You'ne seen Lady GaGa cry now see her play possum

[rande77]

Hi All
I've posted a pix in the past of my Lady GaGa crying (see below) Now yesterday when I was going to give her a shower she decided to play possum
(She has done this before to me, this time I had my trusty camera)I have read that some chams will play(dead/possum).
Bob
p.s. Some quotes are located on page 2 of this thread from websites talking about chams "playing possum"

 

[Syn]

O_O Where have you read that they do this? This is the first I've read/seen of this.

 

[Miss Lily]

OMG! She almost looks dead! How scary that must have been! I didn't realise that they play possum - do Veiled's do it too?

 

[rande77]

Don't remeber where I read it but it was on the internet(I googled it)because the first time she did it I got nervous. She is my only female that does this and does it quite often after the pix was taken she decide to get up and drink and enjoy her shower. (I have even had her just hanging by her tail in her house swaying in the wind so to speak playing dead. It isa real hoot.
Bob

 

[Syn]

That makes me think of fainting goats.

 

[dodolah]

Don't remeber where I read it but it was on the internet(I googled it)because the first time she did it I got nervous. She is my only female that does this and does it quite often after the pix was taken she decide to get up and drink and enjoy her shower. (I have even had her just hanging by her tail in her house swaying in the wind so to speak playing dead. It isa real hoot.
Bob

So far, is this happened only during shower? how interesting..

 

[rande77]

Dodolah you didn't read my reply...I have seen her hanging by her tail from a branch in her house laying dead jst swaying in the breeze eyes closed and all 4 limbs just hanging free. I've had the "Lady for 1 1/2 yrs and she des it quite often.Bob

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I have never heard of a panther doing this (which doesn't mean they don't) it's a fairly common reptilian defense.
My montium will play dead if he feels threatened, usually he thrashes about and acts like he's having some kind of epileptic seizure, then becomes stiff as a board.
The stump tailed chameleons are most known for this behavior in the chameleon world.
Bottom line is that she performs this trick because she feels threatened.
I would evaluate any situation that causes the reaction and try to make positive adjustments in the future.
Regular showers are not something I practice or suggest for healthy chameleons, and it obviously stresses her (at least this time it did).
Thanks for posting the picture and telling us about the occurrence ... very interesting.

-Brad

edit: If she is doing this "quite often" without provocation, I think I would be concerned. Is there something that causes her to do this in her enclosure?

 

[dodolah]

Dodolah you didn't read my reply...I have seen her hanging by her tail from a branch in her house laying dead jst swaying in the breeze eyes closed and all 4 limbs just hanging free. I've had the "Lady for 1 1/2 yrs and she des it quite often.Bob

when you see her hanging on the tree, did she just do it suddenly or there was some sort of incident happened -i.e: seeing something scary like birds or cats? Pygs yes... But, I have never heard a panther doing this.. how fascinating.

 

[rande77]

She does it when I come to her cage and she may not be in the mood to go to her outside cage or in this incident take a shower I have 6 females all ambilobes ad shes the only one that has ever done this. My chams come out every day and regardless of what others have written as to there timidness and stress none of my chams suffer from this problem. I am with them all day long and NONE of them EVER display any stress colors or shy away from me.
Bob

 

[Miss Lily]

Given her name, I think she thinks she has to be a real little drama queen, lol! It's fascinating stuff though! But shocking all the same if you are not expecting it!

 

[chamili]

looks like she has eye problem ? or its just me

 

[TOXICx213x]

Wow my chameleon does the same thing when i mist him. I always wonder why he does it but i guess iam not the only that.

 

[rande77]

No eye problem...just cleaning it like they all do
Bob

 

[rande77]

From the drsfosterand smith website "Behavior/Interaction: Shy and solitary, they should only be handled for short amounts of time. When startled or threatened, they may puff up with air and hiss. They may also curl into a ball and "play 'possum" as they darken in color. It takes considerable time for them to feel secure enough to uncurl and move about afterwards." (This paragraph pertains to veiled chams)

From scienceray.com " Serious defenses are needed when you’re tiny and at the bottom of the food chain. The leaf chameleon has a couple of interesting defense mechanisms if its camouflage doesn’t deter predators. First, it will close its eyes to remove all source of movement. If the branch the chameleon is on shakes, the chameleon will promptly drop like a dead twig into the leaves below and play possum. If the predator is unusually persistent and manages to grab the chameleon, the reptile will vibrate! "(This paragraph pertaind to leaf chams.)

From http://www.altaranchopet.com/Information_library/reptile_handouts/chameleon_care1.htm
BEHAVIOR AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
STRESS
Veileds are shy in nature, and should be kept visually separate until breeding age (5 months). When startled or feeling threatened by another Veiled, they may drop to the floor of the enclosure, curl into a tight fetal position, darken and color, and "play possum." Like opossums, it takes a considerable time until they feel secure enough to unfold and begin moving about again. Changing or rearranging the furnishings in the cage can cause stress; try to plan ahead and reduce the need for change. "

These are just a few of the sites that talk about chams playing possum. A little RESEARCH will go a long way
Bob

 

[satch4684]

surprised many people haven't heard of it, like rande77 posted, it comes up in a lot of readings. though i never hear anyone talking about it with thier pet chameleons, and I haven't owned enough chameleons to have any experience with it myself

 

[ChameleonAlley]

That is hilarious! She does have attitude.