Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know what causes pale coloration of chameleon? For the last couple of weeks I barely see my cham. showing bright colors, it only happens when I take him out of the cage and let him roam on the couch. Again, he does not move much (as he use to in the past) when he is in his cage, all though he's eating fine (but I believe that his digesting process slowed down) and his grip is strong. He started acting this way from the last time I put his cage outside.
Any ideas?
Thanks

What's the temp outside? Pale colouration means slight overheating. It also depends on the species...if it's a veiled then he/she can tolerate up to 85F during the day, with available shade of course. Panthers can handle a bit less, and jacksons even less than that. If it's another type of cham please specify.

Try to provide a bit more shade or mist more often, and it it's still too hot outside then consider bringing the cham indoors permanantly, or put him outside only during winter (or rainy season...where do you live?).

PS.
If the cham starts to gape constantly, that's pretty bad...a very strong sign of overheating.

Thanks for the information.
I live in Florida and most of the time keep my Panther indoors, just once in a while I bring him outside. Cage temperature is around 80F with a basking stop 95F. Just last night I change the basking light from 50W to 70W thus bringing tem. to 80F before it was 72-75F.
As far as misting, I mist 3 time a day so on avarage humidity level is around 65.
What causes champ. to become less mobile?

As a new cham settles into a territory they don't tend to roam as much. They have already "advertised" their presence. A change in day length (shorter) can slow them down too. Right before shedding their skin can look paler and dull too.

Scrap the night bulb. Chams need a nightly temp drop, and it save you on bulbs and electricity. If it was a bright bulb (not an infra-red) then his strange colouring may have been linked to lack of sleep and lack of movemebnt. lazy, drowsy cham doesn't have much energy to turn darker colours and can look like they have very chalky, pale colours.

He may appreciate the heat in the daytime more if its cooler at night, then he won't reject the daytime heat and turn pale.

Try that out, it's more than likely to work!

Post a new msg to say how it worked if you can, and good luck.

Thank guys for all your help.
Cham. is doing better roday from what I can tell, his colors are much brighter and he seems more active.