Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Finally I am a chameleon owner!!
My little dude arrived today, and looks great. I'll post a pic later after he's had some time to himself.
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)

Congratulations, and nice choice on the Panther. I love panthers more than any other avialable chameleons. Here is a picture of my Ambanja.

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1.0 Ambanja Panther Chameleon - (Seppi) - (12/28/03)
1.0 Ghost Phase Leopard Gecko - (12/15/02)
0.1 High Yellow Leopard Gecko - (06/17/02)
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko - (4/14/04)

I just got my panther yesterday, when I moved him into the cage the first time, he was showing bright colors with some black stripes, much like he was in the picture on the breeder's website. http://www.lizardlair.net/AVAILABLECHAMELEONS.html
He's #5.

Later in the day his colors were paler and the stripes weren't visible, so I was hoping that meant he was feeling a little calmer. Today, however, he's dark and purplish. I've been trying to stay away from the cage as much as possible. The temperatures range from 92* at the basking sight to 72* at the bottom of the cage. He has some white flecks on him like dry skin, so I think maybe he is about to shed. I though I read somewhere that they turn darker before they shed, but I don't really remember.

He hasn't eaten anything yet but I have seen him drink. His dripper is going all day and I mist the cage twice a day. I will mist more if he starts to shed.

Sorry, I'm a newbie here, and i want him to stay happy and healthy!
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)

It could be shedding, or something else. Do you have other pets that go into the room. If so, this scares your Panther, alot. As long as your temps are good, and he gets a chance to drink at least a few times a day, he should be good to go. Try feeding him different feeders, and place small containers with food around the cage. What type of cage do you have him in?? Are you giving him proper UVB light. Also make sure there are spots for him to hide. I notice my panther to have dark spots on him in the morning, usually a wine red color, I think its because his cage isnt warmed up yet. What light cycle are you using, usually a 12 on 12 off cycle works the best. What is your whole setup like???
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1.0 Ambanja Panther Chameleon - (Seppi) - (12/28/03)
1.0 Ghost Phase Leopard Gecko - (12/15/02)
0.1 High Yellow Leopard Gecko - (06/17/02)
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko - (4/14/04)

Okie:
He is in a 24x24x48 screen cage. He has a 100watt Powersun UV bulb and a 100w basking bulb. He has a Big Dripper that I've been letting go all day. In his cage are a 4' ficus benjamina, a smaller but dense umbrella, a hanging pothos, many dowl rods for climbing and perching, and some extra fake vines for added cover.
I put some crix in a yougurt cup and hung it where he could see it from his basking perch. He had been looking at them but hasn't eaten any yet. I also have some mealworms for him when he starts to eat. I was thinking of making one of those cricket holders where the crix can crawl up a screen inside the milk jug but can't get out, as described in another post.

The only other pet I have is a hedgehog. The chameleon can't see her from his cage, and she's nocturnal, so she sleeps all day.
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)

Oh, and he is on a 12 on 12 off light schedule.

And I'm pretty sure he's about to shed. I could take a picture if you'd like. I haven't yet cause I didn't want to stress him out.

Thanks for your help!
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)

hey melissa - congrats! I know you have spent a lot of time here on the forum and doing your research so I am sure you will be a good cham Mom

yeah, he is probably shedding. I have not found Luna to get any darker in color before a shed, but her scales look more dull. She just shed for the first time in probably 6 months!

As for his dark color that you described he could be basking (darken to absorb heat) or just sort of freakin' out at all the newness . Most lilely the latter. As you know there is a much needed aclimation period, which frankly i think is more difficult on us b/c all we want to do is stare! LOL!

Your set up sounds great and that he has a lot of places to hide, however if he is still small he may get sort of "lost" in all that and have difficulty finding food. For now I would keep his feeder cup in one place so her knows where to go for food and same with dripper.

Btw, I think you posted about names a long time ago and I meant to send you to this site. This has got to be on of the most comprehensive NAME sites online! I tend to name my animals by their breed or other so a google search can produce a lot. If you get stuck let me know and I have many more sites on names

names

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

Thanks for your reply. Your posts (to everyone) are always very kind and helpful. It's a relief to have friendly people like you offering advice!!

I found a different name site last week and decided on the name "Diesel". I was looking for "big and bad" names. Haha. I know what you mean by looking for names that mean something. When I bought my African hedgehog, she was really tiny, so I found a website of African names and decided on "Kaimah", which means "tiny one". She's not so tiny now....

Does Luna (or any other cham) sleep in the same spot every night? Diesel has slept in a different spot each night. Maybe he is still searching for the comfiest spot!

He still hasn't eaten, I put in another cricket cup with the screen they can crawl up, plus the yougurt cup in it's orginal position. I know he's still adjusting and scared. I might try that technique you posted about mealworms and long wooden spoons.

Happy thoughts to you and Luna!
Cheers!
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)

Diesel - hahahahaha

names are fun. Two of may cats names ended with "a" just by chance, Svette Lana & Justica (jus-tee'-ka). After Lana died (17 1/2 y.o.) I got another and named her Akira - who died 6 days later - and then I got Kyndra it was with her that I realized all my cats names were ending with "a" completely unintentional, and after Tica died came my Russian Blue, Lita Leleishka and on... After that I made it a point that all my girls had to end with an "a". My leaf chams were Makeda, Kaiya and Bart (he looked like Bart Simpson. lol!). after that the anoles all ended with "a" and began with "j", the geckos, my tarantula and of course Luna (that just worked out great as the reason was not the "a" but her behavior and color). So it began by accident but has now become a tradition. it's a fun challenge to come up with something that fits but ends in the same letter!

I love Kaimah! There are some great African and other ethnic name sites with meanings.

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)