Is he stressted, or do they just get dark at certain times?

[Rex305]

so i pulled Rex out the cage to come hang out with me before i head to work. he seems to love being handled. turns his usual bright colors, and even chilled on top of my head for a while. during this time i sprayed down the cage (lights been on for about 20 mins) then shortly after placed him back in cage. after about another 20 mins, i look in the cage and find him looking dark (see pic). last night he got dark after i placed him back in also. im not sure if they just normally sometimes get dark without being stressed, or if im missing signs here.
is he angry i put him back in?
is the sprayed enclosure causing stress? (doubt it)

 

[chascarpenter1]

i would think that after hanging out for a bit he just wanted to get some extra UV by getting dark, but even if he's fine with being handled, it might take a lot out of him. The human definition of stress is not the same for animals, so from a chameleon standpoint he could be stressed.

 

[andymcballer]

it looks like in the pic, he is doing it while under his light? IF that's the only time he gets dark, that's normal. they turn dark when they are underneath the light so that they can suck in more light. (just how having a black car is like an oven in the summertime vs having a white car is not hot at all)

so ya if its just when he's under the light it's fine. (correct me if i'm wrong please guys)

 

[Rex305]

Thanks for the feedback!! i think you guys are right. it only happends when he goes back in to bask. wheew!

 

[Bush baby]

…...to add, a really stressed Jacksons will turn a checked colored green and black. He'll basically resemble a green colored leopard.

 

[Rex305]

…...to add, a really stressed Jacksons will turn a checked colored green and black. He'll basically resemble a green colored leopard.

THANX!! nah, never seen anything like that before. if you can point me to a similar pic, i would much appreciate it. just in case

 

[Juliaf3]

I have one, it on my profile, in my green scorpion album. 5th row down, third from the left

 

[Rex305]

I have one, it on my profile, in my green scorpion album. 5th row down, third from the left

yeah, i seen that pic. he's very nice looking! so thats him being frustrated/stressed? or what he does to absorb more heat?

 

[pigglett79]

Here is a typical upset pattern for a jackson.

This is when we first got him and put him in a new cage, he wasnt too happy about it.

 

[Rex305]

ok thanks! that helps. in that pic he looks fluffed up. is that just the way he is, or do they turn into a fluffed up, checkered black angry lizard when they're stressed?

 

[Juliaf3]

ok thanks! that helps. in that pic he looks fluffed up. is that just the way he is, or do they turn into a fluffed up, checkered black angry lizard when they're stressed?

Yep. Jacksons are pretty calm. Well mine is anyway. I have only seen that checkered color twice in all the time I have owned him. Their is another way to tell when they feel threatened or scared. In that picture on my profile, look at his front arms and his tail. The arms look like they are going to do a karate chop and the tai is curled up. This is a typical defensive stance.