Why does my panther?.....

[Oski]

Hi I have always wondered why does my Panther sometimes licks the branch/vine, every so often when he walking about, he will just lick the branch as he is walking?

My Veileds i have never noticed doing it, but have noticed my panther has done it from young and still does it now,

Does anyone's do it too?

 

[billbuckner]

mine does too

 

[Texas Panther Man]

All my panthers do it. I dont know why? Its like they are tasting their branch.(like a snake fliks its tongue) Ive wondered why they do it also.

 

[Oski]

All my panthers do it. I dont know why? Its like they are tasting their branch.(like a snake fliks its tongue) Ive wondered why they do it also.

Yeah i wonder too, as he will do it out of his encloser too, but i have never noticed my Veilds doing it,

 

[hondataeg6]

I have never notice my panther doing this unless he was drinking water...

 

[panthercham]

Mine does it....not so much in his cage but when he is out. In the thread below Kinyonga puts some very good links to why they do it

https://www.chameleonforums.com/tongue-dabbing-22406/

 

[Silkyslim]

I noticed mine doing this too. He will also attack the nubs I cut off the branches. I think I should cut them down more and make sure they don't splinter.

 

[Michael Ryan]

Yes i have noticed mine doing that as well.. never really thought much of it.

 

[chamtrainer]

There could be several reasons, either he is stressed out, or he is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals he would be getting in the wild. I have seen mine doing this as well

 

[Cainschams]

There could be several reasons, either he is stressed out, or he is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals he would be getting in the wild. I have seen mine doing this as well

Really

 

[Silkyslim]

There could be several reasons, either he is stressed out, or he is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals he would be getting in the wild. I have seen mine doing this as well

Keyword could. It's speculation. I hold the same theory for chams that eat dirt. I think the branch thing is something more territorial.

 

[Chameleon Company]

There could be several reasons, either he is stressed out, or he is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals he would be getting in the wild. I have seen mine doing this as well

I'm sorry, but neither of those are valid reasons. There is nothing in the literature to support that. Nothing in observed behavior to remotely suggest a problem.

First off, as it has been an observed behavior for so long, it can be assumed to be natural. It clearly serves a function, but has zero logical connection to being a "problem" related to vitamins, stress, etc. It likely serves a natural need for certain vitamins, minerals, and ruffage.

Whether checking territory markings, or tasting to see if it might want to chew a piece of the branch, a natural behavior btw, we don't know for sure. The well-informed consensus opinion would be not to worry about it

 

[Chameleon Company]

Keyword could. It's speculation. I hold the same theory for chams that eat dirt. I think the branch thing is something more territorial.

Eating dirt and ruffage is a natural behavior of healthy chameleons. The question is, "is your dirt good enough to eat" ?

 

[tkilgour]

=chamtrainer;430893There could be several reasons, either he is stressed out, or he is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals he would be getting in the wild. I have seen mine doing this as well

You really think that is the case?

 

[Action Jackson]

Don't most lizards and snakes do this? I know most that I have had do. my Panther does but I have never seen a Jackson do it. Hummm

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hi I have always wondered why does my Panther sometimes licks the branch/vine, every so often when he walking about, he will just lick the branch as he is walking?
My Veileds i have never noticed doing it, but have noticed my panther has done it from young and still does it now,
Does anyone's do it too?

yes, mine do this too, especially the males.
Its a fairly common behaviour. Do not be concerned. Nothing is wrong.
to learn more, Go to the tongue dabbing thread pantherchameleon linked to above, and then to the links from within that Kinyonga provided.