My chameleon is almost always dark??

[Zubi]

Hey everyone, me and my bro Leo have been doing pretty well. Although ive noticed that ever since i got him he has always been pretty dark. He is a five month old ambilobe. His basking temp is 85 and the temp in the middle of his enclosure is usually around 75. My question is does he look stressed out or are those just his colors. When i take him outside or out of his enclosure he lights up. The second picture of him is when he is in his enclosure (Finishing a shed, only his eyes left) the first is of him outside. Also when i mist his enclosure the mist is cold even if the water is hot, and the water on the plant gets pretty cold, what should i do about this?

 

[Zubi]

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[beeek0]

he looks good to me. Just try not to mist him directly..

 

[Zubi]

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Any ways to make his enclosure better

 

[juju]

yeah looks awesome to me like what was said try to mist him but not like aim it at him aim it so he gets the outside which would be the lightest

 

[juju]

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Any ways to make his enclosure better

looks fine as long as he has places he can hide and stuff should be fine

 

[Zubi]

yeah looks awesome to me like what was said try to mist him but not like aim it at him aim it so he gets the outside which would be the lightest

Any ideas on why he's always dark?

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

What's the temperature? They turn darker when they're soaking up sun.

 

[Zubi]

What's the temperature? They turn darker when they're soaking up sun.

85 basking, about 75 in the middle by the plant humidity is usually between 40 and 60 depending on when i mist

 

[juju]

What's the temperature? They turn darker when they're soaking up sun.

yeah what they said lol my little guy turns dark green with purple spots all over him when hes under his heat bulb

 

[Zubi]

Its not just under his basking spot, its pretty much all over the enclosure, could it be because the plant is sorta cooler than the air?

 

[carol5208]

I would bump up the basking temp to around 90 and also raise your branch under it just a little.

 

[Zubi]

I would bump up the basking temp to around 90 and also raise your branch under it just a little.

Isnt that too hot for a panther, under the basking light now he gapes a few times in the morning

 

[carol5208]

Well that is what I bask mine at between 90-95. I have always followed the guidelines of Kammerflage Kreations(one of our site sponsors) who have been in the business for a long long time. They even go up to 100 for their adults. I mean if your guy is gaping, then I guess not. Neither one of mine gape. I guess maybe it depends on the the cham and all the other variables like house temps and such. He could just be dark also because he does not like being caged. Honestly both my chams are always very dark and not too colorful in their indoor cages. When I get them outside they brighten up. It was just a sugggestion as they can take basking temps that are higher. But do what works for you!

 

[Zubi]

Well that is what I bask mine at between 90-95. I have always followed the guidelines of Kammerflage Kreations(one of our site sponsors) who have been in the business for a long long time. They even go up to 100 for their adults. I mean if your guy is gaping, then I guess not. Neither one of mine gape. I guess maybe it depends on the the cham and all the other variables like house temps and such. He could just be dark also because he does not like being caged. Honestly both my chams are always very dark and not too colorful in their indoor cages. When I get them outside they brighten up. It was just a sugggestion as they can take basking temps that are higher. But do what works for you!

Thanks for the info, i think he only gapes in the morning when the temps in the night before are sort of low. I'll raise the temp a little to see if that helps. Any suggestions on how to get my cham out onto his free range by himself, I usually just open the door and put the branch from his cage onto the tree, but he never goes on it unless i take him out

 

[FranPhilip]

My panther is always dark blue in his enclosure, but once i take him out he is green and blue and yellow and some red. Probably nothin to worry about!

 

[carol5208]

lol that you are complaining he wont go onto the free range without you putting him on there!. Most of the time it is the opposite and people are asking how they can get their chameleon to where they can handle them! If you have a branch that leads to the free range that sounds like a good plan. Is the branch very sturdy and secure? If not, maybe he is afraid to venture on the branch. Be glad that you can pick him up! Alot of people cannot.

 

[blackhawk]

I think he looks fine but to echo what others have said, I too keep my basking spot in the mid 90s. Also, if you are using a reptisun 5.0 you'll need to get that UVB basking branch 6 inches from the bulb for it to be effective.

 

[Zubi]

Im not complaining i was just wondering if most of them just venture out onto the free range or if they just want to stay in the enclosure. When i first got him he would not let me hold him at all (Still wont if i dont have food in my hand). But after about two months of hand feeding and trying to pick him up, he comes onto my hand only if i lure him onto it with food.

 

[carol5208]

Im not complaining i was just wondering if most of them just venture out onto the free range or if they just want to stay in the enclosure. When i first got him he would not let me hold him at all (Still wont if i dont have food in my hand). But after about two months of hand feeding and trying to pick him up, he comes onto my hand only if i lure him onto it with food.

i was just joking not really meaning that you were complaining! I guess it depends on the chameleon but most like to wander and explore and would rather be out of their cages I would think.