New with Q's!

[PookaDotted]

Hello everybody! I am new to this forum and not YET a proud owner/ companion of a chameleon but I am very interested in them and am planning to purchase one later this year once I have researched it's needs.

I have bought a book on chameleons and so far am most interested in the panther variety. I want a male, but I am unsure how to tell if it a female or a male when it is a juvenile, any help with that would be greatly appreciated. Also wondering if there are any places in Canada specifically Alberta that would be good to go to to purchase one. From a breeder would probably b e best. But if I can't find a breeder would a pet store be frowned upon if I looked the juvie over really really well and found it's habitat good, mouth and color good as well as its size and general weight?

I have also taken into consideration the heat lamps and the UVB lights etc etc. what would be the best Wattage for a juvie? I know you are supposed to start small and slowly get bigger so they can find food easier when it comes to the habitat so what size would be best for a juvie? or can i just take him out and feed him in a different enclosure if i wanted to start big?

Also, I was planning to line the bottom cage with Eco-carpet and then have a live plant on the bottom in a pot. would that be okay? or should i use earth? (bought from a petstore or reptile specialty shop of course) if the habitat is big enough? And should i home make the habitat? or could I go with a tall terrarium? one made of glass? I heard mesh is better for controlling humidity is that true? Would a tall glass terrarium stress him out? I know all about food, except would horn worms be okay as a treat? or to bulk him up every now and again?

For water can i use a waterfall? one designed for lizards and treat the water with a dechlorinator before i put it in it? possibly on a ledge once he gets older? in the middle/ top of the terarrium? or does he need a drip? and should i add calcium to the water? or dust the crickets? or gut load them with proper calcium and vitamin A rich foods? maybe a mixture? If anybody could a post a chart on their feeding schedule that would be awesome

Also if you have a home made cage, could you post a picture and the dimensions? maybe a materials list?

That all the questions i have for now. Thank you for reading all of it and being patient with me

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Welcome to the forums and the world of chameleons! You have lots of questions. Some of them have been answered here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/#post668826.

As for the rest:
It can be hard to tell male from female when panthers are really young, but I'd suggest starting with a juvenile age, rather than a really young one, and by then their colors are showing if they're male. A good breeder should be able to accurately sex them for you.

Hard to estimate what wattage basking bulb you'll need as it depends on the ambient temperature of your house, which varies depending on which room he'll be in. I'd start with a 60watt household bulb and measure the temperature gradient it creates. If it's not warm enough then go up in wattage until you get the range you're looking for. household bulbs are cheap, and if you get the wrong one just stick it in a light socket in your house!

You'll definitely want a cage that is taller than it is long as they need to climb vertically. Glass or screen again depends on your home temperatures and humidity levels. If it's cold and dry up there in Canadaland then screen may not be the best option. A combination cage of screen with some solid paneled sides may be good to hold in heat and humidity in that case. You can buy a cage and modify it or build it yourself. An adult panther will need a cage of 2'x2'x4' tall and a really young baby could be fine in about half of that.

Hornworms are a good treat, but not the ones you find in your garden because if they eat tomato plants they are toxic to your cham. Hornworms (that are safe), silkworms, butterworms, etc. can be ordered online for good treats.

No dirt at the bottom as it just harbors mold and bacteria, is hard to clean and your chameleon could eat it on accident while hunting. Carpet is okay if you have good drainage and wash it regularly, but if not then it just creates a warm moist dark environment that's perfect for letting gross things grow. (bad news bears)

No waterfall either as it just circulates bacteria since it doesn't have a filter. Chameleons want to drink water dripping off of leaves as they would in the wild so a dripper on the top of the cage would be best. Misting with a squirt bottle helps too. No need to add calcium to the water. It's too dilute to make a difference so it's just a waste.

Definitely dust the crickets with a powdered supplement. The general rule is:
Calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) – every feeding
Calcium with D3 (without phosphorus) – once every two weeks
Multivitamin – once every two weeks

Gutloading is a must! Dandelion leaves, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, escarole lettuce, butternut squash are all high in calcium and great for gutloading. More info can be found here.

I think I answered most of them anyway...look through that first link as there may be more there you hadn't asked yet. And let us know if you have more!

 

[Elizadolots]

Waves HI!

Ferret has given you great information. I'll only add that a couple of the board sponsors are in Canada and sell chameleons. Those would be great places to start your search for your companion.

 

[laurie]

Welcome to our world. Glad you joined us. We do have members in Alberta who can help point you in the right direction for a good healthy baby. Where in Alberta do you live?

 

[PookaDotted]

Welcome to our world. Glad you joined us. We do have members in Alberta who can help point you in the right direction for a good healthy baby. Where in Alberta do you live?

I live in Edmonton.

 

[PookaDotted]

What kind of bulbs do i need? I know I need a UVB light My store only sells 10.0 is that too much? I can shop around to get the right one i think, and i know to change it every six months. But for a basking light can I use a 50w incandescent to start? or does it have to be a household one?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

What kind of bulbs do i need? I know I need a UVB light My store only sells 10.0 is that too much? I can shop around to get the right one i think, and i know to change it every six months. But for a basking light can I use a 50w incandescent to start? or does it have to be a household one?

A 5.0 UVB is better but if you can't find one then just elevate the 10.0 farther above the cage by about 8-10 inches so it's not so strong. A household bulb is an incandescent. You can buy the fancy reptile incandescent bulbs but they're more expensive and don't provide anything special that a household incandescent doesn't.