how do chameleons perfer to sleep? on a slanted branch or on a strait branch?

[alex arango]

my dad says chameleons sleep on slanted branches or branches that are pointing stait up rather than straight branches is that true? when i say straight branches i mean like a flat parallel branch rather than the one's that are pointing straight up or slanted. my chams cage has some fake branches that i put in and i put most of the branches parallel, flat like a bed made out of sticks or branches but my dad tells me to make the branches pointing straight up or slanted like how they sleep in the wild. i have seen them sleep on branches that are parallel not curved or pointing straight up and also on branches that are pointing straight up, i just want to make sure i know how they rather sleep or how they sleep in the wild so i can fix there cage if needed.
thanks

 

[Solid Snake]

They like to sleep however will confuse you the most.

Both my xanth, and my ambilobe sleep wherever, however. I have not noticed a preference in the angle of the branch.

My xanth will frequently sleep with her head under a leaf, as if she thinks she may need an umbrella through the nite.

Other than that, its whatever spot they like the most at the time. They seem to have "favorites" for a while, but never for too long.

 

[Lala0]

Mine likes to sleep vertically....

 

[Ulrich]

My Veiled was pretty domestic in terms of sleeping spot. My ambanja just needs a lot of foliage. My Montane also. In nature they tend to go more often to the fragile tips of the branches (which subsequently bend down). I read scientists suspect they do that so that no predator can reach them at night. So if you want to mimic nature, put in a tree, which allows for that.

 

[jannb]

Your dad is right. All my chameleons and every chameleon that I've been around for the past eight years sleep on vertical branches. As they get older they will actually lay on the branch.

 

[JonRich]

My Veiled was pretty domestic in terms of sleeping spot. My ambanja just needs a lot of foliage. My Montane also. In nature they tend to go more often to the fragile tips of the branches (which subsequently bend down). I read scientists suspect they do that so that no predator can reach them at night. So if you want to mimic nature, put in a tree, which allows for that.

This makes sense. My Chams if given the chance ( which is only on their freerange tree) will always sleep on the outer limbs with it bending under their weight.

In the cage they most always sleep horizontal in a curled up position

 

[Olimpia]

Some of mine will sleep vertically or just tilted face-down just a little. But Daedalus, my big male, prefers a sturdy horizontal branch to essentially lay on. He would prefer not to have to hold himself up all night if possible, so he has thick branches where he can rest his whole body on. But my others are more like what everyone else is describing. Perhaps because they're smaller and lighter, though, they don't think they're at risk for snapping anything while they sleep? I don't know.

 

[AllFallDown]

I have never seen my veiled sleep on branches that are pointed strait up and down (and he has had the opportunity), he likes to sleep on one particular branch that is slightly tilted upward. It is actually pretty close to flat. Of course I did clean his cage the night before last and probably screwed things up for him. I am looking at getting him a bigger cage very soon so with the added space, we will see if his preferences change.
Sometimes, though rarely, I catch him sleeping on the wall of the cage (wire mesh cage). I have only seen this once or twice. Always makes me a bit uncomfortable.

 

[okiroo]

My Veiled will sleep in any position. she has fav trees but will sleep all over them. The hoes sleep on stright up down vines. pygmys sleep anywhere they can fit and hold on easily.

 

[Hoj]

Each will often sleep their own way. But i have found that individual chams will sleep the same way often. When my deremensis were all together I could tell who each one was by the way they were laying on the branch. One even slept splawed out on a leaf most nights and to this day still does if once a week or so.

 

[Jaxonii]

My jackson's chameleon sleeps both vertically and horizontally. Keep in mind chameleons like to sleep on flimsy and wobbly vines/branches because it makes them feel secure. This is because if a predator disturbs the environment, the wobbly branch will vibrate and wake them up. I try to make sure there are several loose branches in various places in the cage. Umbrella trees are great for this. Thanks,

-Nick

 

[lilbug]

My veiled sleeps clung to the stock of her dracaena, so she's usually vertical. I have seen her sleep in many different positions and spots so Id say they like to sleep wherever and however they are comfortable at the moment they go to sleep.

 

[arnau666]

my veiled sleeps mostly vertical but not all the time!he loves to sleep hanging on dracaena leaves!

 

[alex arango]

thanks for all the replys.
so from all the responses sounds like they slip both on horizontal lines and on vertical lines. basically it up to them
i have also seen all my chams sleep in differant branches and places in there cage but i just wanted to make sure there wasnt a specific way the branches in there cage should be.
thanks again

 

[Kroqgar77]

My Veiled cham likes to sleep on slanted branches

 

[graham cracker]

Chameleons like to sleep on the edge of branches/leafs/strange positions, because it keeps them out of danger from snakes and other predators. The edge of branches, and leafs are usually pretty fragile, so the slightest movement can wake them up and allow them to escape/fall to the ground and avoid being eaten. In the wild it's easier to spot/catch chameleons because they all go to the edge of the tree branches to sleep.