Get the frosted flood light. Make sure you do not get the Halogen spotlight. They are similar packaging.

Thank you so much!!

 

[Andrew1283]

Thank you so much!!

No problem! Here’s a pic of my side-by-side enclosures for reference

 

[coastalvibesmama]

So for her you want a T5Ho fixture with a 5.0 or 6% uvb bulb. You want the 24 inch fixture because you will need to upgrade cage size to a 2x2x4 enclosure. The one you got for her is not large enough for an adult cham.
For the UVB set this on top of the cage then you want a measured distance of 8-9 inches to the branches below it to put her in the right UVI level. I like the arcadia ProT5 with the 6% bulb.

Basking temps should run 78-80 max for a female. We do this with a special reduced feeding schedule so it helps control their clutch size. Get a temp gauge with probe to hook in at her basking branch below her heat fixture. Typically nothing stronger than a 60watt incandescent is needed.

You want calcium without D3. This would be used on every feeder you give her. It balances the phosphorus to calcium level of the insect. Lightly dusted on them. This would be used at all feedings with the exception of Repashy Calcium plus LoD. This is your multivitamin with D3 and A. It would be used 2 times a month only say the 1st and the 15th.

You will keep that supplement schedule year round.

Additional info for females. Note right now I would only be feeding her about 5 quality feeders every other day. Since her prior care was not on par along with not knowing her exact age or where she is in her reproductive cycle cutting food intake right now could be detrimental if she is producing a clutch. But once she lays you would feed her well for a week then go on the reduced of 3 days a week 3 feeders.

As she matures you will have to start cutting back her food. By about 6-7 months she should be getting about 5-8 small feeders each day. At about 7-8 months you want to slowly reduce by cutting down feeder amounts so that she is on a feeding schedule of 3 days a week with 3 feeders. You want them to be on this schedule by the time they are 9-10 months old.


You will not ever want basking to be over 78-80 for her. Very important for females because as she ages she needs this temp no higher at basking to help control the amount of eggs she produces. The hotter the temp the more their metabolism speeds up so we have to keep the temp lower since we are doing lower food intake.

A lay bin should be added as a permanent fixture by the time they are 6 months old so they get used to it and it does not cause stress.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video.77225/


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Quick question... she dug in a plant last night, I covered her enclosure up, she was back in her perch this morning looking thinner but also pooped yesterday morning... also, the plant she dug in had organic potting mix with fertilizer at the bottom, I'd repotted it and never imagined she'd mess with it. I have no idea if she laid anything. I offered her 5 medium crickets but she only ate 4. She behaved fine all day but I just got home at 5 pm and she was sleeping - it's gloomy out but should I be concerned that she's sleeping earlier than normal? Is that considered napping? Also- she had been eating 10 medium crickets a day according to the pet store.

 

[Ghostbirb]

Ok so a few questions.
Does she have a lay box?
Has she been exploring her cage more often and have there been anymore digging?

Usually eyes closed during the day when light are on is usual a sign of illness or extreme stress.
If she’s just in her sleeping spot early before bed with eyes open that usually fine.

If she starts to dig again and showing signs of laying you will want to leave her alone so she can do it in peace, usually coming the bottom of the cage with a cloth, as if they are disrupted they may stop and get eggbound.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

Ok so a few questions.
Does she have a lay box?
Has she been exploring her cage more often and have there been anymore digging?

Usually eyes closed during the day when light are on is usual a sign of illness or extreme stress.
If she’s just in her sleeping spot a little bit before bed with eyes open that usually fine.

If she starts to dig again and showing signs of laying you will want to leave her alone so she can do it in peace, usually coming the bottom of the cage with a cloth, as if they are disrupted they may stop and get eggbound.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

She does have a lay box, she had been exploring when I added the lay box 2 days ago but otherwise hanging middle to bottom. I just added the correct uvb light yesterday. No more digging. The rest of the day she seemed fine, it's maybe an hour before bed, she seems to typically go to bed while lights are still on but I've only had her a week.

 

[Ghostbirb]

I’d say that sounds like possible laying behavior. Keep an eye on her and if she’s continues to dig leave her alone and make sure she doesn’t see you. But also keep an eye out for any signs of distress. Eyes sunk in, eyes closed when lights are on, etc.

The eyes right before bed could be explained by a new environment and settling into her new home.

If I missed anything or if anyone else as anymore advice I’m sure they will chime in.
If you have anymore concerns or questions feel free to ask.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

I’d say that sounds like possible laying behavior. Keep an eye on her and if she’s continues to dig leave her alone and make sure she doesn’t see you. But also keep an eye out for any signs of distress. Eyes sunk in, eyes closed when lights are on, etc.

The eyes right before bed could be explained by a new environment and settling into her new home.

If I missed anything or if anyone else as anymore advice I’m sure they will chime in.
If you have anymore concerns or questions feel free to ask.

Here is a pic a few min ago. Eyes look ok? This was after I woke her a bit ago.

Thanks! It's so hard to keep her covered up Without knowing for sure if she's ready to lay!

 

[Ghostbirb]

Here is a pic a few min ago. Eyes look ok? This was after I woke her a bit ago.

Thanks! It's so hard to keep her covered up Without knowing for sure if she's ready to lay!

She’s looking like a beautiful little lady her eye look fine to me.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

She’s looking like a beautiful little lady her eye look fine to me.

Thank you!!

 

[AaQb420509]

Welcome to the forum! I agree with the others above that you have a girl. Females are just as great as males . It is rare that petco sold you a panther. Normally they only have veileds. Lucky! She is beautiful. Does your little cutie have a name? Good luck with your cham and hope to see posts about here later!

I was gonna say ive tried asking petcos around if they get any or could order along time ago . They said no to both lol so very lucky and cool that he got one from them

 

[coastalvibesmama]

I was gonna say ive tried asking petcos around if they get any or could order along time ago . They said no to both lol so very lucky and cool that he got one from them

I stopped back in yesterday to make sure she hadn't been housed with a male so I didn't have to worry about hatching fertile eggs and they said they only got the one because they wanted to test how well they'd sell! I got her for 50% off because she had been there 2 months so my guess is they won't get more.

 

[Ghostbirb]

I stopped back in yesterday to make sure she hadn't been housed with a male so I didn't have to worry about hatching fertile eggs and they said they only got the one because they wanted to test how well they'd sell! I got her for 50% off because she had been there 2 months so my guess is they won't get more.

I hope they don’t

 

[coastalvibesmama]

I hope they don’t

At my particular location they know NOTHING but pretended to, I actually agree with you on that! I will def get my next from a breeder. I'd planned on thar for my first but she just wanted out of that tank so badly, I couldn't pass her by!

 

[MissSkittles]

I would say to check the plant that she had been digging in. She might have laid her eggs in it.

 

[coastalvibesmama]

I would say to check the plant that she had been digging in. She might have laid her eggs in it.

Ok will do! Thanks! Boy is this egg laying thing stressful lol

 

[Ghostbirb]

Ok will do! Thanks! Boy is this egg laying thing stressful lol

Omg I agree! My girl has something going on where it’s confirmed that she has eggs but she hasn’t laid for like 3 months but she’s completely fine .

Huh I must have misunderstood and thought you said you already checked for eggs
But I agree with missskittles, you should definitely check to see if she laid any!

 

[coastalvibesmama]

She’s looking like a beautiful little lady her eye look fine to me.

So piggy backing off previous thread- we had company in over the weekend, she ate 4 or 5 medium crickets Saturday, none yesterday and she stayed in the same plant, same spot ALL day yesterday, totally black and didn't eat (I didn't try feeding her). I fed her today, 4 medium crickets but she ate from her lower plant she's been in. I checked previous plant for eggs, didn't find any but haven't checked the lay bin yet because I have to remove everything to get it out, don't want to further stress her. She had a giant poop on Friday and looked much thinner after. Should I be concerned that she didn't come out at all yesterday and hasn't come out yet today?