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 #1696225


Red tail expert
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 Help with my ambilobe panther

I have never had a chameleon before and i have heard that if my chameleon closes one or both of its eyes during the day it can be from a vitamin a or d deficiency is this true? and I heard that if you feed the crickets carrots and broccoli that will help get your lizard vitamins I am using reptical calcium and vitamin d powder and miner all 0 multi mineral suppliment for reptiles and amphiblians contains calcium manganese zinc iron copper iodine cobalt magnesium and selenium. how can i get vitamin a into their diet? is there powder and why does my lizard close his eyes during daytime? can anyone help?
04/09/08  03:46pm

 #1697121


Mastiffgrrl
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   Message To: Red tail expert   In reference to Message Id: 1696225


 Help with my ambilobe panther

I would definitely STOP feeding broccoli and carrots to the crix. Carrots are ok sometimes, but not on a regular basis. The problem is that broccoli prevents calcium from being properly absorbed.

What I have fed my crix is a rotation of goldfish flakes one day(protein) apples/sweet potatoes/greens for a few days (good vitamins), crushed catfood(more protein), and I always have calcium-rich dry cricket food and calcium-rich cricket water from the pet store in their tank. I know some people have some other stuff in there, maybe they can post.

With eyes closing, the more important question is what TYPE and LEVEL of UVB bulb are you using? What are his basking/ambient temperatures?
How is he getting his drinking water?
What are his humidity levels at?

If you could answer those questions, it might help us to figure out what’s going wrong.

Thanks,
D
04/10/08  12:28am

 #1697151


Red tail expert
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   Message To: Mastiffgrrl   In reference to Message Id: 1697121


 Help with my ambilobe panther

thanks his basking temp is about 90 and i am using a 10.0 uv light and a 5.0 uv light he drinks from leaves when I mist twice a day I work at a pet store and I feed the crickets that calcium stuff too but I will put some fishfood in too thanks is there anything wrong with my setup you think? he is in a 24w 30h 15d cage packed full of sticks and fake plants I had pothos in there but they die from direct uv
04/10/08  01:18am

 #1697527


Mastiffgrrl
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   Message To: Red tail expert   In reference to Message Id: 1697151


 Help with my ambilobe panther

It sounds like you’ve got things pretty close to right, so with a little tweaking he should be fixed right up.

If his cage is that small(which should be okay for a panther for short term anyway (I believe, I’m a veiled cham girl). You would want to look for something a little taller and deeper as he gets older.

I think 90 degrees is a tiny bit too high for a panther, but again, not positive. I think they prefer mid-high 80s, so like 86-88. So not too far off, so that should not be your problem.

What is your humidity measurement?
How much are you misting with when you do mist? (i.e a cup, a liter).
What type of bulbs are your UVB bulbs? are they compact coiled or long tubes?

One thing is for sure. You need to take one of those UVB bulbs out. I think the problem MAY be too much UVB. I would reduce to just the 5.0 for a couple of weeks, with increased misting. More water....say 4 times a day instead of two.

Make sure you get water directly on to him while misting as well. It will help rinse his eyes out if there is any debris stuck in them causing him to close them.

I’m almost 100% sure it’s too much UVB/not enough moisture so start with that.

If he gets worse.... i.e. stops eating, falls off of branches and can’t seem to grasp, or spends a lot of time at the bottom of the cage, take him to the vet right away.

I would also like to know what the cool side temperature of your setup is?

Thanks so much,
diane
04/10/08  12:42pm

 #1697671


Chelshart25
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   Message To: Mastiffgrrl   In reference to Message Id: 1697527


 Help with my ambilobe panther

There is WAY too much UVB in there...chameleons only need 5.0 uvb. Giving too much UVB can be very harmful to the eyes and skin. Take the 10.0 UV out and you will never need it.
04/10/08  03:26pm

 #1698479


Red tail expert
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   Message To: Chelshart25   In reference to Message Id: 1697671


 Help with my ambilobe panther

Thanks I heard that the uv rating is the measure of how deep the rays are effective on the chameleon the reason for 2 is b/c one is on one side then heat lights (one day one night) and then the other uv light I dont think one uv light can cover my cage would you still advise removal of one light?
04/11/08  01:51am

 #1698481


Red tail expert
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   Message To: Red tail expert   In reference to Message Id: 1698479


 Help with my ambilobe panther

oh yeah and when I mist I use 24 ounces of water almost every time
04/11/08  01:52am

 #1699265


Mastiffgrrl
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   Message To: Red tail expert   In reference to Message Id: 1698481


 Help with my ambilobe panther

Absolutely, take the 10.0 out.

10.0 is meant for desert creatures. The 5.0 is sufficient, just make sure it’s mounted 6-8 inches from his basking spot and it should be fine. He’ll spend enough time there. That is how I had mine setup, and I never had any issues. Having the two bulbs in there is like him being in the midst of two suns with nowhere to hide.

Your misting sounds sufficient, but if you can find some way to set up a safe dripper, I would recommend it.

So get that bulb out of there!

:)
Good luck,
Diane
04/11/08  05:39pm

 #1699858


Red tail expert
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   Message To: Mastiffgrrl   In reference to Message Id: 1699265


 Help with my ambilobe panther

ok thanks Im about to get 2 habba mist machines so he can be misted 5-6 times daily what do you think about powersun combo bulbs I heard they dont put out much uvb
04/12/08  01:52am

 #1700565


Mastiffgrrl
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   Message To: Red tail expert   In reference to Message Id: 1699858


 Help with my ambilobe panther

I think it’s a Mercury Vapor Bulb that you are referring to. I used one for a short period with no issue, but they are very fragile. Mine was 40$ and only lasted a month before it burnt out.

IMO, I would rather use the separate UVB source and just a regular basking lamp.
04/12/08  07:10pm

 #1701424


Boothy
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   Message To: Mastiffgrrl   In reference to Message Id: 1700565


 Help with my ambilobe panther

dony buy the habba mist machines there garbage and only spray for persiods of a minute or 2 longest , if i was you i would try searching on ebay or some other kind of auction place and look for the rain maker Jr its a full set up that you can add spray heads to as your collection of lizards gets bigger , trust me i know a few chameleon keepers who use them and with no problems at all just aslong as you have good drainage and you can put it on a timer to spray for 15 mins if youd like and do it every dry out period to so its alil more money but im tell you your geting get your moneys worth in this mister by giving them adquite water to drink from every day and like i said you want another chameleon , all yea gota do is make the cage buy some hose run the mister head over to the side of the cage and mount it where you think will be a good place for your cham to drink and so it drains properly but please dont but those habba misters you wont be happy with them



04/13/08  01:05pm


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