Does anyone else's chameleon bask laying on their side?

[FFSTRescue]

My WC adult female Oustalets basks on her side. She lays on the top of her ficus like its a bed, on her side (she switches sides), and basks that way. I freaked out when I first saw it because I thought she was dead on top of her tree! She is a new Oustie to me, though I am not new to Ousties, and none of my others have done this. She has made a "bed" out of one area on top of the tree, she just changes locations to face the sun (she's outside, gets about 90 degrees in the sun, if not, I turn on a basking bulb). Every time I go near her, she jumps up, so I can't get a picture. It is the oddest thing I have ever seen. She's healthy, alert, etc, but showing gravid coloration. I have another gravid female Oustie that does not do this. Does anyone's chameleons ever do that? Is it an instinctive gravid behavior to warm the underside for egg development?

 

[Monkeykungphu]

You should really get a pic if you can. That would be neat to see.

 

[Carlton]

My WC adult female Oustalets basks on her side. She lays on the top of her ficus like its a bed, on her side (she switches sides), and basks that way. I freaked out when I first saw it because I thought she was dead on top of her tree! She is a new Oustie to me, though I am not new to Ousties, and none of my others have done this. She has made a "bed" out of one area on top of the tree, she just changes locations to face the sun (she's outside, gets about 90 degrees in the sun, if not, I turn on a basking bulb). Every time I go near her, she jumps up, so I can't get a picture. It is the oddest thing I have ever seen. She's healthy, alert, etc, but showing gravid coloration. I have another gravid female Oustie that does not do this. Does anyone's chameleons ever do that? Is it an instinctive gravid behavior to warm the underside for egg development?

I had a male verrucosus who did this. I also know that gravid females spend more time basking so maybe this particular cham is simply showing an exaggerated basking behavior.

 

[FFSTRescue]

It is definitely exaggerated! I will try to sneak up on her and take a pic, it's pretty funny

 

[WinstonChrchll]

My panther does the same thing. When hes basking he will turn on his side and alternate every once in awhile. Its kinda funny to watch actually lol. He's healthy though so I suspect Its just a little quirk.

 

[FroggtheCham]

Frogg hangs on the side of his arch and turns completely sideways, flat, and basks!!

 

[jeff stampher]

they bask on their side to absorb more heat and light as it is a larger surface.

 

[FFSTRescue]

they bask on their side to absorb more heat and light as it is a larger surface.

I get the concept, I just didn't thing SHE did, lol

 

[weezyboi94]

Melea continuously did that when she was gravid with her babies. I have also noticed that when i give her a few extra feeders as a treat once in a while, she basks on her side, as if trying to compensate for the extra intake.