6Month old fell from branch in sleep!

[Wolfepack]

Hey guys. My baby cham just gave me a heart attack. I was leaving the room where his cage is and I heard a loud thud. I go over to see what it was and I see Gandhi laying on the bottom of the cage on his side in his sleeping position and color. I have never seen him do this before but I am very concerned. I mmediately took him out to see if he was okay. He seemed freightened and distraught but I wouldnt expect less after something like that. He appeared to be otherwise okay. What would cause a cham to fall like that? Is this normal or should I be concerned?

 

[ChameleonNerd]

what was he sleeping on? if it was something like a dowel that can spin i wouldn't be too surprised he fell. and sometimes the younger ones like to sleep in very dangerous positions, and if they don't fall during the night, they often fall when they wake up. But it really depends on the position he was sleeping in, and what on.

 

[r0ckm3l30n]

Did you check its claw? i mean it could have been just a slip from its grasp but nonetheless just do a visual check on him and if it did happen again maybe you want to check its joint such as elbow or knees for some deformity like signs of mbd. I dont want to jump to conclusions ok? these are just my 2cents. Im pretty sure experts soon will reply to this. Also, the comments that i gave you is just base on logic and not on experience. Good luck!

 

[Olimpia]

That's not uncommon, at least in my experience. My younger chams will fall once in a blue moon and it really stops after they've gained a bit of experience on where to sleep safely. It's instinct for chameleons to sleep in awkward places, like the very tips of branches because these will vibrate more heavily if there is a predator coming up the branch towards them. But sometimes they pick a dinky little twig, or the edge of a leaf, etc. and it just doesn't hold their weight all night long. But they learn pretty quickly which places are safe.

Keep an eye out, but he should be fine.