Exploration or problem?

[Miss Machine]

Hello everyone!

On a regular basis (couple of times a week) I discover that Pete is on the bottom of his enclosure. Is this for exploration, or could there be something wrong?

He immediately climbs back to the top if I approach him. I redecorated his home a few days ago. I offered him more branches and twigs and also added even more plants.

 

[jamncristian]

something seems wrong

 

[Miss Machine]

I have to watch him more closely then.

 

[laurie]

Relax, after years of keeping these critters, I find if you change something they explore everything. If it continues for long them we will worry. just a couple days is normal, jmo

 

[Miss Machine]

I hope that's it. He seems to be acting very normal, besides the bottom dwelling now and then. He doesn't look stressed, has normal colors. But I will watch this behaviour closely. Thanx!

 

[kinyonga]

Is he just sitting still on the bottom...or walking around??
What's the temperature in the basking/warmest area of the cage?
Are his eyes open (if he's just sitting there)?

 

[Miss Machine]

He is really wandering around. Eyes open, not sitting still. When he sees me approaching, he quickly climbs up again.

His basking area is about 86 F (halogen) and below or lower it's about 75 F. Night time it drops to 68 F.

 

[kinyonga]

IMHO...not problem...he's just exploring.

 

[ijmccollum]

If you are free ranging crix in the cage for feeding he may be hunting.... You may want to check your temps as well and def. keep an eye out for anything unusual.

 

[Miss Machine]

Yep, locusts and crix free ranging.. but he is picky these days. Spoiled I guess. He's not really interested in crix or locusts, more in silkworms, fruit beetle larvae, superworms and butterworms. If he sees that haha, he really almost runs for it! Silkies are perfect, lot of liquid in them, the rest is primarily fat. So I try to hunger him out a bit, to see if his interest in crix and locusts gets back.

 

[chameleon884]

he could be looking for a mate. my chameleon goes to the bottom and to the top (exploring) all the time. and he is perfectly healthy!
i wouldnt worry too much. as long as you have the right humidity, water, supplementation, food, lighting etc. then he will be fine.

 

[Miss Machine]

Hís behaviour is turning into real friendly these days! Normally he would hiss at me when I approach him. These days when I'm working in the terrarium next to his, where my Phelsuma;s are in, he is very interested and scratches the glass to get to me ;-). When I open the right door and stick out my arm he walks on to it. He also displays very bright colors when he does this! But he is just 3,5 months old, isn't that too young to be looking for a mate?

 

[JDH]

I free range feed my 6 month veiled and she is constantly cruising the whole cage hunting. I work from home most days so I have the opportunity to watch her from across the room.

I didn't see this posted... What type of Chameleon do you have and are you positive it's a male? I'm new to the world of Chameleon’s, but I understand some are difficult to determine sex.

 

[Miss Machine]

sorry for the double post

 

[Miss Machine]

It's a male veiled chameleon. He has spurs on his backfeet. I cannot free range him here yet. Maybe in the future I can give him his own chameleon-room ;-).

 

[pantherlover]

a healthy drinking cham can go more than a week without food if you need to starve him out. variety is good but you need to get him eating the well gutloaded staple.