Is sleeping on the ground really all that bad?

SilverWolf

SilverWolf

Member
I've noticed my 5 month old Jackson Chameleon almost always sleeps on the ground now. When he first did I began to be concerned because I heard that chameleons should not do that and that they should feel comfortable sleeping at some higher elevation. I heard and read that sleeping lower in the enclosure is normal but not completely on the ground. But he's been doing that for over a month now, and I've checked the temperatures and humidity. Every morning he wakes up and actively walks around the cage, sometimes venturing down to the ground and walking there but usually just stays down there for a few seconds then heads straight back up.

My question is, he's eating fine, drinking fine, no signs of illnesses, infections, or really anything bad. He just likes to sleep on the ground. Is this really a problem?
 
Sleeping on the ground goes against what we know of a healthy chameleon. If I had a chameleon that did this I would be very concerned and would check all the things you have checked. If nothing showed up and he was a normal chameleon during the day and then just happened to like sleeping on the ground then I would have to accept that maybe he just likes to do things differently!

Major concerns
Eyes closed: if eyes are alert during the day then that is a normal sign. Eyes closed during the day is trouble. Though if he is active during the day it sounds like he is good.

MBD: I would be concerned that he is doing this because he does not feel confident in the branches due to weaken bones. Does his grip seem unsure? Can he hold his body up off the branch? Perhaps you could post some pictures of his legs as he is walking?

Bill
 
He can stand on two legs if that's what you mean, usually only doing that to reach up to another branch. He does have a very firm grip. When he walks on my hand, so that I can take him outside I can feel his strong grip.

Also worth noting I said he sleeps on the ground ALMOST all the time. THe night before last he actually slept upside down from the ceiling. I have seen him occasionally sleep on some branches as well. But usually, he sleeps on the ground.

Here is a picture of him from over a week ago.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/att...resting-day-my-chameleon-tricky-day-61-3-.jpg
 
I have been thinking..what are your night time temps?

Maybe they not cool enough and he is looking for lower temps at the bottom of the cage?
 
The night time temperatures are in the 60s. Usually 65 degrees fahrenheit, sometimes 62. Very rarely it is high 60s or right at 70, but usually mid 60s.
 
As ground sleeping is not typical behavior, I would continue to explore
have you had a vet check up ?
is the top of the cage in full darkness at night?
does the chameleon hold itself up off the branches (when its not on the ground) or does it tend to rest its body weight on the branches when not moving?
have you checked temperature with a different guage, just in case the one you have is reading incorrectly?
 
He can support himself fine. he does on my hands fine, and I usually only see him resting on the branches when sleeping.

With two different gauges I have confirmed the overall temperature of the enclosure at night is 60 degrees fahrenheit.

THe only thing I really haven't done is go to the vet but I've checked everything and he seems perfectly healthy. Does he not look okay in the picture I put?
 
He sounds healthy and if this wasn't so against normal chameleon behavior I'd say just accept your little guy for his individuality! But this is so different it does warrant some detective work.

You mention sleeping hanging upside down. Hanging on the screen can be a sign of discontentment with his cage. In cases where they are discontent they will constantly pace and crawl on the sides and top and bottom. This discontentment can be anything from cage size to how the cage is decorated (too sparse? Too dense?) to lack of temperature or lighting gradients. It could have to do with the family cat continually walking by and him not feeling secure in his location. It could be everything is perfect except his cage is not placed high enough for him to feel secure and above it all. Jacksonii like to be high and are active. Him sleeping on the floor could be that he was in the middle of trying to find an exit and the lights went out. Obviously I am just building scenarios here. You'll have to be the judge as to whether any if this seems to apply.

If you want you could post pictures of your cage and we could give opinions on that.
 
Last edited:
I think the reason that he slept hanging upside down then was because the schedule for them the lights turned off were slightly changed to fit my schedule changing (it is all back to normal now) so he may have just been used to waiting an extra 30 - 40 minutes before settling down and decided to stay there.

Anyway, if it truly is a problem then what you described is probably the most likely thing anyone has said so far. I myself have not been happy with his current set up. I THINK his cage size is just about right for him. I don't think I'll need to be getting a bigger one at all but if need be I will eventually. For now I think size is fine, but rather foliage placement is not. I just need a better plant. Right now most of the foliage is at the bottom.

I'll look into getting a new plant.
 
And come to think of it, although he definitely paces sits and relaxes, and walks around on his branches, he still paces around the sides of the enclosure too. It's probably the lack of foliage at the top. I will add some more foliage at the top regardless but do you have any recommendations for plants for Jackson Chameleons?
 
Sleeping on the ground is generally not a good sign. Even if it was because there wasn't enough cover near the top of the enclosure, aren't their spots on the plant where he could feel safe, besides the floor?

Hopefully Tricky just has a weird habit, but as others have pointed out, this is typically unnatural behavior for them which could be an earlier warning sign of some sort of illness/deficiency.

I had a Veiled cham in the past that started sleeping on the floor and he passed away a month later. Don't mean to scare you. Double check your supplement schedule. I'd say for now, dust with calcium everyday and get him outside in the sun every chance you get. MBD can manifest itself in many forms and strange behavior can be one of them.

Keep us posted.
 
I appreciate al of the feedback but, supplementing everyday for a jackson? I've heard jackson chameleons aren't too good with supplementation, supplementing his food everyday seems like a bit much. And he has been sleeping on the floor for well over a month by now.

This is the absolute only "odd behaviour," that I have witnessed him commit other than pacing around the sides of his enclosure. As I have stated, if this truly is something that NEEDS to be fixed, than I think I have found the problem, and solution. It is just his set up. I need a new plant.
 
It has been my understanding that light calcium supplemention with every feeding even for Jackson's (especially young ones) is relatively safe. It's the vitamins supplementation and D3 that causes the issues. I suggested the increase in calcium incase of an early onset of MBD.

Hopefully i'm wrong and it is indeed an issue with the cage.:)
 
SilverWolf said:
And come to think of it, although he definitely paces sits and relaxes, and walks around on his branches, he still paces around the sides of the enclosure too. It's probably the lack of foliage at the top. I will add some more foliage at the top regardless but do you have any recommendations for plants for Jackson Chameleons?
Click to expand...

You could have your main plant for all the benefits that come with a live plant and you could use artificial vines at the top for visual barrier purposes. Plastic vines are much easier to mold to the places you need them and they do not come with heavy dirt.
Bill
 
THank you, Bill but (I'm asking anyone) I was mainly curious about a specific breed of plant. What is the best live plant to get?
 
Bush baby said:
It has been my understanding that light calcium supplemention with every feeding even for Jackson's (especially young ones) is relatively safe. It's the vitamins supplementation and D3 that causes the issues. I suggested the increase in calcium incase of an early onset of MBD.

Hopefully i'm wrong and it is indeed an issue with the cage.:)
Click to expand...

I have no idea where you got the idea you can safely supplement any Jackson, young or old at every feeding, but that is a death sentence for a Jackson. And a fast one for a baby.
 
That's what I was thinking too. I'll just stick to the dusting with calcium twice a week and multivitamins once a month schedule.

But I've heard of some owners using some interesting methods that most would never consider, and no problems. To each their own, within reason.
 
laurie said:
I have no idea where you got the idea you can safely supplement any Jackson, young or old at every feeding, but that is a death sentence for a Jackson. And a fast one for a baby.
Click to expand...

I agree. I really doubt that your issues are MBD related and would not increase your supplements. I have never had a jackson develop MBD. I think improper enclosure is a much more plausible issue. My Jackson's run all over the upper and mid parts of their cages, but I only see them at the bottom of their plants when hunting for snails. I third the umbrella tree, they love them and they provide lots of cover.

Do you have any recent pictures of your Jackson or his enclosure? Week old information is often useless when it comes to chameleons.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

jabrown6
My Chameleon is brown/tan all the time
Replies
11
Views
669
Beman
Beman
veiledRandell
My chameleon is dying from kidney failure and I'm heartbroken
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
Beman
Beman
renethecham
Please Help! Is this normal?
Replies
4
Views
672
elizaann2
elizaann2
J
NEW Chameleon hiding on the bottom of enclosure.
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
TheMotherChameleon
TheMotherChameleon
Steve A
Spike is in good hands when I'm at work <3
Replies
4
Views
393
Steve A
Steve A
Back
Top Bottom