sleeping on screen

[eldarado]

my chameleon is sleeping attached to the side screen...
he looks peaceful ..but I have never seen this before.. so it worries me..
I was going to try to move him but he is latched on tight.. and he is getting mad as hell when I touched him.. I really dont want to move him when he is sleeping..
did any one ever see this? what should I do..

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Leave him alone.

-Brad

 

[eldarado]

did you ever see them sleep on the screen? does yours do it?

 

[Edward Kim]

Sounds like normal behavior. Some of my chameleons sleep on the screen religiously and some don't. Only thing you should be concerned with is the loss of toe nails due to the aluminium screen. This primary occurs when pacing on the screen itself.

 

[eldarado]

thats what was worried about.. but he is still fairly small.. he 5 months

 

[VerteX]

That's just fine. Don't disturb a sleeping chameleon. Even if they are sleeping on the ceiling screen upside down.

 

[Dean Pulcini]

Thats why people use other materials besides fly screening. Loosing toenails can be a nasty experience for chameleons infections can spread up the arm or leg.

 

[nateboston78]

Add more greenery to allow for more climbing surface. If he still tries to pace the enclosure and claw at the screen during the day then you need to check your temps/humidity. Could be trying to get out of the enclosure due to high temps or other factors that make it unsuitable.

Some people buy hanging vines (artificial) and actually make a curtain effect on the sides of the enclosure to prevent this.

 

[Zoey]

My Chameleon male switches from sleeping on the screen to sleeping on the plants to sleeping 1/2 on the plants and 1/2 on the screen.

He hasn't lost a toenail yet

 

[nateboston78]

Doesn't mean the risk isn't not there. Also, some metal mesh screens are more prone to do this. It really depends on the size of the mesh - the default ones that come with aluminum cages are prone to cause nail issues. Keep in mind that nails don't grow back - why risk it. Not to mention the pain and suffering and risk of infection. Doesn't weigh out...

 

[VerteX]

Doesn't mean the risk isn't not there. Also, some metal mesh screens are more prone to do this. It really depends on the size of the mesh - the default ones that come with aluminum cages are prone to cause nail issues. Keep in mind that nails don't grow back - why risk it. Not to mention the pain and suffering and risk of infection. Doesn't weigh out...

As far as I know, nails do grow back. It takes a long time however.

 

[nateboston78]

Depends on where the break occurs. Most of the time the entire nail bed is removed, and won't grow back.

 

[dragonbreeder]

Losing nails can also result in dangerous infections. With larger chameleons it is a good idea to prevent them from accessing the screen by using PVC coated mesh on the inside of the enclosure.

 

[summoner12]

Not sure.

My boy Jake lost three nails from walking on the screen. I had him at the vet a couple of days later and the vet told me they would grow back.

Is this true?

 

[Zoey]

MY male did have some missing when we bought him, but I was looking at his feet last night and it doesn't look like anything is missing :|