Help! Chameleon Climbing Screen to Reach Light

[TheAmazingGerby]

Yesterday, I bought a 3 month old or so veiled chameleon from a local reputable reptile shop. Yesterday he just chilled in a plant, but now today he's out and about. It has been twice now that I have caught him climbing up the side of his cage to be directly under the light, or he is able to reach the light by stretching upwards from his basking branch. The first time I sort of shooed him off and I picked him back up and put him on his basking branch, but the second time he only stayed up there for a few seconds and got himself down. I'm worried that when I'm at work and school that he'll burn himself by doing that.

 

[Dragon1516]

Yesterday, I bought a 3 month old or so veiled chameleon from a local reputable reptile shop. Yesterday he just chilled in a plant, but now today he's out and about. It has been twice now that I have caught him climbing up the side of his cage to be directly under the light, or he is able to reach the light by stretching upwards from his basking branch. The first time I sort of shooed him off and I picked him back up and put him on his basking branch, but the second time he only stayed up there for a few seconds and got himself down. I'm worried that when I'm at work and school that he'll burn himself by doing that.

The light should not be close enough to burn him if it is pull t back you should be able to put your hand on the screen where the light is for at least 90 seconds with out it burning you.

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

The light should not be close enough to burn him if it is pull t back you should be able to put your hand on the screen where the light is for at least 90 seconds with out it burning you.

It's placed directly on the screen. I was thinking of building a little stand for it so it's not right on the screen. You can keep your hands there for 90 seconds without it being too hot, but I'm still worried

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

Also, sometimes when he's basking, he turns a really dark green. I don't want him to be too stressed out.

I got him to eat today. I brought the food dish up to him and he ate out of it. He also pooped and it's nice and firm and the urinate was white like it should be.

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

Also, I saw him drinking from the leaves. My niece actually pointed it out to me. When he drinks or when I mist him, he goes back to his normal lighter green.

 

[Dragon1516]

Also, sometimes when he's basking, he turns a really dark green. I don't want him to be too stressed out.

I got him to eat today. I brought the food dish up to him and he ate out of it. He also pooped and it's nice and firm and the urinate was white like it should be.

he will take at least a week to be completely normal so he will be acting a little weird like that till them he is just exploring. and where is his food dish normally open the ground?

 

[K_Wolf]

Yesterday, I bought a 3 month old or so veiled chameleon from a local reputable reptile shop. Yesterday he just chilled in a plant, but now today he's out and about. It has been twice now that I have caught him climbing up the side of his cage to be directly under the light, or he is able to reach the light by stretching upwards from his basking branch. The first time I sort of shooed him off and I picked him back up and put him on his basking branch, but the second time he only stayed up there for a few seconds and got himself down. I'm worried that when I'm at work and school that he'll burn himself by doing that.

Mine used to do this too. The problem is that your chameleon probably cannot comfortable find a spot to bask at a higher temperature. This can be easily solved by adding some vines or sticks that reach about 4 inches away from the lighting system.

If your heating and lighting system are placed INSIDE the terrarium and the walls are made of screen, this is a definite hazard that needs to be solved right away. Consider a setup that keeps all light bulbs OUTSIDE of the cage, just above the top screen. This way, your chameleon cannot possible touch the hot bulbs and burn himself. If this is not possible, then you are going to need to eliminate the possibility for your chameleon to climb so close to the bulb. To do this you are going to need to cover the inside screen all the way around with something that is slick and cannot be gripped (this should be about 6 inches down from the light, but use your discretion based on the size of your chameleon). A cheap and easy solution is the non sticky side of duct tape.

 

[K_Wolf]

Also, sometimes when he's basking, he turns a really dark green. I don't want him to be too stressed out.

I got him to eat today. I brought the food dish up to him and he ate out of it. He also pooped and it's nice and firm and the urinate was white like it should be.

When chameleons bask, they will usually turn a darker color as it helps them absorb the heat they want. Like how on a hot day, someone wearing a black shirt in the sun will get much hotter faster than someone wearing a white one. That's normal, but if he darkens when he is not basking, then he is showing stress.

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

he will take at least a week to be completely normal so he will be acting a little weird like that till them he is just exploring. and where is his food dish normally open the ground?

Yes it is. I have it raised off of the ground a little bit right now. In the cage he was raised in, he had a food dish near the basking spot

 

[Dragon1516]

Yes it is. I have it raised off of the ground a little bit right now. In the cage he was raised in, he had a food dish near the basking spot

Thats good. They dont usually go to the bottom to feed.

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

I hope you can see the pictures that I attached. The first one is when I first put him in his cage yesterday. He was pretty much just light green with a few white spots and stripes. Today he has shown his pattern.

 

[Dragon1516]

He will get better over time but don't be surprised if he gets aggressive as he gets older most veiled do.

 

[K_Wolf]

I hope you can see the pictures that I attached. The first one is when I first put him in his cage yesterday. He was pretty much just light green with a few white spots and stripes. Today he has shown his pattern.View attachment 179637 View attachment 179638 View attachment 179638 View attachment 179639 View attachment 179640

Haha! He does the same thing that mine used to do, but it looks like he can't touch the bulbs. By the way, he looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!

 

[TheAmazingGerby]

Haha! He does the same thing that mine used to do, but it looks like he can't touch the bulbs. By the way, he looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!
View attachment 179650

Thank you so much!