Black Coloring

[cushcameleon]

I think I have finally found the answer. Just a few minutes ago I found my rudis chameleon on the floor again and he was all black. Once he saw me staring at him, he climbed back to the top of the cage and as he climbed his colors begin to lighten. I was still worried about him until I noticed that he was drinking the whole way up. I believe he is going to the bottom because it is easier for him to drink off the dripping leaves and I believe he turns black so that he can stay warmer while he is down there. Has anyone else ever experienced this before with their chameleons? He is still very healthy, so I do not think he may be sick, especially since he reacted so well when he saw me (his instincts told him to find cover).

 

[cushcameleon]

I just went back to his cage and watched him some more. He was towards the bottom again and found a bunch of droplets of water that were clung to the screen, he is now drinking those. His color is still black, but I believe thats only show he can get more warmth from the light high above (his bottom basking temps are low 70s). I feel relieved, because I am fairly confident that his thirst explains his darker colors and is also the reason for his attraction to the bottom of the cage after mistings.

 

[cushcameleon]

his thirst explains his darker colors and is also the reason for his attraction to the bottom of the cage after mistings.

I no longer think his thirst explains the his weird temperament, I think it is stress. I am still having the same problems a couple times everyday. I was told by some other members to alter my misting schedule. I currently have it running 3 cycles a day for 15 minutes. So far my rudis is not having a good reaction towards it. After every misting I still find him in the back of the cage, with several feet on the ground and several feet still clinging to the screen (sometimes all feet are on the ground). He stays there a very long time, unless he catches me looking at him (for some reason it makes him crawl back up the screen). All of his other behavior is still very normal, he is eating tons and normally lightens up whenever he sees me, or whenever he is in the upper part of the cage. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Powers]

I think I have finally found the answer. Just a few minutes ago I found my rudis chameleon on the floor again and he was all black. Once he saw me staring at him, he climbed back to the top of the cage and as he climbed his colors begin to lighten. I was still worried about him until I noticed that he was drinking the whole way up. I believe he is going to the bottom because it is easier for him to drink off the dripping leaves and I believe he turns black so that he can stay warmer while he is down there. Has anyone else ever experienced this before with their chameleons? He is still very healthy, so I do not think he may be sick, especially since he reacted so well when he saw me (his instincts told him to find cover).

Yes, my cham does the same thing.

 

[MNChams]

I currently have it running 3 cycles a day for 15 minutes. So far my rudis is not having a good reaction towards it. After every misting I still find him in the back of the cage, with several feet on the ground and several feet still clinging to the screen (sometimes all feet are on the ground). He stays there a very long time, unless he catches me looking at him (for some reason it makes him crawl back up the screen). All of his other behavior is still very normal, he is eating tons and normally lightens up whenever he sees me, or whenever he is in the upper part of the cage. Anyone have any ideas?

I don't have the experience as some of the other members on here but in my humble opinion, 15 minutes may be too long for misting with the cooler temps in your room. I have my chams in the basement with tile floors and cooler temps and I found that they get too cold and stressed with long misting sessions. They were trying to hide from the misting and staying dark. I have the misting pump on a timer at 4 times a day (every three hours)with much shorter durations and they have been doing great now. All their colors have come back since I have shortened the duration of mistings and they are still drinking well and plenty hydrated.

 

[jadeaudio]

I would try to at least run a heater with your mistings. Recently where I am at the temps have gone down about 10 degrees. All my chams seem to have slowed down, eating less, and just didn't seem very happy. So I bought a 25 watt aquarium heater to heat up the water in the 5 gallon bucket. Even though it works ok it helped that the water was not freezing, but luke warm. Now I plan on doing an inline heater so that the water can be hotter. Dark colors are scary.