color question.

[ashley_krynicky]

Hey guys I'm happy to announce that Friday my little Augustus arrived and I love him! We are still working on him loving me but that'll take time. I was wondering though, why is he such a dark color most of the time? I know he doesn't like me and gets nervous and darker when I try and hand feed him but he's dark even when I'm not to close to him. Is that normal until he feels comfortable in the new enclosure or not? The first picture is the picture of him from the breeder the following ones are of him now. He is a 4 month old captive bred carpet chameleon. I just need to know if I'm doing something wrong so that I can correct it.

 

[Dave Bolamperti]

Hey Ashley,
Congratulations!! Augustus looks healthy popping some nice colors in the first pic. So tiny on your finger. I have never had Carpets but on my wish list. Good luck
Dave

 

[ashley_krynicky]

Hey Ashley,
Congratulations!! Augustus looks healthy popping some nice colors in the first pic. So tiny on your finger. I have never had Carpets but on my wish list. Good luck
Dave

Thanks I love him to death! He's adorable!

 

[brownie64]

He looks a little scared he might be just settling in. How hot is your temps sometimes they get dark in relation to the temps, or just stressed out because of that shed. If he don't settle down in a couple of days you might want to fill out the ask for help form so we can see if everything in his husbandry should be making him happy. He is very nice by the way. Congrats!

 

[ashley_krynicky]

He looks a little scared he might be just settling in. How hot is your temps sometimes they get dark in relation to the temps, or just stressed out because of that shed. If he don't settle down in a couple of days you might want to fill out the ask for help form so we can see if everything in his husbandry should be making him happy. He is very nice by the way. Congrats!

His basking temp is 83.5 degrees and the middle of his enclosure is in the mid to high 70s all the time. I can fill that out and I'll post it so I can get some critiquing if it doesn't change in a couple of days. He does get dark when he's up by his lights basking so that makes sense if he's trying to absorb more heat. I was just worried because I've only seen a minute amount of blue. He does turn a real light green when he sleeps but nothing like what he looks like in the picture the breeder sent me. I'm also spraying him with a tropical mist spray made by Zilla that's supposed to help with dry skin and shedding problems once a day. He has a dripper that I have on periodically and I spray the plants with water a couple of times a day.Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[GrimCamel]

I would give him time to settle in. 1-2 weeks w/o handling. Chameleons need time to build their trust and therefore shouldnt be forced into anything like handling which is a major stress factor for the little creatures
Good luck!

 

[mvad]

Awesome little guy!! Good luck with him

 

[ashley_krynicky]

I won't touch him for 1-2 weeks and see how that goes. Thanks!

I would give him time to settle in. 1-2 weeks w/o handling. Chameleons need time to build their trust and therefore shouldnt be forced into anything like handling which is a major stress factor for the little creatures
Good luck!

 

[carol5208]

Yes, give the little one time to get used to his new surroundings. It can quite traumatic for them to have their habitat changed and being shipped and all. I have found they are really creatures of habit and even the slightest changes, like moving a branch around or changing a plant can throw them off. I am sure he will brighten up to his beautiful self when he gets used to you.

 

[BayChams]

He's so pretty!

 

[ashley_krynicky]

He's so pretty!

Thank you!
Thanks all four the advice! I'll leave him be for a couple of weeks. I'll still hand feed him his treat worms but I'll leave the crickets in his cup and let him get familiar with his surroundings.

 

[guanagator]

The young ones can be finicky with their colors, like others suggested allowing him to settle in should calm him down and let his stress level drop. Good luck!