So, I was picking up some shed leftover from my cham today he was up in the corner basking. I was almost done picking up the leftovers when all of a sudden for no reason my cham jumped from the top of his enclosure all the way to the floor. this is the second time he has done this, he seems fine but could he be hurt? Hes not showing any dark coloration, I dont know why he does this...he always seems to puff up or move away from me everytime I get close which I could care less about, but him jumping two times now is starting to worry me. he landed on the PVC base on his stomach...his arms fine climbing fine no dark colors, the only thing i noticed is He usally sleeps on his branches or in his ficus, I just came home and he is hanging on the screen his eyes were closed but he woke up right away when I came in.
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Cham Flys
Replies (2)
Most chams occasionally jump or let themselves fall off their branch to startle a predator or escape. Leaf chams do this a lot..it's part of their dead leaf disguise. If some chams are touched when they are asleep they stiffen, release their grip, and let themselves fall like a leaf. Some captive chams never do it, but some choose that as a way to escape something that scares them. Chams in cages rarely hurt themselves by falling 2-3 feet unless they have MBD problems or just happen to land wrong (accidents happen, and a caged cham is not going to have the strength or ligament/tendon/muscle tone a wild one would). Actually, when the cham jumps or lets itself fall, they fill themselves with air to cushion their landing. I've had chams free fall from curtain rods or my hand onto a hard floor (panic!) and just walk away. Chams are often seen falling out of huge rainforest trees (30 feet) and stroll away as if nothing had happened. A myth about Meller's chameleon says that the female with eggs during a time when food is limited will sacrifice herself by throwing herself off a tall tree, hitting the ground, and releasing all her babies. Explorers made notes about Melleri crashing into their camps from far overhead.
Very interesting read, 
I know they sway like a leaf, which is quite interesting/ and silly looking to watch, but never knew about the puffing up with air and free - falling!
Also the Muellers female sacrificing herself, wow, that is pretty incredible behavior, MOM's sure are something special, LOL
Anyway NEAT post!
-----
PHEve / Eve
