bioactive

UVI Impact on Growth of Furcifer pardalis Neonates

in husbandry

August 4, 2021

We raised two clutches of Furcifer pardalis (Panther Chameleons) under controlled conditions to answer a simple question: How do the growth rates of babies raised under UVI 3 and UVI 6 compare? Background Michael Nash recently studied two groups of Furcifer lateralis neonates and found that UVI 7 and UVI 3 resulted in no noticeable difference in growth rates for that species. He descibes his research in this post. This was an inspiring example of research in the hobby, and I would love to see more people get involved!

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General Husbandry: Furcifer pardalis (Panther Chameleon)

in husbandry

July 5, 2020

Enclosure I tend to use indoor 24"x24"x48" screen enclosures for males, and 18"x18"x36" screen enclosures for females. I add horizontal and vertical boards to the frame which can support 3 levels of horizontal perching branches as well as hold up plants. In the base of the enclosure, I put 12" of bioactive space with drainage, soil barrier, abg mix, spag moss and leaf litter. For microfauna, I use springtails and isopods some red wrigglers and lesser mealworms.

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Housing: Furcifer pardalis (Panther Chameleons)

in husbandry

July 5, 2020

We get a lot of questions about our housing strategy, so I figured I’d provide an organized response. Here is our strategy for hatchling, baby, juvenile, adult male and adult female Furcifer pardalis (Panther Chameleons). Term Age (months) Hatchling 0 - 1 Baby 1 - 4 Juvenile 4 - 8 Adult 8+ Hatchlings We find that it is advantageous to house hatchlings in bio-active tubs because their food items are so small - and would escape screen enclosures - and some hatchlings like to tuck under the leaves near the soil (ABG mix) while digesting their remaining yolk.

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Bio Bin Experiment

in husbandry

June 30, 2019

Given that wild baby Panther Chameleons are often found in low brush or tall grass, we would like to simulate that as much as possible. So in 2019, we are experimenting with raising our babies in bio bins for the first month. We have multiple soil layers (drainage, abg & leaf) and 3 - 4 species of insects in every bin. Currently, that includes temperate/tropical spring tails, dwarf white isopods, zebra isopods, and powder orange isopods.

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