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A bit worried about my male... again...

gabrielmtl Oct 02, 2003 08:34 AM

Hi guys,

its the second time I find my male at the bottom of his enclosure in 2 weeks. When I pick him up and put him back up in one of his branch or tree he instently gets his colors back and he starts drinking and eating... now I think he eigther fell down there and couldnt get back up (i added branches at the bottom for him to climb back up since then, but before he only had the screen to climb on and he hates being on screen...) or he might be trying to tell me something ;/

I cleaned his enclosure yesterday, and I took a picture of him chilling on a branch in my living room. Could you guys please look at it and tell me if he looks ok? He's 5-6 months old, looks a bit skinny but its just this picture, I think.
here is the picture

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Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
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Replies (3)

second_hand_rose Oct 02, 2003 11:05 AM

you could always put more plants along the bottom of his cage. If he is falling down there he might be scared and just freeze and then it would take him age's to get up high again if he's scared and does the whole shakey leaf walk.

I'd try putting some plants down there with branchs in the plants that way if he is falling a bit then it would cushion his fall and he'd think he's safe,,,like I can "blend" and nothing might eat me. I truely think plants are just as important on the bottom of the cage as near the top.

You say he changes color when you put him back up. He was then deff. stressing for being on the bottom of his cage. Sanchoz our veild hated the bottom of his cage would even go down there, wouldnt eat crix off it either - crazy lizard - so we added a potho's along the bottom it has alot of vines that trail everywhere and some up the sides to higer branches. He uses this as him cham highway from the bottom to the top.

I hope this helps, do you know why he might be falling? If you thin he's sick take him to a vet, he does look skinny in his pic but chams are pretty good at stretching them selfs out and flat when they wanna.

well good luck maybe someone else will have some better info for you

Christa

Carlton Oct 02, 2003 11:29 AM

How cool is this part of the cage? Sometimes if a cham roams into a cool spot they just sit for a while. The longer they sit the cooler they get (including their brain) and they slow down, don't move, etc. I had a free range melleri who would end up in the bathroom behind the sink. In winter the floor there was pretty cold and she'd just sort of shut down until I found her and put her back in her tree to warm up. I doubt he's falling any distance if he isn't showing any signs of clumbsiness generally. If he was sitting very dark with eyes shut I would worry. If he's eating normally, basking and moving around during the day as usual I would not be too concerned.

gabrielmtl Oct 02, 2003 11:47 AM

thanks guys

I think it might be a combination of the 2... not enought spots to climb back up, and too cold at the bottom for him to react...

when he's at the bottom, hes all pissed off and hissing at me if i try to get him... he runs away and tries to climb on anything he can... he really doesnt seem sick just pissed off not being able to go back up. He moves, eats and drinkes ok during the day.
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Gabriel - Montreal - Ding.
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