Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of ours just recently gave us this chameleon about a month ago. I would like to give it the proper care that it needs. After reading several posts about chameleons I know that I am in for a new enclosure and some lighting. I still need help in identifying exactly what kind of chameleon this is so I can do the research needed. I'm a bit concerned because I have no idea what needs to be done if she is trying to lay eggs. All tips and advice are welcome. If I were to make an uneducated guess I think I have a ambilobe female panther.

Let me know if I need a better photo.

Thank you for your help.

Robert

It looks like a Panther, but sex is hard to tell due to the dark color. Please post another picture. More important than for sexing, better pics would help determine if the suspiciously undulating spine and the knobby-appearing joints (esp hind legs) are indicative of advancing Metabolic Bone Disease. Please post better pics ASAP. If she/he does have MBD you will need care to attempt to reverse it immediately.

~Kerry
Lic. Vet Tech
(Specialist--Emergency & Critical Care)

Here are some better pictures of her. After reading your post I hope that the first picture was just a bad shot.

Thank you for helping out.

Robert

I have been feeding her dusted crickets with a 1:1 ratio of Rep-Cal Herptivite and Rep-Cal calcium with VIT.D3. She seems to have quite an appetite so I assume she is healthy. My concern is that she seems to be looking for a spot to dig along the bottom of the enclosure. I would like to build her a new enclosure but I don’t know where I should start to meet her immediate needs.

Not a female anyway, so the digging around the bottom of your enclosure is either stress from the move, stress from a too small enclosure, or both. Any idea how old this guy is? If it is not full grown yet, be ready for a big cham. Oustaleti can be 24" TL, and will need a big cage. I would not keep one in anything smaller than 4'x4'x5'tall. They can be shy, so the more foliage and dead branches for visual cover and hiding areas the better. The cage should be where the cham can't see any other animals, out of busy house traffic areas, and away from shiny surfaces or glass so it can't be stressed by seeing its reflection. If they got it from a pet shop or herp dealer it is most likely wildcaught and stressed from all the shipping. Assume it has parasites and have a vet test a fresh fecal for them and give the proper medication. You don't want to give any meds (they are toxic) until you know what types of parasites it has. Any decent vet can do the check for you, and the de-wormers are pretty common.

Here are some links to good cham care info:

http://www.chameleonnews.com
http://www.adcham.com
http://www.chameleonjournals.com
http://www.calumma.com

Most definitely a Male Oustalet's Chameleon (Furcifer Oustaleti). They are a very hardy species and can be quite colorful with shades of red, pink, orange, and yellow. Best of luck with him.
-----
Rob Trenor
RK Reptiles
www.rkreptiles.com
www.rkreptiles.net
www.oldworldchameleons.com
www.ballpythonmorphs.net
www.beardedragons.com

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definitely a male, but ive never seen that coloration before. Looks almost like he never got his adult colors. Looks very healthy tho. Anyone else?

hello,

That is definately a male furcifer oustaleti(Oustalets chameleon). If kept properly, they make very hardy and rewarding captives. Good luck.

Nick Mole
First Choice Reptiles
nick@firstchoicereptiles.com
www.firstchoicereptiles.com
First Choice Reptiles