
Panther Chameleon
Care Sheet

Panther chameleons are well known for their ability to change colour. This is a response to their mood, temperature or for attracting a mate
Male Panther chameleons are very colourful exhibiting yellows, blues, greens, oranges, reds and more. Female Panther chameleons are not as bright as males and display colours like cream, pink, orange and yellow
Panther chameleons originate in Madagascar and some species are named after the specific island, district or city which they come from in the wild such as; Nosy Faly, Nosy Be and Ambanja
Female Panther chameleons are interesting breeders who bury down beneath the soil in order to lay their eggs. Groups of eggs or ‘’clutches’ are laid which can hold up to 80 eggs.

HANDLING YOUR CHAMELEON
Chameleons love to climb so it is their natural instinct to climb as high as they can. Gently place your hand underneath the back legs and tail of your chameleon, this will give it some support whilst keeping your hand directly out of its face.
Chameleons will climb when out and may even try to sit on your head.
Chameleons enjoy time outside in the peak summer but due to their heat and humidity requirements we recommend keeping handling down to 20-30 minutes at a time.
Some chameleons do hand feed which is something that owners very much enjoy, however ensure that this is done as a treat rather than every day otherwise you will find that your chameleon will not feed unless you offer it food by hand.

SEXING YOUR CHAMELEON
Panther Chameleons are relatively easy to sex and so when purchasing your chameleon you will already know its gender.
Male chameleons have a much thicker tail than females, especially at the base of the tail where the male will display a buldge. Female panther chameleons also grow around 2 –3 inches smaller than males so it is clear from the rate of growth and colour which sex chameleon you have. Males have brighter colours than females.
There is not much difference between male and female as far as care goes, females may lay infertile eggs called ‘slugs’ once she reaches sexual maturity. Not all chameleons do this, it just depends on the specific animal. If this does happen, be sure to add more calcium and extra food into the females diet to give her some extra strength.

HEALTH CHECK
Eyes– Eyes are fully open and clear of stuck shed. Eyes are clear and not cloudy. Cloudy eyes can be the sign of an eye infection. Always consult a vet, there are many additional products on the market to aid in recovery.
Skin– The skin is clear of shed and there are no cuts or scrapes on the chameleons skin or tail. Occasionally locusts or crickets can nip the skin of the chameleon. Always remove live food that is not eaten after the chameleons meal to prevent further bites and stress which can stop your chameleon eating.
Limbs– All the limbs are moving correctly and the chameleon is able to walk and move normally. Chameleons can suffer from a condition called MBD (metabolic bone disease). This occurs when chameleons do not have enough calcium D3 and causes their bones to grow abnormally, eventually restricting their movements. MBD cannot be reversed so always dust live food with calcium twice a week to avoid MBD occurring.
Dehydration– As chameleons require such humidity and spraying to keep drinking water available, it is easy for them to get dehydrated if they are not provided enough. Dehydration can be spotted easily by the eyes appearing sunken in. Spray your chameleon 2-4 times a day, more regularly on hotter days.

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