Suppliment/Temp/Age question

Kenidi

New Member
I have been reading the forums for a while, and have seen quite a few posts regarding giving calcium/D3/multivitamin supplements to chams, but the amounts seem to vary post to post, depending on the age of the cham in question. The same seems to happen with temperature. I am wondering if there is a comprehensive list of the appropriate supplement dosage for each stage of life for a panther chameleon, as well as a list of temps.

I am getting my 1st cham tomorrow at an expo, and I am not sure what age I will be getting. I know for sure it will be a panther, and I thought I had everything figured out, but in the past few days, I have seen a few posts with different info on these topics, depending on the age of the cham in question. So my questions are as follows:

1. What are the stages of development for panther chams, and what months do they apply to? (ie: baby = 0-3 months)

2. What basking temp should a panther cham have for each stage of development? (ie: baby = 80 Fahrenheit)

3. What should the supplement schedule be for panther chameleons for each stage of development? (ie: baby = calc 6/wk, calc+D3 2/mo, multivit 2/mo)



I realize there may not be an exact answer for any question, but appropriations will be helpful. I want to make sure my cham is getting the right amount or supplements as he grows, and I also don't want to cook/freeze him :(

Thanks for taking the time to help out a cham noob! lol
 
Here is some information that I hope will help....everyone has there own slightly methods of keeping their chameleons...so you won't get a definite answer. I dust the young ones the same as I do the adults...the main difference being that the babies will be fed every day so they will get calcium on more of the feedings. Also..if I feel they need it I will give females more calcium when gravid.

Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption. Temperatures needed can vary with the species and age. For hatchling panthers I keep the temperature in the warmest area in the low 80's. For older panthers I keep it in the mid to high 80's for the most part.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while and as long as its done cautiously it should be okay. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.


Maybe this will help too...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/food-diary/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplementing-panther-chameleon-15751/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/vitamins-supplements-48110/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/feeding-question-58247/
 
Thanks so much! Very helpful info!

I was almost sure I had the temps and supplement schedule down, but had seen some variance on threads that seemed most related to different ages of chams. The schedule of supplements is exactly what I had planned on so no change there, I will just have to adjust the basking light depending on the age of cham I get.

I was worried about giving adult care to a baby or vice versa, and doing damage. I think I am just a nervous wreck since I will be a 1st time cham parent in 11 hours! Thanks you for all of the help, and the VERY helpful links.
 
I am still not sure what locals will be available, but I am leaning toward ambilobe if they have any available. If not, hopefully an Ambanja. Butt I guess I will have to wait and see what shows up!
 
Yeah lol it should be interesting! I am hoping they let me hold the ones I'm interested in so I can try to sex them with my noob eyes! I totally want a boy!
 
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