What is more important?!

[kelgan]

Hey! We just got a timer for our lights, and was wondering what was more important... having our juvenile panther chameleon's light go on with the sun rise, or having him eat shortly after he wakes? We know it is important to have both.... but our schedules conflict with making these both happen!!

Thanks

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hey! We just got a timer for our lights, and was wondering what was more important... having our juvenile panther chameleon's light go on with the sun rise, or having him eat shortly after he wakes? We know it is important to have both.... but our schedules conflict with making these both happen!!

Thanks

Ideally, yes the lights should come on around the time the sun comes up (and hour later would be fine)
and ideally a juvenile panther would be fed about an hour after the lights come on after he's warmed up a bit, and then again later in the day but well before lights out.
Are you concerned that you are leaving before his lights come on? if so you could leave feeder prey in a bowl attached to the side of the cage (and a little food for the prey and even a little calcium for incidental tongue contact pick-up)
Or are you concerned that the lights come on before you wake up? if so, No problem to feed him a couple hours after he wakes up.

 

[kelgan]

Thanks! Sorry for the late response... but it was about us waking up later than the sun came up. Late night jobs have us waking up later than most. But thank you very much for the info! Very useful