Gaping AND blotched?

[SilverWolf]

4 month old Jackson Chameleon. He did something today I haven't seen him do AT ALL other than the very first day I got him. The only reason he did then was because there wasn't enough basking branches near the basking site. He is hanging onto the screen cage ceiling, right under the basking and UVB bulb (two separate bulbs but close to each other), AND he's gaping. There is no extra saliva from what I can notice but it doesn't seem to hot in there either.

He's gaping, hanging on the ceiling of the enclosure, under the basking light and has dark spots. What do you think is wrong? He ate good today, although I haven't seen him drink today.

 

[Lathis]

If he was right under the light, he was probably too hot...but not smart enough to move out of the heat. Babies will climb the screen, so there's not much you can do about that except make sure that his basking spot is the right temperature. Jackson's like it a bit cooler than some other chams - I try to keep mine at about 85°F at 8-inches away from the lamp.

 

[SilverWolf]

Thank you. He is starting to climb lower in the cage now, near the bottom, so I am sure he is wanting to cool down.

 

[stithb]

When was the last time he shed? I don't have a Jackson; but my panther cham exhibits similar behavior a couple of days before he sheds.

 

[SilverWolf]

He shed a week or two ago.