Questions about feeding a baby panther...

Roadracer · 07-30-04, 04:36 PM

Well I brought home my baby panther last night and he seems to be enjoying his new home. I've got a constant dripper set up and I've seen him drinking off a leaf and he cruises around the tree and fake vines quite a bit although at a very slow and jerky pace. I've done a lot of reasearch but I haven't found much on the habits of baby chameleons, I guess I'm just a worried new owner wondering if his behavior is normal. He seems to only stay in his tree area and hasn't gone under the basking lamp, I'm thinking this might be normal for babies but I'm not sure, he likes to hide in the leaves.

I've been feeding him small crickets by putting a few in a feeder cup and I put one loose in his tree. I saw him zap the loose one off a leaf but he hasn't touched the ones in the cup yet. He's really small, body is less than 3 inches, and I'm not sure how much he should be eating. I don't want to bother him too much while he gets used to his new surroundings so I've pretty much let him do his own thing. I know you should vary their diet but I don't know if can you get worms small enough for him to eat?

If anyone has some experience or advice to give I'd appreciate it.

Joe · 07-30-04, 04:44 PM

The behavior is normal, the quirky motions and all, and i wouldn't worry to much about him not basking, if he gets cool he will go to it... a good idea for now maybe to let all the crix go free range if thats what he wants.... I feed my chams at least once a day, I know many breeders that feed there hatchlings twice a day, the more he eats the better... Good luck!

meow_mix450 · 07-30-04, 05:00 PM

Just let him settle in for about a few days he might be shy and stressed out from the whole ride

Meow

snk · 07-30-04, 06:16 PM

i would suggest let the crickets free roam in cage instead of in the feeder cup. you should let the baby eat as much as it wants. I usually get lots of crickets and put them in a crickets colony and put them in the cage when there is few or none left in the cage. That way the crickets have higher suvival rate and at the same time you can gut load them.

Roadracer · 07-30-04, 06:34 PM

I've thought about letting the crickets free in the cage but they're hard to keep track of that way and I've read that you shouldn't leave any crickets free in the cage at night while the cham is sleeping, apparently the crickets might nibble on your chameleon in his sleep.

meow_mix450 · 07-30-04, 06:46 PM

its tru they will nibble on your chameleon, about the feeding i truly dont know anymore. Some say feed it as much as you want but then the fast growth can cause problems.....bone sturcture, i supose? Some say feed it 2-3 times a day, throw in like 12 crickets, something along that line. What you can do is throw in about a dozen and later on the day check to see if there all gone if so throw another dozen. At night check to see if any are in there and if not just turn off the light, but if there is and theres only 2 dont worry about it, they probly wont find him.

Just some suggestions

Meow

snk · 07-30-04, 06:58 PM

i never have the problem crickets nibble on my cham, but u will need to provide the crickets in the cage with food and water as well if you have alot of crickets in the cage(>30). Couple piece of cucumber or potato and a wet cotton should be fine. I usually put in 20 crickets, twice a day. Usually there will be couple left by the end of the day.

meow_mix450 · 07-30-04, 07:10 PM

ya i find it rare that they will nibble on chameleons but just to warn you it does happen

Meow

dank7oo · 07-30-04, 07:15 PM

I would agree .. free roam all crickets all the time. I didnt with my veiled and he ended up with tongue issure, where my other chameleons are all fine from free roaming. Also, as babies there would be less of a tendency to cup feed than with adults. If you are set on eventually cup feeding, wait until adulthood and then try again (just my experiences).

As for amounts ... as much as he wants. I fed my babies between 15-25 crix a day (usually 15 for the panthers) and then would offer crickets an hour later (when the 15 were gone) usually about 5. He is obviously a growing boyand needs his food. I personally DO NOT remove crickets from my cages at the end of the day/feeding time. I never have and have never had any crickets bite or nip my chameleons. Some people would disagree with this, but I really think the risk is blown majorly out of porportion.

Keep all of is here updated, and best of luck.

Jason