Bearded Pygmy Chameleon - Urgent help please.

Hi,

I've just come home (been out since 10:30 am) and there's something very wrong with my new male Pygmy Chameleon. He's in a 12x12x12 Exo Terra set-up with a female. Has 2.0 UV, has been eating and pooping fine since I got him (which was on Wednesday). Been misting by hand twice a day and feeding on very small dusted crickets. Temperature is at 23 degrees.

When I checked on him I thought he was dead. He was laid on his side in the leaf litter. I picked him up and he opened his eyes and started to move around a bit. I then put him back (thinking maybe something had really stressed him out and he was playing dead). He fell off the plant and again laid on his side. He keeps changing from very light (almost white) to very dark (almost black) colour and doesn't seem to be able to grip at all. I've thought he's died about 3 times since then, but he still seems to be moving his eyes slightly. What could be going on?

Typed 10 minutes later:
While I was typing and trying to get hold of a vet, he died. I don't know what went wrong and I'm obviously really upset. My female seems to be fine. Please give any ideas because I really don't want the same to happen to her.

I really think this is the most difficult part of keeping this species as a "pet"
They are easy to get attached to and unfortunately don't have very long lives.
When you obtain WC adults your time with them is even shorter since you don't know the age and they have been subjected to the stresses of shipping.
I am very sorry you lost him.

-Brad

I'm very sorry for your loss

I'm sure you'd done everything possible for your little guy.

I wish you luck with your female


By the by, my little male for the first week of having him was very black in colour... he didnt even relax at night. The following few weeks his dark days became fewer. I cant wait until he feels really relaxed and at home here.

Dont give up on the littles ones, owning them is very rewarding

Thank you. I'm very worried about why this happened.

As far as I can tell I haven't done anything wrong with the set-up and temps, humidity etc. If I had done something like that wrong I assume the female would suffer similar effects?

He may just have been old I guess as I have no idea how old they are, but he was an adult. It didn't exactly seem like a peaceful old age death though...if there is such a thing with chameleons.

When I first picked him up after finding him "dead" he seemed to completely recover, hence why I put him back on his branch asap so I didn't cause him any stress from handling. He did this a few times "dying" then seeming to come round but acting very strangely, untill he did actually die.

Does anyone have any ideas? Should I get my female checked over at the vets? She seems absolutely fine.