Panther Chameleon help needed!!

[dongerzkim]

Hi there,

I bought a 7 month-old panther chameleon three days ago.

On the first day everything went well: it ate well, looked healthy, bright colors...

But now its behavior tends to concern me a bit.

1) it doesn't eat anymore.
It ate four crickets on the first day. On the second day, I left two crickets but my chameleon didn't eat. So today I placed a cricket right in front of my panther, but it avoided and headed to the opposite direction from the cricket.

2) Open mouth breathing.
So I see my chameleon open its mouth and make a hiss. Im kinda worried as some say it might be a RI. What should I do?


some general questions
3) every site has different information regarding the adequate temperature and humidity for a panther. What is the most acceptable temperature and humidity for a panther chameleon?

4) Does a UVB compact light bulb lead to a blindness? If so, should i change it to a linear tube?

Regards,

 

[Kate]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/


Hi there welcome to the forum I have given you a couple of links that will help you. The care sheet is new and trust worthy. The form, if you can copy, paste and fill in so we can check your husbandry and perhaps make suggestions. Pics are always helpful.

 

[NHenn]

Please fill out the form as Kate posted and be sure to leave him/her alone for a good two weeks. I'm sure the stress of the move and the new surrounding is causing some of the issues so the more you let him/her go the better.

 

[dongerzkim]

Hi Kate,

I filled the form and attached a photo.
I should've read the instructions before I wrote a thread. my apologies.


Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Panther Chameleon, 7 months old , sex-unknown, 3 days under my care,

Handling - Not once since I bought it

Feeding - Fed crickets, 4 first day, 0 on second day, 0 on third day.

Supplements - Tree Frog Calcium Plus by Repashy Superfoods (apparently the shop owner suggested this)

Watering -
i made a hole at the bottom of a plastic water bottle, and placed it on the top of the cage.
Kept the moisture around 60%

Fecal Description - attached a photo

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Penn Plax Screen Habitat HD Cage for Reptiles, 18 by 18 by 20-Inch

Lighting - Reptile UVB 25W by Exo Terra. 7AM-5PM lighting

Temperature -
Temp Range: 25C- 28C in the morning
Lowest overnight temp? 22 C
How do you measure these temps? a thermometer

Humidity -
Once as low as 40%. but usually around 60%.

Plants - no live plants

Placement - my cage is located on the floor.

 

[camimom]

Well you got several issues going on here.

First off, that cage is too small for a cham that size.

Second- a dripper is not enough to hydrate him. You need to hand mist, or buy a mistking or aquazamp auto mist system. he needs to be misted several times a day.

your photo of the stool did not show up.

Urates should be white, yellow or orange indicates dehydration, as does sunken eyes.

Next- your basking temp needs to be around 85-88 for a panther that age.

Coil UVB bulbs used to have an issue, they don't know, but we recommend tube style anyway because they provide more coverage.

supplementing- as the label says, that's for tree frogs, not chams.

If you want to use repashy, which I love, you need the all in one calcium plus (they have 3 versions, HyD, LoD, and regular) I use the regular on my panthers.

This is something that should be used on every feeding.

He may not want to eat because hes in a new situation, which is normal. you have to let him settle in.

If he hissed and gaped when he saw you, its cuz you pissed him off, not an RI/

symptoms of an RI are, gaping, wheezing, coughing, extra saliva, and this all occurs when you are around or when he cant see you.


you should also get him off the floor, he wont feel comfortable there.

a bigger cage is needed, soon, a 2x2x4 ft cage

also, if you don't have enough foliage in the cage. he wont feel safe.

can you post photos of him, and your cage please.