maximum temperature?

Hi folks, i was just wondering about maximum temps for a yemen. My question is this: If a chameleon can thermoregulate itself, why does it matter (to a degree) what the maximum temp in the cage is. If there is loads of room in the cage and the cameleon can chose what temp it wants, why would it go into a hot bit to get burnt?
Im not saying i do this, I just wondered thats all.

Thanx Dunk.

dunkyg said:

Hi folks, i was just wondering about maximum temps for a yemen. My question is this: If a chameleon can thermoregulate itself, why does it matter (to a degree) what the maximum temp in the cage is. If there is loads of room in the cage and the cameleon can chose what temp it wants, why would it go into a hot bit to get burnt?
Im not saying i do this, I just wondered thats all.

Thanx Dunk.

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Since it's cold blooded, it HAS to regulate it's own temperature. It does this by either warming itself in the sun, or moving into shade to cool off. If it is too hot, it may open it's mouth to cool, but it only works to a certain degree. If the chameleon is too cold however it does not have a very efficient, internal way to raise it's body temp.

Max temps go by the climate the chameleon is used to, and flourishes in.

I've heard reports of them climbing onto bulbs, and cooking themselves. Why? Well I can't tell you, but its been suggested they don't feel the pain, at least not like we do, they just think they are soaking up delicious rays! That's why its good to not go over a certain temp. My Xanth will, at times, get right on the screen, underneath the bulb, and if the screen wasn't there, I'm sure she would get as close as possible. When I touch the bulb it burns me, but just 2-3" down, at the screen, its a perfect 82ish.

thanx for your quick replies dudes, i just wondered as the care sheet i got with my yemen says "temp MUST NOT go over 90". as its heated from above and the lights are too far away for it to touch, i just wondered what would happen if it did go over 90??

dunkyg said:

thanx for your quick replies dudes, i just wondered as the care sheet i got with my yemen says "temp MUST NOT go over 90". as its heated from above and the lights are too far away for it to touch, i just wondered what would happen if it did go over 90??

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your cham would start gaping alot.

dunkyg said:

Hi folks, i was just wondering about maximum temps for a yemen. My question is this: If a chameleon can thermoregulate itself, why does it matter (to a degree) what the maximum temp in the cage is. If there is loads of room in the cage and the cameleon can chose what temp it wants, why would it go into a hot bit to get burnt?
Im not saying i do this, I just wondered thats all.

Thanx Dunk.

Click to expand...

in the old experiment, will a frog jump out of a pot of water if the temperature was gradually raised to boiling point? chameleons dont know what their ideal temperature should be, but they are costumed to take whatever conditions they are native to. chameleons are able, and do thermoregulate themselves, but can easily ignore doing it as well, posing problems.

dunkyg said:

thanx for your quick replies dudes, i just wondered as the care sheet i got with my yemen says "temp MUST NOT go over 90". as its heated from above and the lights are too far away for it to touch, i just wondered what would happen if it did go over 90??

Click to expand...

yemen, is in saudi arabia, where temps easily get over 100 degrees. of course you always want to tone it down a bit in captivity, but depending on gender and age, i wouldnt always worry about temps going over 90.

for any sub-adult/adult female, i would try and maintain the basking temp between 81-85

for adult males, i would allow them to take it up to about 95 degrees basking
temp. (watching the closeness of the bulb to cage -- risk of burns)

they will subconsiously let you know with signs if it is too hot though (ie. basking with mouth open -- eyes look delusional)

Did the frog jump out the water?

nope. frog thinks boiling water feels nice.... frog gets pwned

LOL! Maybe heat is like a drug, like druggies, they just can't stop! So maybe they are basking for a buzz!

lmao, why does it seem like drugs are becoming a popular topic here on the forums? lol

all chameleons are on drugs, check out those eyes man, there all over the place! lmao

chameleons remind me of the Bernstein law firm family.




... too soon?

ChameleonsInMyHouse said:

chameleons remind me of the Bernstein law firm family.




... too soon?

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I dont get it, is it a Canadian joke? lmao

dunkyg said:

I dont get it, is it a Canadian joke? lmao

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nope.. its a lazy eye joke. lol