kianna2118
New Member
Hi i just wanted to know when its dark does the chameleon really go to sleep or does do thay really just close there eyes? Kinda odd question, sorry thanks.
Just a general question?
- Thread starter kianna2118
- Start date
cushcameleon
New Member
Chameleons are for the most part very deep sleepers and will sleep from sundown till sunup. As long as there is absolutely no remaining lights on or vibrations, your chameleon should fall to sleep close to when the lights are turned out. Keep in mind they are very good a detecting things around their environment. My carpet goes to sleep right when the lights go out (like the snap of a finger), however I have yet to catch my rudis sleeping. Not all chameleons have the exact same types of personalities and therefore you cannot predict the behaviors of all of them, especially specific things like sleeping behaviors. However, it is believed that chameleons sleep and like to get lots of it 
cushcameleon
New Member
Yes you should. Covering the chameleon will trick it into thinking it's nighttime, which will trigger it's sleep response. In the wild, chameleons will rarely be found sleeping during the day, because it makes them vulnerable to predators. In fact, if your chameleon is sleeping during the day, it can often be a sign that he/she is sick.
kianna2118
New Member
Thanks for the replys.. I knew when it was dark he does fall asleep . Usually at night before i go to sleep i will put him n my stomache underneath the blankets and he sleeps like a baby its so cute.. See the pixs. i know i shouldn't do it but i can't help it, i know it stresses him out. I don't do all the time just sometimes.
cushcameleon
New Member
I doesn't make sense to do something to your chameleon that stresses him/her out. He is only closing his eyes when he is sleeping and not during the day correct? Could you fill this form out please. I am just curious about your keeping methods.
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
kianna2118
New Member
Yes he only closes his eyes at night. Also could u let me know how i can know if he is really 9 months old? How can i found out if he really is that age? Thanks .
Cage Info:
• Cage Type – screen mesh cage all 4 sides, 16” X 36”?
• Lighting - Basking light 75W zoo med, and UVB bulb, (not tube) All bulbs on for 12- 14 hours a day. These bulb were purchase about a month ago
• Temperature - How do you measure these temps? Basking temp 90, cage temp 75- 85. Night temps 65, I use a fluckers temp and humidity digital gauge.
• Humidity – 55%, I mist cage 3 times a day.
• Plants –Live Ficus tree in middle of cage, some fake foliage, and a couple of bendable jungle vines, with no substrate.
• Placement – Dresser, not near vent. Traffic volume low to high. Im always in the room with him. But, I don’t have people walking in and out of my room.
• Location – Im located in California.
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - Graceful, MALE, 9 months. In my care for over three months
• Handling – Frequently, daily basis.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Right now he eats one silk worms and goliath worms , and sommetimes crickets . Trying something different for him. Every three days. I give I gut load with oats and carrots, total bites. Ect.
• Supplements - I use zoomed Calcium with D3 once a week and zoomed repti-vitamins without D3 once a week.
• Watering - Do you see your chameleon drinking? Misting and dropper system a couple time out of the day.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Never been tested for parasites, his fecal matter is solid brown with white/yellow in urate.
• History – He is still currently very active. Always on the go and has a strong grip and can climb anything he can reach.
• Current Problem – Always trying to escape his cage. And having a hard time sheding.
Cage Info:
• Cage Type – screen mesh cage all 4 sides, 16” X 36”?
• Lighting - Basking light 75W zoo med, and UVB bulb, (not tube) All bulbs on for 12- 14 hours a day. These bulb were purchase about a month ago
• Temperature - How do you measure these temps? Basking temp 90, cage temp 75- 85. Night temps 65, I use a fluckers temp and humidity digital gauge.
• Humidity – 55%, I mist cage 3 times a day.
• Plants –Live Ficus tree in middle of cage, some fake foliage, and a couple of bendable jungle vines, with no substrate.
• Placement – Dresser, not near vent. Traffic volume low to high. Im always in the room with him. But, I don’t have people walking in and out of my room.
• Location – Im located in California.
Chameleon Info:
• Your Chameleon - Graceful, MALE, 9 months. In my care for over three months
• Handling – Frequently, daily basis.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Right now he eats one silk worms and goliath worms , and sommetimes crickets . Trying something different for him. Every three days. I give I gut load with oats and carrots, total bites. Ect.
• Supplements - I use zoomed Calcium with D3 once a week and zoomed repti-vitamins without D3 once a week.
• Watering - Do you see your chameleon drinking? Misting and dropper system a couple time out of the day.
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Never been tested for parasites, his fecal matter is solid brown with white/yellow in urate.
• History – He is still currently very active. Always on the go and has a strong grip and can climb anything he can reach.
• Current Problem – Always trying to escape his cage. And having a hard time sheding.
cushcameleon
New Member
Is your UVB bulb a compact? Could you explain more about him trying to escape his cage? Have you been upping your misting/humidity levels when he begins his shed?
Metric
New Member
"and UVB bulb, (not tube)"
You should be using a Tube as bulbs cause blindness and other eye comlications.
That is the most reccomended tube on this forum. I would replace your bulb ASAP.
"Supplements - I use zoomed Calcium with D3 once a week and zoomed repti-vitamins without D3 once a week."
Vitamins once a week may be a bit much, generally once a month is good. Calcium with D3 once a week is perfect BUT you should also be offering calcium WITHOUT D3 about 3-4 times a week aswell, otherwise your cham may develop MBD due to lack of calcium.
Other then that, I'd be worried about him trying to "escape out of his cage." Generally that means that there is something in the cage that is out of place or bothering/causing him stress.
When i had a glass enclsure my cham would always "try to climb out of his cage" many owners mistake that action with affection, that he wants to be held or something. In almost all cases that isn't true and in fact there is a problem. For me it was the glass enclosure (he got barrier confusion and saw his refletion at times) Once i got him an all screen enclosure he never ONCE attempted to escape.
Please remember im not trying to come down on your husbandry, I'm just trying to look out for the health of your cham, and trust me, when i started i had the "petsmart" mind-set of husbandry. It wasn't until i found this forum that my cham started showing his most beautiful colours.
kianna2118
New Member
No its not compact its the one that is from expo that looks like the twirl light bulbs. If that is helpful. He just moves everywhere in his cage trying to get out. Thats the best i can say. His cage is 16x 24 he use to be in a much smaller one . Yes i mist the cage 3 times a day . Also i got some good advice on here about his sheding . 3 times a day put him in the shower with luke warm water running for 20 minutes. I know his eyes look a little sucken but he drinks water daily. I was having problems with him last month not eating or drinking. but now he is eating fine and drinking water. His humidity level is 70-80 and 55%
cushcameleon
New Member
Please read my blog about compact bulbs so you can get a better understanding of why they are so bad for you pet and why you should try and replace it immediately. You are not alone with your use of compacts, sadly a lot of people are unware of their damages. I have had to type out my reasoning so much that I decided it was important for me to put it in a blog :/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/cushcameleon/135-compact-bulbs-big-no.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/cushcameleon/135-compact-bulbs-big-no.html
cushcameleon
New Member
Then it is a compact bulb. Any twirly/bendy bulb shapes are compacts.
Metric
New Member
Moving your cham out of his enclosure 3 times a day in MY opinion is excessive and should be cut down to once, to twice a week.
Most chameleons will tolerate handling, but never enjoy it. Handling will only decrease his life span.
I would also look into changing that bulb, it will make him go blind.
kianna2118
New Member
I don't use the tube as for his light. All of my lights are from zoo med. I do dust his crickets with calcium and D 3and vitimans (not all at once) i switch off on the week. The last time i dusted him with crickets was 2 weeks ago. He is now eating goliath worms and silk worms. He just like to climb . He is a very active cham. I made him a rope in my room for him to climb from the bottom of the floor to the top and he loves it. He is always wanting to be on it. My cage is all screen i never used a glass for him. The problem when he trys to escape is becuase i let him out of his cage like everyday. So thats what he use to. I know that stress out a cham, but i feel bad for him being in a cage all day. And if i aint home all day and he hasn't gotten out he gets all mad when i came home and take him out. My cham is a very picky cham. All he wants is to be out of his cage. I try not to take him out but its hard. I do use UVB light it cost me $20.00 it the one the is twirly.The pet shop told me that will best for him. He has showed us his beautiful colors. His colors are just different from other cham cause he not that expensive cham then like a panther, etc. He turns black, light green, and an army green and gray stripes and green.
cushcameleon
New Member
Did you read the link I gave you? I think your still missing the point. First off, this is the place you go for chameleon information, NOT a local pet store. Please understand that the current UVB you are using is dangerous to your chameleons health and please read my link so you can understand where it is I'm coming from. Pulling a chameleon out of a cage because you "feel bad for him" is not an adequate reason. Less handling is always better.
kianna2118
New Member
Yes i did read your BLOG.. I aint missing the point and i know this aint NO local pet store. If you would read all of my messages they have to deal with all chameleon queations. I don't know were u get off telling me this is pet shop. Okay thanks for WARNING me that the UVB i am using right now is dangerous. Like i said before i am currently a NEW cham owner as of 3 months. If i would of known the bulb i bought was not good for my cham, then i would of NEVER bought it. That's why i am asking questions on here about my chameleon..
