CalamityCrow
Avid Member
Good morning folks.
I have a concern about my new baby panther. I've seen him eat a few times, sometimes successfully, and a couple times having spit out his food. He'll shoot it, hold it in his mouth for 30 seconds or so, chew, and eventually spit it out. I managed to get a video of it, which I'll post here as well. Maybe that particular cricket was too big? There are a couple bigger ones that snuck in there.
Should I be concerned?
The cage picture I uploaded has a different cup now. It's the full-throttle feeder cup, 3".
I've already got a vet appointment set up for Tuesday (soonest they were able to get me in) just in case. I originally thought he maybe had an RI but I haven't heard any clicking from him today while he chewed but now I'm concerned about a possible mouth injury. Either way, I'm a first-time chameleon owner and I wanna do right by him. I'd rather be overly worried than flippant and cause him harm.
Here's video of him shooting/sitting/eating: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i6Mt3LK9SiSvgZ_fgdWSEuPC3yJq3Tok/view?usp=sharing
Here's the basic info:
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I have a concern about my new baby panther. I've seen him eat a few times, sometimes successfully, and a couple times having spit out his food. He'll shoot it, hold it in his mouth for 30 seconds or so, chew, and eventually spit it out. I managed to get a video of it, which I'll post here as well. Maybe that particular cricket was too big? There are a couple bigger ones that snuck in there.
Should I be concerned?
The cage picture I uploaded has a different cup now. It's the full-throttle feeder cup, 3".
I've already got a vet appointment set up for Tuesday (soonest they were able to get me in) just in case. I originally thought he maybe had an RI but I haven't heard any clicking from him today while he chewed but now I'm concerned about a possible mouth injury. Either way, I'm a first-time chameleon owner and I wanna do right by him. I'd rather be overly worried than flippant and cause him harm.
Here's video of him shooting/sitting/eating: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i6Mt3LK9SiSvgZ_fgdWSEuPC3yJq3Tok/view?usp=sharing
Here's the basic info:
- Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Panther chameleon, male, 3-4mos. I've had him for a week.
- Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I've handled him about 3 times total, including once to put him into his cage from his shipping cup and a couple times to coax him off the screen ceiling (I'm realizing I probably don't need to do that).
- Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Small crickets, started with free range, got a good feeder cup so that's been up for a day, I've been feeding them carrots. I also have small dubia roaches (he's not been interested so far) and some black soldier larvae on the way for variety. Plan is to get rid of crickets entirely - I hate them.
- Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Arcadia EarthPro-A daily and will be using reptivite with D3 2x a month.
- Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have a mist king and mist just after lights out, 1:30am, and just before lights on, each for 2 mins. I have also hand-misted a few times in the morning/around lights on time if things look dry. I've seen him drink once.
- Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I've only seen one poop and it was moist with a white urate. He hasn't been tested but the vet plans to do that if I can bring a recent fecal sample.
- History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He's a Kammerflage Kreations-bread chameleon
- Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Reptibreeze screen enclosure, size L. 18x18x36 (I will be upgrading this cage to the proper 24x24x48 soon) I have window plastic over the sides and back.
- Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Arcadia T5 24" light, 6% UVB. 8am-8pm
- Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Basking area is between 78-82, with lowest temps around 64 near the bottom of the cage during the day, with most of hte cage being in the low 70s. At night, I turn the heater off and the bottom of the cage is close to 60. I use a laser thermometer for measuring specific areas and I have a digital hygrometer with thermometer positioned in the top 1/3rd of the cage.
- Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I try and keep humidity around 40-50% during the day, and over 70% at night. Hygrometer in the cage. I also have the automated mistking going, with supplemental misting if needed
- Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Yes, I have 2 porthos plants and one rubber tree in the bottom. I have a few fake plants to fill it out as things grow, and will be upgrading those with the upgraded cage to being 100% live plants.
- Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? Cage is kept on top of a table. Top of the cage is about 6' in elevation. It's in the corner of my living room and doesn't see much traffic.
- Location - Where are you geographically located? Central Ohio.
- Problem - As stated above, I've seen my chameleon spit a few crickets out and am concerned for his well-being.
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