Ceycham
Established Member
Hi all. I'm concerned about Norman's sudden interest in climbing about his cage sides and top. He's been in my care since August and has never been seen to do that except rare instances when he couldn't find branches to where he wanted to go, but that is not a problem any longer in his habitat. He can reach anywhere by branch, but every day for the last 3 days I've watched him reach for the sides of his screen in the same front left corner, then proceed up to the top (about 4 inches), then hang from the top under the heat lamp area or sometimes under the sun lamp. He seems to come down fairly fast, but that may be due to the cats' going bonkers that he is so exposed and actively moving, causing said cat to pounce at the cage, although Norman generally doesn't bother to come down until I've stood at his cage side peering at him in befuddlement as to why he's making himself an easy target for what is usually just a curious cat.
Possibilities I've considered are: He's feeling active and it's fun to do. He's not getting enough heat or sunlight and wishes to be closer to the lamps. He's lost his friggin mind. He wants to explore the cabinet space above his cage and can't figure out how to get there.
The first one seems unlikely given the activity of my cat afterwards. It must be terrifying to be so exposed, hanging upside down and have a cat hurl himself at the side of your cage. I know I'm distressed! By his color I can't really tell if Norman cares.
The second one would surprise me, as I just LIFTED the lamp because is branch plus his own height put his temps on his back at 100 degrees where I had it before. I've lifted the the lamp a few inches and the thermometer reads 84 at his feet. His sun lamp lies directly on the cage top. thats maybe 4 inches from uppermost perch at foot level, That leaves the last two? Any other ideas?
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Possibilities I've considered are: He's feeling active and it's fun to do. He's not getting enough heat or sunlight and wishes to be closer to the lamps. He's lost his friggin mind. He wants to explore the cabinet space above his cage and can't figure out how to get there.
The first one seems unlikely given the activity of my cat afterwards. It must be terrifying to be so exposed, hanging upside down and have a cat hurl himself at the side of your cage. I know I'm distressed! By his color I can't really tell if Norman cares.
The second one would surprise me, as I just LIFTED the lamp because is branch plus his own height put his temps on his back at 100 degrees where I had it before. I've lifted the the lamp a few inches and the thermometer reads 84 at his feet. His sun lamp lies directly on the cage top. thats maybe 4 inches from uppermost perch at foot level, That leaves the last two? Any other ideas?
Chameleon Info:
- Your Chameleon - Veiled, about 6 months? male, had since beginning of August
- Handling - never, but I do hand feed or reach my hand in there to be bitten daily in hopes of handling one day
- Feeding - Mostly dusted crickets and BSF larvae or flies. supplemented with wax worms, roaches when on hand, and BBF larvae or fly, all undusted
- Supplements - Early on I'd been dusting with calcium with D3 as that was all that was available at pet store. Within last month no more d3 in the calcium, and vitamins once a week. All Rep-cal products.
- Watering - Auto mister several times a day. only mist 30-45 seconds at a time. Added constant drip except at night.
- Fecal Description - sometimes daily formed large dark brown stools. I often can't find the urates, but since adding the dripper what I have found is white. Slightly yellow tinged before.
- History - purchased as juvenile from FLchams
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - screen 36x24x18 reptibreeze
- Lighting - double lamp(not mini) with one bulb blue something for heat, one regular 40 watt incandescent on the other side for increased light. reptisun 5.0 fluorescent UVB under 18" hood
- Temperature - cage floor is not monitored (he never goes there), but basking 84, midway down in 70's.
- Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? They stay about 45-55%. higher end within a hour or so of misting times, which are 3 or more times a day while awake only. I hand mist as well while shedding.
- Plants - just pothos on the bottom and right side of cage. Fake ficus type bush provides all climbable surfaces, plus one magnaturals bridge vine and a branch.
- 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? Living room, high traffic area. bottom of cage is about 28 inches off the floor. top is about 68inches from floor but includes a cabinet, not living space. There is a ceiling fan probably 12 feet up,not directly over cage.
- Location - Iowa
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
