Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my veiled is always brown, except when sleeping, and then he is brightly colored. I have everything set up, lots of water provided, live plants, screen cage, plenty of food, UV lights or California sun, I just don't understand why he's always brown, he has a huge cage too. He's about 6 months and the colors are boring me!!!! I wanna see his sleeping colors!!! Thanks for any help... -Matt

I've seen veileds of about this age go through a brown phase. It might be a kind of "I'm young and harmless...leave me alone" submissive coloration to any mature males that might be around. His hormones are about to kick in, but are not quite there yet. I suspect if you show him his reflection in a mirror he will get pissed and show you what you hope to see. Give it some time. The fact that he shows bright coloration while asleep should reassure you.

Hey, thanks for the response. I think he has already hit puberty though, because he does have the bars of yellow and somewhat blue when he sleeps. But maybe it is just a phase, I hope so anyway. Also, how big are 6 month old male veiled typically? Mine is about 10-11 inches head to tail, but he seems to be growing fast now that I have been putting him outside all day everyday since I am home for break. I know I'm rambling, but are there any proven ways of making a veiled grow bigger/faster? Thanks again. -Matt

You can help the most by feeding him carefully gutloaded feeders, giving him proper lighting, and the trips outdoors are great. All that is only part of the equasion...his bloodlines will determine his size to a large degree. If his relatives and parents were not huge he won't be either.