Chameleon stressed?

Deerin

New Member
I recently got a Jackson's chameleon; when we opened the package he was very bright green, but now he is solid black. There are no other lizards near him. My cats sometimes look at the cage.
 
He might be dark because he is basking to warm up. He might be dark because he is stressed for a variety of reasons. He might be dark because his is ill and dying. Being dark in itself doesn't say anything about the animal's condition. It might be nothing or it might be a dying chameleon. Pictures of your set up, the chameleon and a description of the temps/humidity would help a lot.
 
I doubt it's for warming up... I have seen my jax in many colors and patterns but solid black is not one of em. When mine get's black patterns it usually is because of stress.

The only time I saw a nearly black chameleon is when I got my panther out of his tempex box when I bought him, the poor thing was petrified with fear...
Luckily he turned out to be ok.
 
We just got him a day ago. He has a uvb lamp on top with a heat bulb to the side. His cage is screen if you cannot tell. He did turn green last night when he went to sleep but in the morning when I turned his lights on and misted his cage he turned black again. He has only eaten once since we have gotten him, haven't seen him drink. Temps tend to stay between 70-90 and humidity is low because I'm having a bit of trouble with it.
 

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This is what I did. They should be able to hide completely if they want to. More plants will bring your humidity up.
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Looks like stress colors to me, I agree with @JacksJill , more cover will make him feel more secure.

Also try to give him privacy until he settles, they aren't social animals so just feed and clean, try to ignore the chameleon... He will eventually learn you're no real threat.
 
I doubt it's for warming up... I have seen my jax in many colors and patterns but solid black is not one of em. When mine get's black patterns it usually is because of stress.

The only time I saw a nearly black chameleon is when I got my panther out of his tempex box when I bought him, the poor thing was petrified with fear...
Luckily he turned out to be ok.

For you, @Remkon, a black chameleon. (Female T.q.quadricornis catching sight of male when not receptive.)
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Okay I put some fake stuff up there for now until I can replace the current live plant. I have a few questions though since I'm new to chams and reptiles too. Is it normal for him to hang upside down and pace under his uvb? (Uvb is 5.0) Should I just throw the crickets in there or get a cup? (Crickets are dusted)
 
Here is our black nosy be panther. Hopefully we can get him back to his lovely colours. We have had him 2months bought from a pet shop they say within 2days of being with them he went black. We have tired various things to get him to show his colours but nothing has worked so @Deerin If you have any joys with yours let us know would be much appreciated
 

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He's a bit green today! He was greener but my relatives wanted to see him and kind of crowded him.
 

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Here is our black nosy be panther. Hopefully we can get him back to his lovely colours. We have had him 2months bought from a pet shop they say within 2days of being with them he went black. We have tired various things to get him to show his colours but nothing has worked so @Deerin If you have any joys with yours let us know would be much appreciated

I would really like to see your whole cage set up and accurate temperatures.
 
My jax seem to make shorter days compared to my panther.

My heory about this:
While days are almost 12/12 hours in Kenya, I think the time of daylight they get is quite a bit less because they live mountainside so sun will either rise or set behind the mountain and it's also more cloudy there.
This may explain why they make shorter days.
 
You wil notice when he sleeps he turns a lighter green. They call it being in his PJs here.

I always know mine is in his PJs when he curls his tail up. He knows when the light is going off like he has a built in clock, because he is always ready.
 
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