should I still use D3?

[codiwatkins]

I have been taking all my chams outside for at least 2 to 3 hours daily..........Should I still use my D3 supplement?? I plan to still use it in the winter when weather no longer permits going outside but since it is summer and weather is permitting should I still use it?

 

[ocular_factitus]

I would seriously read Eric Adrignola's veiled care sheet, it branches into that category you're stressing on, it's good reading.

 

[eisentrauti]

You can stop giving it, but it stresses your chameleons when you just put them out for a few hours and then you put them into your house again. If the temperatures are ok, let them out day and night.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have been taking all my chams outside for at least 2 to 3 hours daily..........Should I still use my D3 supplement?? I plan to still use it in the winter when weather no longer permits going outside but since it is summer and weather is permitting should I still use it?

A little, like once a month, would IMO be advisable, just in case.

 

[codiwatkins]

I would seriously read Eric Adrignola's veiled care sheet, it branches into that category you're stressing on, it's good reading.

Yes that was definetly a good read!!

 

[codiwatkins]

You can stop giving it, but it stresses your chameleons when you just put them out for a few hours and then you put them into your house again. If the temperatures are ok, let them out day and night.

The temps are kinda wakey here in texas. It can reach up to 115 around 3 to 5. On one occasion my panther was actually panting like a dog becasue he was hot. he had water and shade BUT it was still too much for him......

it does not seem to stress them..........They actually seem to enjoy going outsode. Ester(my panther) actually comes to the door of his cage and waits for me to get him out in the mornings after he eats! You seem to know more about chameleons than I do, so would u reccomend just not taking them out at all if its going to cause stress??(like I said it does not seem to........)

 

[dodolah]

The temps are kinda wakey here in texas. It can reach up to 115 around 3 to 5. On one occasion my panther was actually panting like a dog becasue he was hot. he had water and shade BUT it was still too much for him......

it does not seem to stress them..........They actually seem to enjoy going outsode. Ester(my panther) actually comes to the door of his cage and waits for me to get him out in the mornings after he eats! You seem to know more about chameleons than I do, so would u reccomend just not taking them out at all if its going to cause stress??(like I said it does not seem to........)

115 ambient temp? I wouldn't put them out in that kind of heat.

 

[hallenhe]

You seem to know more about chameleons than I do, so would u reccomend just not taking them out at all if its going to cause stress??(like I said it does not seem to........)

I suspect Benny was a little more worried about the stress of coming back in, than of going out. I wouldn't leave them out with your high temps, though. I bring mine in and out - weather is such that I could leave him out in the summer, but in a neighborhood featuring raccoons, possums, feral cats and people wandering noisily and drunkenly back from the bars in the wee hours, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him out unattended, even in the best of cages - and I wouldn't want to deprive him of the benefits of full sunlight and the joy he apparently derives from being out.

 

[codiwatkins]

So yall think its ok to take them out like I have been doing and not supplement with D3 while they are going out daily? or maybe Juts give thm one cricket dusted for each a month?

 

[codiwatkins]

115 ambient temp? I wouldn't put them out in that kind of heat.

It gets up there in late afternoon.........ITS CRAZY!! I usually take them out around 9am and let them stay out till like noonish or 1pm. That way I have them inside before its real hot. Im usually out there with them the entire time and keep them heavily misted too.......

 

[summoner12]

I used to take mine out. I don't think it freaks them out. I never noticed anything with them other than.... when they got used to it they came out very easily only my hand and would go right for the tree. One time I even just left the cage open and he made his way to his sunning tree

 

[sandrachameleon]

those chameleons who are highly stressed by leaving the cages I leave alone, those that dont appear to get as easily stressed I do take outside now and then (I dont get consistently warm weather where I live). watch carefully for signs of stress (vertical bars, swift movements, total lack of movement, gaping, etc)

And yes, a single cricket dusted with D3 once a month can do no harm, even if the chameleon is outside alot.

 

[dodolah]

So yall think its ok to take them out like I have been doing and not supplement with D3 while they are going out daily? or maybe Juts give thm one cricket dusted for each a month?

I would just reduce the supplement instead of taking it out completely.
Unless he is outside 24/7

 

[dodolah]

It gets up there in late afternoon.........ITS CRAZY!! I usually take them out around 9am and let them stay out till like noonish or 1pm. That way I have them inside before its real hot. Im usually out there with them the entire time and keep them heavily misted too.......

Why is it hotter late afternoon? I would assume the hottest would be around 12 to 2 pm -which is the time you still let the cham out.
Just make sure you gave him plenty of shade. But, again, I would not even bother taking him outside if the ambient temp reach the 90s..

 

[summoner12]

Ya know I would like to point out it also depends on the supplement you are using.

What brand do you use that has the D3 in it?

Rep-Cal has a LOT more Vit D3 than the sticky tongues brand.

 

[summoner12]

Why is it hotter late afternoon? I would assume the hottest would be around 12 to 2 pm -which is the time you still let the cham out.
Just make sure you gave him plenty of shade. But, again, I would not even bother taking him outside if the ambient temp reach the 90s..

I might consider having chams out in hot weather if I had a misting system. I know one or two people who run misters on the chams in the summer to keep them cool. They have a dry place in the cage to dry out in if they want... but the cool mist blowing around prolly feels better.

Remember how Steve keeps his chams outside? I know it gets up to the 100-105 temps in the summer near where he lives... And I noticed those temps around the 2-3pm time.... not so much the 12 noon... I think it really starts to ramp up around noon.... but that seems to be when the heat starts soaking into everything and the temps maintain for a couple of hours.

 

[codiwatkins]

Its gets hotter becasue I live in an apartment and the sun is over my apartment around those times and then is right behind shinning directly on my balcony!! I have about 6 diffrent plants for him to hang out ranging from hibiscis trees to ficus.........so he has shade.I mist him ALOT! I have a little hand heald mister and I usually refill it about 5 or 6 times. Thats not including what my son mist him with! oh and I use reptcal with d3............ He never seems to be overheated except the one time that he ahd his mouth open When I went outside and the sun was shinning directly on my porch. he always seems to enjoy it and climbs all over the place........Im starting to kinda doubt taking him out now.......

 

[dodolah]

Its gets hotter becasue I live in an apartment and the sun is over my apartment around those times and then is right behind shinning directly on my balcony!! I have about 6 diffrent plants for him to hang out ranging from hibiscis trees to ficus.........so he has shade.I mist him ALOT! I have a little hand heald mister and I usually refill it about 5 or 6 times. Thats not including what my son mist him with! oh and I use reptcal with d3............ He never seems to be overheated except the one time that he ahd his mouth open When I went outside and the sun was shinning directly on my porch. he always seems to enjoy it and climbs all over the place........Im starting to kinda doubt taking him out now.......

Well, I certainly don't want to deprive his sun bathing time by making you scared.
I have to admit that I am a bit protective of my chams. So, I usually check the temp be4 I let them out. Any situation that cause the temp to go below or above their usual comfortable ambient temp, they get to stay indoor.

When temp reach extremes like that, I usually err on the safe side.
As long as you know the risk and adjust to that (by misting him more, giving him more shades, or taking him in), I think you will be fine.

 

[codiwatkins]

Well, I certainly don't want to deprive his sun bathing time by making you scared.
I have to admit that I am a bit protective of my chams. So, I usually check the temp be4 I let them out. Anything that goes below or above their usual comfortable ambient temp, they get to stay indoor.

When temp reach extremes like that, I usually err on the safer side.
As long as you know the risk and adjust to that (by misting him more, giving him more shades, or taking him in), I think you will be fine.

wooo hooo!!!!!! LOL!!! I check the temps. I have a therm on my back porch......I would hate to not take him out. He seems to enjoy it and his colors have gotten so much prettier since I have been taking him out.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Ya know I would like to point out it also depends on the supplement you are using. What brand do you use that has the D3 in it? Rep-Cal has a LOT more Vit D3 than the sticky tongues brand.

Certainly the amount of D3 does vary between brands. Rep-Cal has 400,000 IU/kg of D3 whereas Miner-All (I) has 4,400 IU/kg of D3 and I think 150IU D3 in Nutribol. But as we're talking about only supplementing a little bit "just in case" expecting the chameleon to get several hours of real sunlight daily, the amount of supplementation needed should be fairly low, compared to his normal indoor winter routine? So whatever you have worked out to be the appropriate amount for indoors, id say cut it at least in half.