This is probs a stupid question

[bellatrix]

My chameleon is a female veiled two years old. Am I wrong in assuming that when veileds are stressed they go darker colours? Because whenever I would think is a stressfull situation she goes brighter than ever when she's in her house. Also I had a male cham and he went darker when he was out and I asumed stressed. So am I wrong in thinking

Happy cham = bright colours
angry/ stressed cham = dark colours

I have only had her for just about a week so maybe she's not a stressy cham? though she does hiss if I dont give enough warning that I am coming. She was adament that she wanted to come out of her house and sit on a tall plant that she could see in the room. She's quite happy here nice bright greens. The only thing that bothers me about this is that shes not as warm as she would be in the house, and its not as humid so I dont like leaving her out longer than say quarter of an hour. Do you think I should move the plant so she can't see it, or letting her come out is fine?

Sorry for the long post. What ever I do with this cham I am second guessing myself.

 

[Carlton]

My chameleon is a female veiled two years old. Am I wrong in assuming that when veileds are stressed they go darker colours? Because whenever I would think is a stressfull situation she goes brighter than ever when she's in her house. Also I had a male cham and he went darker when he was out and I asumed stressed. So am I wrong in thinking

Happy cham = bright colours
angry/ stressed cham = dark colours

I have only had her for just about a week so maybe she's not a stressy cham? though she does hiss if I dont give enough warning that I am coming. She was adament that she wanted to come out of her house and sit on a tall plant that she could see in the room. She's quite happy here nice bright greens. The only thing that bothers me about this is that shes not as warm as she would be in the house, and its not as humid so I dont like leaving her out longer than say quarter of an hour. Do you think I should move the plant so she can't see it, or letting her come out is fine?

Sorry for the long post. What ever I do with this cham I am second guessing myself.

Its a good question to ask, not stupid! Cham stress colors are not quite as simple as light or dark. When a cham is moderately stressed (and this includes being somewhat excited, more active, responding to change such as being handled) their markings usually glow more intensely. If their markings have dark borders around them these dark borders tend to get darker and wider.

If the stress continues to build, the darker areas tend to bleed over the other colors so more of the animal looks darker. Extreme anger or extreme stress can turn them almost black depending on the species.

Chams also turn dark to allow faster heat absorbtion. But, this would happen if the cham is actively basking under a light, and often only one side of the cham turns...depending on where the light is hitting them.

As long as she has a chance to warm up under her light and get a drink when she is back in her cage she should be fine. (unless your house is 50 degrees and dry as a bone).

 

[bellatrix]

ahh that makes sense. Thank you