Chameleoco

You should keep babies in a glass vivarium, suitable for the size of the chameleon until the chameleon is around 3-5 months old, when they should be moved into a mesh enclosure. Babies are not as good at regulating their own body temperatures as adults, so an enclosure that retains more heat is necessary for the first couple of months. Babies that are not able to warm themselves enough or who's body temperature is constantly too low will not grow well as they will be less able to digest food.

Glass enclosure suitable for hatchling/baby Panther Chameleons, Dual canopy houses 1 x 2% linear UVB and 1 x 5% Linear UVB. Heat bulb (infra-red) is clamped onto the top of the viv. Garden Trellis (small) is also used as a basis for the framwork

Try to leave your baby alone as much as possible to allow him/her to settle in and avoid stress. Remember how small the baby is, compared to the size of your hand, you should not approach a baby with your hand over them, they will interpret this as a threat. Try and let them walk onto your hand, and always keep your hand low.

Your baby should be alert and have straight limbs, jaw and back and should be mobile, hydrated and have a clean mouth, eyes, clocae etc. Eyes should not be sunken or shut. Babies who have their eyes closed may be too cold or too warm, or not well.

Glass enclosure suitable for hatchling/baby Panther Chameleons, Dual canopy houses 1 x 2% linear UVB and 1 x 5% Linear UVB. Heat bulb (infra-red) is clamped onto the top of the viv. Garden Trellis (small) is also used as a basis for the framwork

Try to leave your baby alone as much as possible to allow him/her to settle in and avoid stress. Remember how small the baby is, compared to the size of your hand, you should not approach a baby with your hand over them, they will interpret this as a threat. Try and let them walk onto your hand, and always keep your hand low.

Your baby should be alert and have straight limbs, jaw and back and should be mobile, hydrated and have a clean mouth, eyes, clocae etc. Eyes should not be sunken or shut. Babies who have their eyes closed may be too cold or too warm, or not well.

Healthy baby urate is bright white and formed. Healthy baby poo is dark brown and formed. They are usually excreted together and neither should smell offensive. (as adult excreta)Illustrations to come

A basking spot should be provided at the highest point of the enclosure, a 30-50 watt heat bulb will be adequate providing that the chameleon cannot get too close to the bulb as they may burn themselves, babies are also susceptable to overheating, so a thermostat and thermometers are neccessary to regulate temps.                                                               

A basking spot of around 80-85f will be sufficient. You will need to make sure there is a temperature gradient in the enclosure so that the babies can cool down if they wish. This means that there should be areas in the enclosure that are shaded from heat and the bottom of the enclosure should be 70f. You should not use heat mats or heat rocks as these can seriously burn Chameleons.

Chameleons require a heat drop over night, so as long as the temperature over night does not drop below 60f, an additional source of heat is not needed at night. If you do need to provide heat at night, this is best done with a ceramic bulb as any light left on overnight will disturb the Chameleons sleep. Make sure you use a thermostat to regulate the temp of the ceramic bulb at 60f.       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Heat Lamp clamped to the top of the enclosure. Furnishings are kept at an appropriate distance from the heat source. A thermometer or temp gun should be used to check temperature gradients and a thermostat or similar used to ensure against overheating.

Along with heat you will also need a UVB strip bulb (5.0% linear) this should be placed above the vivarium where the vivarium is mesh. UVB will not pass through glass.                                                                           

It is essential that the chameleon has access to proper UVB in order to process calcium. UVB bulbs should be replaced every six months to a year, just because the bulb is still emmitting light does not mean that it is still giving off enough UVb radiation.                                                         

UVB should be turned off over night.

Babies will eat pin head crickets or micro crickets and fruit flies for the first few weeks of their lives. These should be gutloaded with fruit and veg such as kale, apple and spring greens. Any larger insects will not be easy for the baby to eat and may scare them.                                                                

 Pin heads should be lightly dusted with calcium without d3, for the majority of feeds. Vitamin powders should be used carefully and sparingly. Check the products you use for D3 and Vitamin A. Some products such as Nutrobal contain both of these vitamins so should be used responsibly.                                                                                              

Feed your baby daily, its best to have a constant supply of fruit flies/small crickets as babies eat ferociously.  Feeder insects for babies should be no bigger than the space between the Chameleons eyes.

Cup of fruit fly culture with rafia from www.bugssticksandmantids.com The Fruit fly culture is in the bottom of the cup, the tiny (flightless) fruit flies hatch and climb up the rafia into the babies enclosure. I leave the cup in the enclosure for most of the day

Water needs to be provided daily in the form of misting.  Healthy Chameleons will not often drink from still water, it must be moving in order that they can easily recognise it. Gently misting the vivarium with a hand mister will be fine for babies. Spray the walls of the viv and the leaves of the plants. You can also spray your baby, to allow him to clean his eyes, but be careful not to spray him for to long a period of time.

A dripper can also be used.                                                   

A small plastic cup with a pin hole poked into the bottom is a simple way of providing a dripper. The bottom of the babies enclosure should be dry in between mistings.

Line the enclosure with paper towel or nothing. Substrates such as coco bark or pine chips or bark are not advised for any age chameleon as there is a significant risk of impaction when the chameleon shoots for food and accidently picks up indigestable substrates with feeder insects. Change paper towels as they saturate. Small potted ficus plants are suitable for use in babies enclosures.                                     

 Jungle vine and branches appropriate to the size of the chameleon should also be provided to allow the baby room to explore. Remember furnishing will have to be changed and adapted to the growing needs of your baby.