Opening and closing mouth during sleep?

Should I be scared? I heard that means it is too hot for the chameleon, but basking is around 81 and normal temps are high 70s. Thanks again!
 
There is something going on that is not normal. Please fill out the how to ask for help info so that members can help you figure out what might be wrong.

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?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

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?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
 
Well im no expert, but...this could mean many things;

1) hes too hot (like you mentioned). The heat lamp could be too close to him or could be too many watts. How many is it? How close is it to where he usually is?
2) he is breathing through his mouth. This is a sign of respiratory problems. Chameleons have two tiny nostrils in which they use to breathe. Mouth breathing is always a red flag. If this is the case, he should be taken to a vet immediately. Respiratory problems can be fatal.
3) if his eyes are closed and he is actively moving, he might not be sleeping at all. What time did you take this video? Closed eyes when not sleeping is a sign of stress. Is he being housed with any other chameleons? Is it possible for him to see any other chams from his enclosure or if its glass can he see his reflection? Is there plentiful amounts of foliage and a basking spot? What are the tempuratures for the basking spot and other parts of his habitat? Also, how often do youmist the cage? Too much or too little water can be stressful. One last thing, how long have you owned him. If he has been recently moved into a new home or enclosure, this can be extremely stressful.
I wish you the very best of luck with him and hope all turns out well :)
 
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Baby Veiled male about 2 months old. I got him 4 days ago.
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I handled him couple times to clean his cage and to move things to better positions like branches.
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I actually just got my pinhead - 1/8th crickets which I will be feeding him tomorrow morning. He was having trouble downing crickets a little biggers which i got from petco...T.T I I cant call it gutload but fed the crickets with some carrots, oranges, and spinach.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I have only been dusting with cal no d3 but will feed it with d3 and other vitamins 2x a month. He never seemed really hungry but ate maybe 4 crickets a day but they were a little big(not huge, little smaller then his head)
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have a hand mister i mist 2-3x daily for about a min. i have a dripper running all day 1 drop per second onto a leaf.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? never tested poop, but it was dry when I found it at night, with black color and white on top. pooped 2 times so far.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. No idea about history, but I order from LLL reptile. Came last Thursday.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
I use the 38 Gallon Reptarium 16.5x16.5x30" with 18 in uv bulb 5.0 from exoterra with 60w exoterra basking bulb.
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? mentioned above
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? basking spot is around 82-85 degrees with middle around high 70s. night temps are around 72
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I closed 2 sides with a trashbag and have a humidifier running throughout the day. I use a crappy gauge and it says its around 40% maybe 70 after misting.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I have a pothos and fake branches and leaves.
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? The cage is boosted an extra foot off the ground for drainage purposes.
Location - Where are you geographically located? in va kinda cold over here but House temps are around low 70s which it reaches once the timer shuts off the lights at 8am - 8pm

Current Problem - He had to gulp like this after swallowing a cricket, which may have been a bit big for him, but he was not choking or anything. I never seen him drink yet, but im sure he does when I am out of the room.


Also this was taken at nighttime when he usually falls asleep in that corner. Last night he moved from that corner to the other which was strange.

Thanks for your fast replies. It is worrying me a little bit.

Edit: ALSO he is EXTREMELY STRESSED and turns almost black when anyone comes near him. He runs into a corner all black. T.T
 
There was also a new black line formed on his belly after I came home from school.

20hr87o.jpg
 
Hes really cute! :)
Ok, so considering you only got him 4 days ago, he might still be stressed. I (for now) would recommend not holding him or even covering his cage with a sheet or something for when people walk in. Like I said, im no expert...in fact im only 12, but i think this might help :eek: Also, if you havent seen him drink...you cant be certain he does. You might want to try taking an eye dropper and bringing it down by his face and squirt some water by/on his mouth or nose area. Try not to get water on the rest of his body because this will stress them out. Make sure the water your using is warm water too. If he truns brown when you try to do this, just stop. As you do not want him to be even more stressed.
 
TheCluelessClown said:
Thanks Mylo. I cant even get near him to try feeding him water. But I will keep trying!
Click to expand...

Sorry if I come off Sharp but your going to have to set up a dripper for him to handle the watering.dehydration is a big issue with chams so getting near him to water is not an option because he's stressed so with the dripper he can be left alone to drink
 
TheCluelessClown said:
Thanks Mylo. I cant even get near him to try feeding him water. But I will keep trying!
Click to expand...

Sorry if I come off Sharp but your going to have to set up a dripper for him to handle the watering.dehydration is a big issue with chams so getting near him to water is not an option because he's stressed so with the dripper he can be left alone to drink

Apologies I see now that you have a dripper I replied before reading the help form fully.it might be worth stepping up the drip speed to attract a bit more attention
 
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