Chameleon Burrito!

[phantomchameleon]

I gave him a little soak and i wrapped him in a warm towel! He absolutely loved it(as evidenced by the photo)
(I soaked him in warm water and it was recommended by the vet because he's been having trouble pooping recently, Please don't give me hell about this)

 

[brownie64]

Please don't take offence by this, but your cham is obviously stressed over this. It is not a puppy it is a lizard. I'm not a vet but I don't think after 25 plus years experience that soaking your cham in water is going to help him poop he needs to drink it. Your only succeeding in stressing him, and making him sicker. Did you take him to an experienced reptile vet that known how to take care of your friend. I only say this because I'm concerned about your cham, and I'm sure you don't want nothing bad to happen to him.

 

[phantomchameleon]

Please don't take offence by this, but your cham is obviously stressed over this. It is not a puppy it is a lizard. I'm not a vet but I don't think after 25 plus years experience that soaking your cham in water is going to help him poop he needs to drink it. Your only succeeding in stressing him, and making him sicker. Did you take him to an experienced reptile vet that known how to take care of your friend. I only say this because I'm concerned about your cham, and I'm sure you don't want nothing bad to happen to him.

He wasn't angry or stressed out at all about the bath, or wrapping him in the warm towel. He didn't even want to leave the towel. I know he's a chameleon, not a dog, but he very much is an odd chameleon. He did poop right after the bath. Warm water helps them pass feces if they're having trouble pooping.
The vet i took him to had a reptile specific doctor, and he did give me medicine for him and he did recommend that i give him a soak in warm water.
(Also if you read my other posts, he hates being alone and he loves being handled, he hisses and actually gets more stressed when i dont hold him)
He's been drinking fine, he just hasn't been eating properly but he has been getting better since i've been giving him soaks and the medicine he's been prescribed.

 

[wavingsnail]

Chameleons are basically prey animals.

What I see here is an animal that by nature is only wrapped in something when it is being eaten and/or killed, so it would absolutely not have a positive reaction or association to being wrapped in a towel, warm or not, because it's just not in their wheelhouse.

All I see is an animal that is so stressed that is has basically shut down.

 

[Decadancin]

He wasn't angry or stressed out at all about the bath, or wrapping him in the warm towel. He didn't even want to leave the towel. I know he's a chameleon, not a dog, but he very much is an odd chameleon. He did poop right after the bath. Warm water helps them pass feces if they're having trouble pooping.
The vet i took him to had a reptile specific doctor, and he did give me medicine for him and he did recommend that i give him a soak in warm water.
(Also if you read my other posts, he hates being alone and he loves being handled, he hisses and actually gets more stressed when i dont hold him)
He's been drinking fine, he just hasn't been eating properly but he has been getting better since i've been giving him soaks and the medicine he's been prescribed.

I don't want to be the one to disagree, but please remember that chameleons are not the most social animals, and often when they seem to want to be with us it can be actually that they are unhappy with their current environment. Not being stressed by the bath would lead me to believe that it is a bigger issue. I know that I will also argue that some chameleons do "enjoy" handling, but this doesn't seem to be the case here.

 

[phantomchameleon]

I don't want to be the one to disagree, but please remember that chameleons are not the most social animals, and often when they seem to want to be with us it can be actually that they are unhappy with their current environment. Not being stressed by the bath would lead me to believe that it is a bigger issue. I know that I will also argue that some chameleons do "enjoy" handling, but this doesn't seem to be the case here.

I know they are not the most social animals, but he's quite the exception. There's really no reason he could be unhappy in his current home. I do everything i can to make sure he has a good life.

 

[Vinyonga]

I don't think we should really be passing judgement on a chameleon we've never met or seen in its home environement. I can see what wavingsnail and Decadancin mean, but on the other hand there are chameleons which are perfectly fine with being handled etc. Besides, for the most part, these chameleons were born into captivity, and have been around people from day one. A cat born into captivity is more friendly and social than a feral alley cat, and I think this does apply to chameleons, if not quite to the same extent.

 

[phantomchameleon]

I don't think we should really be passing judgement on a chameleon we've never met or seen in its home environement. I can see what wavingsnail and Decadancin mean, but on the other hand there are chameleons which are perfectly fine with being handled etc. Besides, for the most part, these chameleons were born into captivity, and have been around people from day one. A cat born into captivity is more friendly and social than a feral alley cat, and I think this does apply to chameleons, if not quite to the same extent.

Thank you! He is quite young(4 months ish) and he's grown around humans! His caretaker before me has told me they had the same experiences with my cham. He always loved being held or handled.
I do also understand their concern but it has not impacted his health whatsoever and it has actually helped him get better.
(sorry if this is all over the place i am very tired)

 

[Sticktongue]

I'm in the middle here. Yes, some chams enjoy being handled and I'd agree with you there. But absolutely no doubt,he looks overly stressed being wrapped up. I've never seen a Chameleon close its eye in enjoyment. But it's your call, not ours. We're just giving our advice based off quite a bit of experience and knowledge about them.

 

[Goose502]

I'm glad this Cham is doing better, I would agree that he looks terribly stressed in the picture. I've soaked many reptiles for shedding issues, but with a Cham I would have used the shower method myself. As far as being social, or excited to see a keeper, I attribute that to positive reinforcement with food. I hope this guy gets better, just pay attention when soaking that he doesn't drink if he's pooped in the water.

 

[Decadancin]

Just for the record, I'm not passing judgement, rather offering my opinion. When I read about an animal that looks stressed and see it being described as not wanting to leave the towel because he is comfortable, I would like to offer my advice. This behavior is not normal. I am concerned that some behaviors are being observed as not being problems and in the long run this could lead to bigger health issues.
Many of us here "pass judgement" when we see a chameleon that shows signs of illness and many times the keepers do not fully understand what they are dealing with.

 

[Lizzie The Chameleon]

What are your temps like? Also how warm was the towel you put him in? i'm just wondering because he may need more heat and that's why he seems to "like" the towel

 

[MatthewGregory]

Just curious, to those who say he looks stressed can you tell me how you see that. I always thought they get dark colors when stressed but myabe there are other things.

 

[Decadancin]

This is not normal behavior for chameleons. There is something wrong here and to someone who doesn't necessarily understand the warning signs it could lead to bigger problems for the animal. It is not OK, in my opinion, for chameleons to be handled in this way. True, a common stress reaction is to show dark spots and such, but that isn't the only sign.

The vet prescribed medicine... For what?

 

[Goose502]

Just curious, to those who say he looks stressed can you tell me how you see that. I always thought they get dark colors when stressed but myabe there are other things.

It's the closed eyes. They should only ever close their eyes if they are asleep. Wrapped in a warm towel would be the last place they should be closing their eyes. Maybe stressed is the wrong description, my first thought is that he is actually ill.

 

[wavingsnail]

It's the closed eyes. They should only ever close their eyes if they are asleep. Wrapped in a warm towel would be the last place they should be closing their eyes. Maybe stressed is the wrong description, my first thought is that he is actually ill.

Except that many reptiles, when faced with an unrelenting stressor, simply shut their eyes to shut out the stress. The old "if I can't see it, it's not there" tactic. Many keepers of many different reptiles have mistakenly assumed this behavior equals happiness or being content when being handled , when in reality the animal is doing the last thing it possibly can to avoid the stressor .

 

[leedragon]

without being rude. you don´t need to know THE chameleon in question but to know about chameleons respons and needs. Chameleons play dead like that when they are stressed as hell. in an other note you should be bathing the chameleon. thats an other thing you don´t do. I am not going to keep commenting in this thread due I am trying to be more sociable with people here in the forums and threads like this just bring mine more flared side of my personality.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

To add my own opinion I agree there are some chameleons who don't mind being handled. It could be because they genuinely love you but we see them as reptiles who can't do that, it could be the positive food reinforcement, or if you let them out they could just be using you to get out so they can explore. Until someone is able to communicate with animals we may never actually know.
However I think the concern of him being stressed out is plausible. One as someone mentioned chameleons usually don't close their eyes unless they are sleeping, sick, or so stressed/scared the only thing they can think to do is shut down till the problem has resolved itself.
The fact that you say your chameleon does this all the time or that he likes it, I can't really make a judgement call on that one. After all he is your pet so you would know him better than any of us. Still what's concerning to me, and I am in no means trying to be a jerk or pass judgment or anything, is that he stayed in the blanket after you wrapped him up. Most chameleons are very active so, in my opinion, I believe after you wrapped him up he would have had an "uhm no bye" reaction to it and gone on his way. They are VERY active.
But I've been reading the post and you said he's been sick? That could very well explain the inactiveness. Still I just thought I'd give you my perspective on the matter as well. Just in case there was something possibly overlooked? Anyway hope he has a rapid recovery!

 

[MatthewGregory]

This is not normal behavior for chameleons. There is something wrong here and to someone who doesn't necessarily understand the warning signs it could lead to bigger problems for the animal. It is not OK, in my opinion, for chameleons to be handled in this way. True, a common stress reaction is to show dark spots and such, but that isn't the only sign.

The vet prescribed medicine... For what?

Im new to chameleons but that doesnt look good. Never seen one on their back before

 

[phantomchameleon]

He has been having problems pooping, and that's why the vet perscribed him with medicine
For the photo of him on his back, Whenever i tap his nose twice he does that. Never does it any other time. When i tap his nose again he's completely fine. He's a very odd chameleon.
I took him to the vet today again, and I told him everything that he's been doing. He said it was not normal for a chameleon but there was no evidence of him being stressed because of the situations, he even monitored the heart beat as these things were being done. He did fecals, and an x ray, and he took blood. I just got the results and everything is fine, just the fact that he's having trouble pooping which is already getting better.
I appreciate your concern and advice but there is nothing wrong with my chameleon at the moment, except the pooping problem