Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.

Everything I've read about chameleons says that they change colors due to stress, but I have a four month old veiled that seems to change colors depending on what he's next to. When he's on his green leaves he's always green, and when he's on his thick brown vines it seems like he's always brown.

Am I seeing things? Does this mean he's always stressed when he's brownish?

I would also say that at those times I know for sure he's a little stressed (like when I go in the cage), then he not only turns brown, but he gets more dark patches too.

Any ideas? I'd just hate to think he's so frequently stressed.

I don't really know. All that I've read is that they change colours by the mood. Perhaps they do change a bit depending on there surroundings. have noticed sometimes that my friends veild sometimes changes like this. once he was on a large green leaf with white spots on it and the cham turned nearly the same colour and even with little white patches...

maybe...

Chams do NOT change color to match backgrounds. Their range of coloration is predetermined and can't change beyond a specific pattern that is unique to the animal. The darker coloration is either stress or getting too cool. Chams turn darker to absorb more heat such as during a morning basking session. When a cham is very actively moving around his cage he may look brighter than when he's sitting still. Stress is a constantly variable state. A little stress (excitement or alertness) occurs when the cham is hunting or advertising his presence in a territory. If he's turning darker and hiding in foliage he's anxious or frightened by something.

Just a little idea here, but you figure maybe he feels a bit safer among the leaves so is a greener color, but when he is wandering around on the vines more in the open he might be darker. *shrug* just a thought...
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1:1 Veileds (Gene and Aurora)
1:1 Albino Clawed Frogs (Phedre and Jos)
?? Fire belly toad (Harold)
Various cats and dogs

If he is more comfortable in the leaves than out in the open on the vines, is there something I can do, or will he just get more comfortable in time? (I've had him just a couple of weeks.)

(Thanks to all who have replied.)

Partly both. He will get more used to the house routine, you, etc. Make sure he can't see other pets, too much activity, or possibly threats from outside a window. Give him time to adjust and if needed try draping a towel or sheet over part of the cage so he feels he has a refuge. You may have to add foliage to the cage so he feels secure in climbing around more of it.