Hey there, I'm unsure of if this is the right spot or not so I apologize if not. I don't own any chameleons yet but I'm looking into it. I was looking on craigslist and saw an ad for a veiled chameleon. In the older pictures it looks healthy and fat, but in the newer pictures he looks really thin. Is this normal?
Does this chameleon look healthy?
- Thread starter Shayla
- Start date
lausnordah
New Member
Wow. I'm not a super expert or anything but I'd say he looks on the thin side. Check out the Veileds in the gallery...
If he's afraid of the camera he could be trying to look smaller (thin like a branch) to hide.
Signs of a healthy chameleon:
A healthy chameleon should be active in its environment and standing up rather than laying on its perch
The chameleon should be able to move about the cage with good balance without falling or stumbling
The eyes should be full, open at all times and actively looking all around
The arm and leg bones should all be straight, toes should all be intact and the chameleon should have a strong grip
Skin should have nice vibrant coloration all over the body and all the spines on the back should be present
Patches of shedding skin are normal if present
The tail should be able to grasp branches and curl up smoothly
An unhealthy chameleon may have one or multiple of these signs:
Sleeping during the day at all
Sunken or swollen eye turrets
Laying on the bottom of the cage
Legs that are bent, curved, appear to have multiple joints or have swellings at the joints
Wrinkly, crusty or dry skin, bumps, cuts or bruises, or patches of abnormal colored skin
Blood at the mouth, swollen jaw, or jaw that doesn't align properly
A tail that cannot curl or is black at the end
Falling off branches, having a weak grip, stumbling or appearing very clumsy
Unhealthy cameleons should not be purchased except by very experienced owners.
Signs of a healthy chameleon:
A healthy chameleon should be active in its environment and standing up rather than laying on its perch
The chameleon should be able to move about the cage with good balance without falling or stumbling
The eyes should be full, open at all times and actively looking all around
The arm and leg bones should all be straight, toes should all be intact and the chameleon should have a strong grip
Skin should have nice vibrant coloration all over the body and all the spines on the back should be present
Patches of shedding skin are normal if present
The tail should be able to grasp branches and curl up smoothly
An unhealthy chameleon may have one or multiple of these signs:
Sleeping during the day at all
Sunken or swollen eye turrets
Laying on the bottom of the cage
Legs that are bent, curved, appear to have multiple joints or have swellings at the joints
Wrinkly, crusty or dry skin, bumps, cuts or bruises, or patches of abnormal colored skin
Blood at the mouth, swollen jaw, or jaw that doesn't align properly
A tail that cannot curl or is black at the end
Falling off branches, having a weak grip, stumbling or appearing very clumsy
Unhealthy cameleons should not be purchased except by very experienced owners.
