Dark Coloration

[emmys824]

Hey everyone,

I have noticed that my carpet chameleon has been darker in color the last few days. It seems like she is really dark when I go in and turn her lights on, and she lightens up slowly throughout the day. Could she just be mimicking her darker surroundings before her lights come on, or does dark coloration automatically mean that she isn't happy and needs me to change something?

 

[Mmcbain1]

Chameleons dont change colors based on their surroundings. They only change colors based on their mood. Is your buddy eating and drinking as normal? Maybe time to shed?

 

[Nicolas]

They only change colors based on their mood.

Not only.
You forget the temperature, light intensity, the health, the communication, gestation colors etc...

Could she just be mimicking her darker surroundings before her lights come on, or does dark coloration automatically mean that she isn't happy and needs me to change something?

She's darker under the basking spot to accumulate more heat.
When her internal temperature is in her average preferential temperature, she take they "normal" colours.
If she's in hyperthermia, color becomes clearer.

She can be darker too if she's stressed, if the light intensity is low...
Gravid carpet chameleon are a black-dominated dress


What is the temperature under your heating spot ?

 

[emmys824]

She is eating and drinking completely normally, which is why I was giving it a few days before asking... her basking spot tops out at about 85 degrees. The thermostat in the house is set to 68, so I don't think she is getting too cold at night.

 

[emmys824]

I also am pretty sure that she isn't gravid, as she has never been with a boy to my knowledge. You mentioned light intensity causing stress? Can you tell me more about that? I have a 50W bulb as her basking light and a UVB on the other side of her cage.

 

[Nicolas]

No, the light intensity don't cause stress.
When she stressed, they are darker and when the light intensity is low (in the shade), they become darker. But if they are exposed to the sun, it the face who is exposed who is darker.


Female cham can be gravid even if they never been with a male. They can made whites clutches like chicken. The eggs don't give cham, of course.

http://www.chameleonnews.com/06MayStanford.html

 

[emmys824]

Oh okay, I didn't know that they showed gravid colors, when they had infertile eggs. I put an egg laying bin in her enclosure, so she can lay her eggs if she has any.