why does male xanth always gap when under basking? basking temp is

[alex arango]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
xanth jacksons, male, 14 months old, 6 months

Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
every day for sun about 30-45 minutes per day(i have a seperate cage outside).

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
main feeder is crickets, he eats about 8-10 crickets every other day. often some mealworms waxworms and roaches. i feed the crickets carrots, oranges.

Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
i dust all feeders with calcium plus once a week.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
he has a water fautain in his cage, i mist him and his cage 2-3 times a day, about 2-3 minutes long per mist session, about every other day i see him drink from his water fauntain or from leaves after misting.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
black/brown poop with white and barly any yellow urate. i posted a pick of a recent dropping from him, does his poop look normal?

History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
got him 5 months ago from pet shop, has only mated once.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
wood,screen, 18x18x23.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
50w zilla color:red, uvb 5.0 light 10-12 hours a day.

Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
bottom of cage is currently at 74 degrees F, basking temp is currently at 87 degrees F. temp drops to mid 60's at night. i have a thermometer.

Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
humidity is currently at 72. the cage was built over a 18x18x13 plastic square pot. the plant keeps humidity up very well. i use a hydrometer to messure himidity.

Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
yes one big one. i dont know the name but i got it at home depot, i posted a pic of the plant in the cage. hope that helps.

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?
infront of my windows in my living room(i have blinds in between the cages and the actual windows, i live in a upstairs apt. about 25 feet from the road. no air vents, close to a heater but we dont use our heaters. 5 feet from top of cage to floor.

Location - Where are you geographically located?
seattle wa

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
i have noticed my male xanth gaps alot while being under his basking light, he also gaps alot when he is not under his basking light like when he is having some free rang time only for about 2-5 minutes then closes his mouth and ramdomly opens his mouth again for about 2-5 minutes again witch i belive is strange and doesnt sound normal, im thinking it could a reperatory sproblom? not sure just a guess i think he is gaping more than normal but i could be wrong. you can see him gaping under his basking light in one pic i posted.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Basking spot is too hot as well as ambient temps, shouldnt be no higher than 85 basking. I would drop it down to 80-82 and lower ambients a bit as well

 

[alex arango]

Basking spot is too hot as well as ambient temps, shouldnt be no higher than 85 basking. I would drop it down to 80-82 and lower ambients a bit as well

ok so that could be the reason why he gaps alot?
dont they like high humidity levals?
how could i lower humidity?

 

[Solid Snake]

That is the reason he is gaping. They do that when they get too hot.

I would switch out your red bulb for a white household bulb. It replicates the sun better, and will make more sense to him. Maybe a 40watt would work better, but different bulbs seems to give off different amounts of heat, so just check out different ones, and maybe move it up higher a bit.

Where on the cage is your basking? Could you get a full snap of the whole setup?

Is that a waterfall? ò.Θ


Humidity should raise and lower, and its true that they do better with it higher than some chams, but you dont want it too high, for too long.

What are your outside temp/RH levels like?

What is the abient temp/rh in the room he is kept?

 

[alex arango]

That is the reason he is gaping. They do that when they get too hot.

I would switch out your red bulb for a white household bulb. It replicates the sun better, and will make more sense to him. Maybe a 40watt would work better, but different bulbs seems to give off different amounts of heat, so just check out different ones, and maybe move it up higher a bit.

Where on the cage is your basking? Could you get a full snap of the whole setup?

Is that a waterfall? ò.Θ


Humidity should raise and lower, and its true that they do better with it higher than some chams, but you dont want it too high, for too long.

What are your outside temp/RH levels like?

What is the abient temp/rh in the room he is kept?

i will replace the bulb right now and check out the temp with a house hold bulb thanks.
idk what you mean by where is the basking spot but its in the middle of the cage. posted a pic of where the basking spot is.
its a water fauntain, i use water fautains from target instead of the ones they sell at pet stores.
so what the highest the humidity should be ?
outside temp right now is 58 degrees F time right now is 11:00 pm. inside is 74 degrees F.

 

[Solid Snake]

I keep my basking off to one side for my xanth, in a corner, angling slightly outwards. You can see what I mean in this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKTbUaOQ0aA&feature=plcp

This will prevent the bulk of the cage space from over heating, while still providing a gradient, and a basking spot. With the basking in the middle, you are heating the whole cage, to some degree, making it easier to over heat the animal.

If you can, I would open a window in that room, and let the temp drop to 55-60F at nite. This seems to do them a ton of good. Whats the temp like outside during the day, like at noon?(outside, and inside?)

The highest the RH should be, is 99%
Thats just immediately after a misting though. I would aim to keep it above 60% at all times. 60% is about the lowest it should go.

I personally would take the fountain out, seeing as they spread disease (the cham will defecate in it, then drink from it).

 

[Chopper562]

toooo hot your frying your cham.... lower temps for him

 

[Solid Snake]

toooo hot your frying your cham.... lower temps for him

Hes not "frying" him. It is a bit too hot for him though yes, as stated.

 

[alex arango]

I keep my basking off to one side for my xanth, in a corner, angling slightly outwards. You can see what I mean in this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKTbUaOQ0aA&feature=plcp

This will prevent the bulk of the cage space from over heating, while still providing a gradient, and a basking spot. With the basking in the middle, you are heating the whole cage, to some degree, making it easier to over heat the animal.

If you can, I would open a window in that room, and let the temp drop to 55-60F at nite. This seems to do them a ton of good. Whats the temp like outside during the day, like at noon?(outside, and inside?)

The highest the RH should be, is 99%
Thats just immediately after a misting though. I would aim to keep it above 60% at all times. 60% is about the lowest it should go.

I personally would take the fountain out, seeing as they spread disease (the cham will defecate in it, then drink from it).

ok ill move the basking spot to a corner. i highered the basking light, now its 84 degrees F.
so the humidity at 72 is too high? how can i lower ther humidity in there cage? if i need to. keep a window open for more fresh air?

 

[Solid Snake]

No, thats not too high. What type of thermometer/hygrometers are you using? Digital? Analog? Brand?

As long as everything in the cage is becoming dry to the touch between mistings, that should be good. Especially the side of the cage with the basking.

Also, last post was supposed to say hes NOT frying him. (edited)

 

[alex arango]

No, thats not too high. What type of thermometer/hygrometers are you using? Digital? Analog? Brand?

As long as everything in the cage is becoming dry to the touch between mistings, that should be good. Especially the side of the cage with the basking.

Also, last post was supposed to say hes NOT frying him. (edited)

im using a reptology analog thermoeter.

 

[Solid Snake]

Those can be very inaccurate, Id recommend getting yourself a digital one of some sort. My analogs were showing much different readings than my digital, and I chucked them out.
You need accurate info, so really digital is the only way to go.

 

[Psychobunny]

My little veil cham gapes like that too and I was wondering about it, so I am glad someone posted this.
I have a 18x18x36 cage and started with a 60w bulb, which didnt seem hot enough, then tried a 100w basking bulb, that lasted less then 1 hour! too HOT!
Then I put a 75w in and did a sweep with my digital laser thermometer; the hi was92, the low was 74.
He tends to hang out in the 92 area most because that is were his dripper is, and he loves his dripper!
Should I lower it back down to 60w ?

There is a lot of mixed opinions, and I was told that 100w with temps in the 100's is not a bad thing!! but when the cham is gapping like this, common sense tells you it's too bloody hot!!

 

[Psychobunny]

Those can be very inaccurate, Id recommend getting yourself a digital one of some sort. My analogs were showing much different readings than my digital, and I chucked them out.
You need accurate info, so really digital is the only way to go.

If it doesnt come with NIST calibration certification, the best you can expect from any thermometer is going to be "ball park".
If you want accuracy, you pay a little more for it, but you have piece of mind knowing it is accurate.

I have literaly dozens of thermometers, all kinds, saved over the years.
Line them all up in a row, and find 2 that read the same!!!???