Why is she doing this?

[lizgentry]

Hi all,

Every day when i come home my cham (6 months old) is sat under her basking lamp with her mouth gaping.

Surely if she is too hot she would just move?

Her temp is 85 at her basking spot.

Thanks

 

[Fidel]

They won't necessarily move if it's too hot, they'll gape like that to release heat. What species is your chameleon? 85 can be too hot for some.

 

[lizgentry]

She's a veiled cham. Could she be up there for the UV rather than heat then if she is too hot?

 

[Fidel]

Are you sure your thermometer is accurate? 85 is not too hot for a veiled. Is she exhaling when she gapes? Can you hear her breathing?

 

[lizgentry]

I cant really tell - as soon as i go in she hides.

I have moved the light up a bit just to be safe - i have an infra red thermometer coming in a couple of days so ill double check with that.

She looks a bright lime green colour when she does it.

She is eating drinking and pooing fine. The only other thing i have noticed is that in the morning she climbs down and potters around near the bottom and looks quite dull in colour. Then i feed her, she eats right away and then makes her way up to the top.

My brother pops in every so often before he goes to work and says she is wandering around exploring.

 

[kinyonga]

Is there a place in her cage for her to dig to lay eggs if she needs to?

 

[lizgentry]

Yep! She hasnt been anywhere near it yet though.