Help please!! Very concerned!!

[Seffers93]

Hello guys,
I have another concern about my little friend. Like I said before, my girlfriend and I purchased a Jackson's Chameleon from PetSmart. We have had him for four days now. I was told today to take to remove the waterfall I had in the cage and to remove the infrared light I kept on at night.
So, about an hour before the timer was due to turn the lights out, I found him sleeping. I was told it's not a good sign to find him sleeping with the lights on. On top of that, his colors were showing very bright, like he was stressing.
I didn't know whether or not it was normal to show those colors while he is sleeping.
I woke him up to take a picture (shown at the bottom) so I could post it and ask you guys about it. I noticed the crickets I had put in the feeding dish this morning were still there, untouched.
I grabbed a cricket with my tweasers and held it up to him. He instantly snatched it up and gobbled it down. I tried holding up another, but he just closed his eyes.
I was hoping some of you would have some advice about the sleeping and bright colors, and some knowledge about why he isn't eating and how I can get him to eat.
Thanks guys!!

 

[carol5208]

an hour or so before the lights go out is nothing really to worry about. If it is dark outside, then I would turn the lights off inside the cage. Sleeping throughout the day is more of a concern than going to bed early. Chameleons display some of their most beautiful colors at night. In the future do NOT disturb him while he is sleeping. You are going to stress him more by doing so. You really need to give him time to settle in and just try and refrain from handling so much! also remove all live crickets at night.

 

[Seffers93]

Thank you!
So will he eventually find the crickets in the feeding dish?

 

[jpm995]

He may have his own schedule and will take some time getting accustomed to your lighting schedule. I sometimes wonder if the new cham or the new owner suffers from more stress.

 

[BocaJan]

You have a really beautiful fella there. His colors are great and he looks healthy. When I had my Jacksons I couldn't get them to eat out of a dish, they preferred to hunt. Your fella may prefer to find the crickets in the cage rather then in a dish. Also, I don't believe they eat as much as say...a veiled or panther.

Good luck with your new guy and welcome to the forum.

 

[Khutchens]

He may have his own schedule and will take some time getting accustomed to your lighting schedule. I sometimes wonder if the new cham or the new owner suffers from more stress.

As a new owner myself, I have no doubt....it's the new owner!

 

[Zeus34]

My chameleons do the same thing, if they see its dark outside, they will go to sleep on their own. They also show GORGEOUS colors when they are sleeping. Im sure its just a relaxed coloration for the chameleon.

 

[mcbdz]

Hello, I know there is some much info all at one time it's hard to take it all in. Just need to give a little more. Make sure you feed him early in the day. They need 4-6 hours to bask so they can digest their food. Feeding them at night you may see insect parts that he couldn't digest.

 

[Seffers93]

Thanks everyone!
Much appreciated!