Sleeping on bottom of cage

[sheilahinkley]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - male Veiled Chameleon, a little over a year old. I have had him for almost a year.
• Handling - Very infrequently, he gets really stressed from handling so I limit it. I handle him when I clean his cage and enough that he isn't stressed by my presence in the room.
• Feeding - 5-10 crickets every two days and 6 waxworms every three days give or take. I gut load the crickets with mostly dandelion leaves, sometimes carrots or kale, potatoes, and broccoli stems. I dust with calcium every other feeding of the crickets and dust with a multivitamin once a month. He also eats the flowers and leaves off of the hibiscus plant
• Supplements - Reptivite and repticalcium
• Watering - I hand mist three to four times daily. I have tried misting systems but they seem to flood and he drinks the droplets from the sides and leaves after I mist him.
• Fecal Description - Large firm fecal droppings mostly dark and a smaller white amount as well. Some times I notice a yellow color to the white and I increase misting when I see that.
• History - He had a respiratory infection when he was six months old and was treated with meds given to me by an exotic vet and has been fine since.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Screen cage 18 by 18 by 36. I want to get him a larger cage. Our large dog had a $3000 un- expected surgery so money has been tight .
• Lighting - He has a zoo med 18 inch UVB bulb and a basking light. The temps are usually about 80 at the top and 70s at the bottom. At night it gets around 68.
• Temperature - Refer to above..I have thermometers at the top and bottom of the cage.
• Humidity - Between 40-70%, I mist frequently and have live plants in his cage.
• Plants - Yes, I use hibiscus and ficus mostly.
• Placement -His cage is in our office so I am mostly the only one in and out. There are not air vents near him. The other animals are not allowed in this room.
• Location - North Florida

Current Problem - We cleaned his cage and changed his plants out (the ficus we had in his cage was losing a lot of leaving and he needed more coverage). We replaced it with a large hibiscus ( a plant we have had in his cage many times before). Ever since then he has been sleeping on the floor of his cage behind the base of the pot. He is active during the day and still eating, drinking and pooping. I wonder if he is not comfortable with his new plant. There are also vines throughout his cage that he a can climb on. Nothing else has changed, the temps are the same and the misting schedule is the same. In all other terms he seems healthy.

 

[kinyonga]

Can you please post a photo.

 

[sheilahinkley]

There is urate in this photo that makes me think he is slightly dehydrated. This color is not common for me to see and yesterday I worked at 12 hour shift and had family come mist him a few times and feel that they may not have done it long enough. (This is a very rare occurrence). He's also really flared up, he hates the camera.

 

[sheilahinkley]

There is urate in this photo that makes me think he is slightly dehydrated. This color is not common for me to see and yesterday I worked at 12 hour shift and had family come mist him a few times and feel that they may not have done it long enough. (This is a very rare occurrence). He's also really flared up, he hates the camera.

 

[sheilahinkley]

Here's another pic

 

[ChameleonTide]

Sometimes chameleons actions just dont seem logical. My place is usually pretty quiet. But 2 days ago i had family over for an hour to see my place and then go somewhere. My nieces were playing some but never bothered his cage. He climbed to the top of his highest basking perch as soon as they got there so he definitely didnt like all the company. Yet when i presented a worm near the door he came over close enough to snag it. Since then for the last 2 days he has been very shy when ive been home. (im gone most of day for work). Yet even with how shy he has been i opened his door late afternoon yesterday and he eventually came out and roamed around my apartment free ranging.

 

[sheilahinkley]

Sometimes chameleons actions just dont seem logical. My place is usually pretty quiet. But 2 days ago i had family over for an hour to see my place and then go somewhere. My nieces were playing some but never bothered his cage. He climbed to the top of his highest basking perch as soon as they got there so he definitely didnt like all the company. Yet when i presented a worm near the door he came over close enough to snag it. Since then for the last 2 days he has been very shy when ive been home. (im gone most of day for work). Yet even with how shy he has been i opened his door late afternoon yesterday and he eventually came out and roamed around my apartment free ranging.

So he looks healthy to you? He is my first Cham but I have always felt he's been a pretty healthy guy!

 

[ChameleonTide]

Im no expert to judge by pics but he looks to be pretty stout from what i can tell. He probably just wasnt happy about the change and maybe is out growing his cage a bit. You could try putting him out in the sun and keep an eye on him if you have time or let him free range on your window blinds. That seems to make my little guy happy.

 

[JacksJill]

Chameleon feel the same way I do "change is different and therefore wrong". If you removed his favorite sleeping spot it may take a bit for him to find another. To be on the safe side I would double check his temperatures and humidity ranges to be sure that they haven't changed in some way. He could stay near the bottom to avoid excessive heat or seek moisture. Keep an eye on him for other changes. If it's just the plant he should adjust in a couple days and get back to normal.