Blue Nosy Be Chameleon Dull color, suggestions?

[Quinnie]

My chameleon is about a year old and has recently shown a dullness in his coloration. I recently moved him out of my basement because I felt it was a little too cold and dark for his liking, I now keep him in my room by my front bedroom window. Originally when I got him his colors were beautiful baby blue and turquoise with little red speckles around the head and spine area. Right about now he's a dim blue ish grey color and has mixed bars of black and white also at times he shows a white horizontal stripe across his abdomen. I recently bought him a mega ray mercury vapor lamp which I'm currently running for about six hours a day, I don't think the uv is the issue because before I switched to the mega ray bulb I was using the 26 watt repti sun 5.0 the best one recommended for chameleons and most tropic type reptile species. He currently resides in a three and a half foot tall screened cage that is about two feet wide, I built it myself to these dimensions to accommodate his needs. He feeds just about every day I'm currently feeding him adult male dubia roaches which aren't larger than his head because I do know that is protocol for reptile feeding (feeders no larger than head size) other than that I'll mainly feed him off crickets. I usually dust with vitamins maybe once every two weeks and calcium maybe once a week. He'll eat about three adult dubia a day currently and I always have his water dripping system run for half an hour or more each day. He has not shed for a few months now and I was thinking maybe after another good shed his color would return, but until then I'm trying to figure out what else I can do to mitigate this lame problem. I have a water collection dish that catches the water from my drip system I do this to add a bit more humidity to possibly influence a shed, and also obviously to not have water soaking all over my dresser and my clothing within it. Really could use some help and suggestions, I'm open to all opinions I know you guys really care for your amazing creatures just as I do. This is my first post on this forum and if there is any extra information I need to provide I will do so upon request. Thanks a lot everyone hope to get some answers soon. My chameleons name is Leonidas and his temperament is very mild and a bit shy I take him out of his cage maybe once or twice every week or two. His eating habits have not changed a bit since the color fade, no personality differences or visible ailments. In my eyes he is quite healthy however I wish he'd be back to shining his blue beautiful colors. Thanks again

-Quinnie

 

[carol5208]

There have been others on here with the same situation, but honestly I don't know if there was really a definite answer as to why. Seeing that you changed his surroundings, I would say that could have something to do with it. You said "recently", so how long are we talking about? A week, a month, etc? Chameleons are really creatures of habit and they don't seem to like change all too much. It can disrupt their eating cycles too. Maybe there is something out the window that he finds threatening, such as a bird???

 

[oblgobl]

How long did you leave his last UVB on for becuase I don't think 6 hours a day is long enough I've read 10 hours is minimum so that might possibly be an issue. You say he gets calcium dusted feeders every week is that calcium with D3 because he should be having that around once every second week like the multi vitamins and plain calcium most if not every feeding.
It could very well be the move thats causing this you say he is quite shy so it might just take a while for him to settle. Is he the panther in your avatar because he looks quite young and they change alot before reaching adulthood. Not sure what the weather is like for you but if it's warm (not too warm) and your garden is safe try taking a plant out and placing him on it but stay right next to him and don't let him out of your sight. If you can put him in an enclousure outside even better. Regular exposure to the sun will do wanders for his colour.

 

[Quinnie]

Hey both of you thanks for your responses. I took note of your supplementing schedule and yes I use V D3 also herptivite. The color change had taken effect before the move and as I stated priorly his behavior's remained the same, eating habits as well. He has a mega ray 160 watt set up about a foot or more over his cage and I may bump up the hours by a few on his timer. I know the mega ray produces more micro wattage per cubic inch than any other lamp on the market, that's why it is currently set up for a shorter amount of time. Also he's right next to my window and my cage has pretty good sized spacing on the mesh, I'd say about half inch square holes and also my window does not have a screen on it currently so the light from the sun comes right in. I moved him up to my room just this week on Monday afternoon. He seems like he's doing well and he's not threatened by anything outside he actually really seems to enjoy scoping out what's going on in the neighborhood. I'd say about two feet of his cage is over top of the edge of my window sill, so even if he did feel threatened he could go to the lower section and hangout there away from he view of outside. If there's anything else I didn't answer for you guys just let me know I appreciate your concern, hoping to see his color come back soon with the new spring season just arriving so far I think he's loved his new exposure to the suns natural uv's.

Thanks again,

Quinnie~

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Also he's right next to my window and my cage has pretty good sized spacing on the mesh, I think he's loved his new exposure to the suns natural uv's.
Quinnie~

Most glass windows block UV's. So odds are no UV exposure from sun. And this can confuse chameleon. He might spread out and think he's basking in sun, with no benefit, unlike the UV megaray is throwing off.

My bad, I read again and see he's hanging out the window.

 

[oblgobl]

Sorry for missing the part about him being this colour before the move could be that it was too dark down there for him. If he is acting normal and temps are good Id imagine his colour will improve in the sun.

 

[Quinnie]

Most glass windows block UV's. So odds are no UV exposure from sun. And this can confuse chameleon. He might spread out and think he's basking in sun, with no benefit, unlike the UV megaray is throwing off.

My bad, I read again and see he's hanging out the window.

No biggie lol thanks for your reply and yeah basically the top half of his cage is exposed to sunlight for a pretty good portion of the day, no screening over my window and it's open until sunset of course since it's still in the fifty degree range at night where I am.

 

[Quinnie]

Sorry for missing the part about him being this colour before the move could be that it was too dark down there for him. If he is acting normal and temps are good Id imagine his colour will improve in the sun.

Haha no no no, no problem at all I understand because my writing comes out as word vomit Lol, I just try to give as much info as I can so you guys can grasp the descriptions I try to give. I'd imagine it is hard to follow at times, my writing.

So nothing but thanks

Quinnie-

 

[Battlecat29]

I recently ordered the quad fixture HO t5- I noticed a change in color. More vibrant- lights should be on 12 and 12 - I would recommend that also once the weather is nice take him out - that will help to.

 

[Quinnie]

I recently ordered the quad fixture HO t5- I noticed a change in color. More vibrant- lights should be on 12 and 12 - I would recommend that also once the weather is nice take him out - that will help to.

True true cool thanks is it a tube fixture ?

 

[Quinnie]

Switching back to repti sun 5.0

Well Leon is looking dark today he almost appeared to me as jet black :/ I don't understand and it's been rough I feel as though I'm doing nothing wrong.

 

[Camsofcali]

Temps?

What are his cage temps during the day and at night? Low to mid 70's at night to low 80's during the day will keep him nice and comfortable which will effect his coloration. Bad temps/Stress contributes to an unhappy colored chameleon. Also natural sunlight will do wonders for a panthers colors. I've had some of mine become very vibrant after a few weeks of daily sunshine.Also panthers will go through "color phases" so this could be just one of his phases. Nosey be's aren't all vibrantly bright blue that's a captive bred for trait so don't be upset if he doesn't turn out like you've hoped but from the sounds of it he was expressing the desired traits at one point. Some nosey be's also will be darker and have bars but when fired up turn a electric bright blue. Keep taking good care of him and hope for the best!! Best of luck to you

 

[JosieJobo]

My 5m Ambilobe/Nosy Be male is looking erm duller than normal at the moment. Pet shop said as he is eating and growing LOTS it might just be a shed coming on though he's been dull for nearly a week now? How long can pre shed last before they finally start a to peel? mine is aslo a little dehydrated could this affect his colour? Trying everything I can toget him to drink but I never see him drinking! Xx

 

[oblgobl]

Quinnie
I didn't understand the window situation completely is part of the cage exposed to the sun without any mesh or glass? Id assume it's not very windy or cold at this time of year were you're at but a draft might upset him if there is one. Like Camsofcali said if temps are fine it's probably just a phase, is he still acting normally?

JosieJobo
Young chams shed pretty often and all my younger lot only really show pre-shed signs a few days before but all chams are diferent so it could be that. What signs is he showing of dehydration? Some wont drink while being watched so if he looks ok and his urates are white he might be drinking in secret. If he is dehydrated it could make him dull in colour might be worth opening your own thread about the dehydration with more detail about your husbandry focusing on misting and watering schedule.
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