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Please Help. Chameleon acting strange.

squillaci7 Jan 14, 2006 07:11 PM

Okay. Normally my chameleon just sits around his enclosure and doesn't do too much. He has been eating and drinking regularly. Today I have noticed that he keeps wandering around his cage. He also keeps opening his mouth for about 30 seconds for no operant reason. I have seen him eat today and also drink but his behavior is really strange and I'd like to have some input about why he might be acting like this. Is this common before shedding or of an imaction? Please help

Replies (4)

feeniee Jan 14, 2006 11:16 PM

Hi there,
have you checked your temps? Chams can "pant" like dogs to try to control their body temps. Maybe he is too hot?
-----
Feenie

1.1 vieled cham.- Stitch and Rana (Missing you,Chloe)
2.0 Panther chams- Lou and Yosamite Sam
1.0 Giant Day Gecko- Mr. Gecko
0.1 Aussi Whites Tree frog- Frumpy
1.0 Peacock tree frog- Igaro
0.1 Reeds tree frog- Dottie
0.0.2 New River Tinc. Dart Frogs- Tinker and Bell
2.2 Canines Junior-pitbull chiuahuah mix, Jose- chiuahuah, Pearl- Staffie, and Daisy- Red nose Pit- foster child
1.0 Fiance- Trent species unknown
and the list grows on.............

squillaci7 Jan 15, 2006 01:08 AM

I think that's what it was. I took several temps in his enclosure and it was too hot. His basking spot was around 95. Needless to say I adjusted the lights so that it is now around 88 in the basking spot. I hope that's what it was. Thanks for the input.

FEENIEE Jan 15, 2006 01:36 AM

Ya I figured What I do is keep the basking spot to one side of the cage or in a corner that way they can have the whole rest of the cage to roam around and cool off. Glad he's feeling cooler
-----
Feenie

1.1 vieled cham.- Stitch and Rana (Missing you,Chloe)
2.0 Panther chams- Lou and Yosamite Sam
1.0 Giant Day Gecko- Mr. Gecko
0.1 Aussi Whites Tree frog- Frumpy
1.0 Peacock tree frog- Igaro
0.1 Reeds tree frog- Dottie
0.0.2 New River Tinc. Dart Frogs- Tinker and Bell
2.2 Canines Junior-pitbull chiuahuah mix, Jose- chiuahuah, Pearl- Staffie, and Daisy- Red nose Pit- foster child
1.0 Fiance- Trent species unknown
and the list grows on.............

Carlton Jan 17, 2006 02:49 PM

Actually, let me clarify this a bit for you. The basking spot temp was OK where it was. Chams often pant when they have gotten warmed up and are about ready to get out of the heat to cool off. The pattern is that they start gaping for a short time right before moving. It does not mean the BASKING SPOT was too hot itself. As long as he can go to another part of the cage to cool himself off, its fine. The rest of the cage should offer a gradient of temp and humidity so he can move himself around to thermoregulate. If the basking spot is too cool (88 is too cool for anything but a high altitude montane species) he will crouch right under it for hours looking rather dark and he won't get properly warmed up to metabolize food. Does that help?

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