My Veiled Chameleon sleeps 3 hrs early

[VeiledBunta1984]

Can someone help me please?
My chameleon goes to sleep three hours before his lights go off!

Housing: 100 gallon flexarium
Heat: 1x150 watt ceramic heater & 75watt heat glow bulb
Teamps: 88oF basking spot 68oF bottom of flex
Lights: 2x24" uvb reptisun5.0 on for 12hrs aday 8am-8pm
Food: 4-8 size 5 crickets and a couple of size 5 locust aday
gutloaded with apples,oranges & carrots. Dusted 5 days a week without D3.
Dusted 1 Day with D3.
Crickets gutloaded with multi-vitall once a month.

Fecese and urates look normal.

 

[Docility]

they need about 12 hours of sleep are you giving him that?

mine settle in about 30-45 mins early whats your lighting schedule?

oh and howlong has he been doing this how often, and how long have you had him

 

[VeiledBunta1984]

ive had him 3.5months now he's 5 months old.
His lights are on 12 hrs a day. 8-8. he sleeps like 15hrs a day
he starts looking for somewhere to sleep 4-5pm
then usually asleep within half an hour

hes been doing this for a month or so. but he looks healthy and he's eatin well.
when he sleeps his eyes look slightly sunken

 

[Dunnigan]

I wouldn't worry about it unless he is doing it in the middle of the day. My males lights go off at 9 and it is not unusual to see him out at 6 or 7. As long as he is not taking "naps" in the day time he should be alright.

 

[Vince]

Was it cloudy out the day he went to bed by chance? And can he see a window from where he is?

My cham has a window he can look out, and chances are if it is cloudy outside regardless of his basking light he will settle in early.

 

[VeiledBunta1984]

But when i first had him he was awake untill half an hour before his lights go off!
Also when i first had him he would let me handle him but over the last cppl months he's become very wary of me. constantly hisses if i get to close.
i usually try to clean his viv every other week but he wont let me transfer him to another plant while i clean all his leaves etc.

 

[Vince]

That could be another reason he went to bed so early. I have noticed my cham going to bed earlier if he has been stressed from his is being cleaned or something similar.

 

[pr3mo15]

What others said, sometimes my cham likes to go to sleep an hour or two early...Exaclty what dunnigan said, as long as he isn't taking naps during the DAY, he should be alright...Keep us updated!

 

[VeiledBunta1984]

im thinking of decreasing his light time down to 10hrs for a week.
Also ive noticed him pulling at the top of the flexarium sometimes can anyone explain this behavior?

 

[jannb]

Maybe it's too small and he wants out.

 

[Fidget321]

What others said, sometimes my cham likes to go to sleep an hour or two early...Exaclty what dunnigan said, as long as he isn't taking naps during the DAY, he should be alright...Keep us updated!

My cham took naps during the day after she laid her eggs, that only lasted for two days then it was fine.

The reason i'm asking is why is it a problem if chams start taking naps in the day?

Thanks

 

[dodolah]

sometimes no matter what we do, chameleon seems to "innately" sense the actual cycle of the day. and, literally get ready to sleep when the sun set, even though the artificial lights are still on .
My suggestion try to change the lighting schedule to actually follow what the natures intended. Sun Rise lights on, Sun set lights off.

Within couple of days, see if he still try to sleep early.

 

[Vince]

My cham took naps during the day after she laid her eggs, that only lasted for two days then it was fine.

The reason i'm asking is why is it a problem if chams start taking naps in the day?

Thanks

Naps during the day are normally signs of illness. Since chams are diurnal animals. Meaning they sleep at night. I am not sure if it is normal after laying eggs though. Seems like that could take some energy.

 

[VeiledBunta1984]

what size is seen as appropiate for a 5 month old male veiled cham?
Also is it neccesary to have the heat lamps above the viv or could you place them at the side of the viv?

 

[Miss Lily]

what size is seen as appropiate for a 5 month old male veiled cham?
Also is it neccesary to have the heat lamps above the viv or could you place them at the side of the viv?

The heat lamp should be placed above the cage. It simulates the sun and they will bask underneath to warm themselves. Heat is necessary for their digestive systems.

 

[Fidget321]

Naps during the day are normally signs of illness. Since chams are diurnal animals. Meaning they sleep at night. I am not sure if it is normal after laying eggs though. Seems like that could take some energy.

It could be that it took up some energy, she did lay her eggs throughout the night (She spent the entire day digging her hole the poor thing). So it would make perfect sense why she would have been exhausted.

Luckily she only did it for a short while

 

[chamer]

I do not know a lot, but mine are outside with natural light and they always go to the bedroom to sleep about 4 pm even though it doesnt get dark until 7 or 8.