Depressed Chameleon?

[kriggs93]

The other night I went to my veiled chameleon's cage to turn off his lamps for bed, and I noticed that he looked really olive/gray, so I called in my boyfriend to check it out with me. We had no idea what was going on, but the quickest google search that I did said that he might be dehydrated. He looks better now, but he does always look a little less than a brighter green, and looks almost dark on one side of him. Anyway, my roommate looked up their mood/color chart and saw that the olive/gray color meant that my chameleon was depressed.

How can I make things more comfortable for him? We just got him last week, so he still seems too skittish for us to hold him, or else I'd take him outside in the real sun for a little bit. He's only a little over two months old, gets fed mealworms (that's what the pet store said to feed him), and gets misted 3-4 times a day. He has a 26 watt UVB bulb and a 75 watt basking bulb in his 40X20 inch terrarium with a hibiscus plant and vines in it. We have him in our office, which I go into for a little while each day, but it's still the room that gets the least traffic.

Any help please? My boyfriend and I worry about him enough without this coloration.

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums and the world of chameleons! I keep veileds along with a few other species. It would be helpful if you'd post a few pictures of your chameleon and his set. Please fill out the ask for help form so the members here can make sure you are off to a good start.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
How to post photos: https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-post-photos-video-3609/
My blog for new keepers:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
More detailed chameleon info can be found here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/chameleons/

 

[inlinefourpower]

Can we see a picture of his/her cage? Also, how old is your chameleon? It could be he/she wants some more cover. If no one else gave you this advice, next time you suspect your chameleon is dehydrated there are quite a few options. One is to give them a bath. I use a rubbermade type container and fill it with warm water deep enough to submerge the chameleon's belly. The ambient moisture from the water will help when your chameleon breathes it in. Additionally, they absorb water through their vent. So, that's one option. The lower rent one is to take an eyedropper and drop water above their nose. You don't want to make them hiss and shoot water down their mouth or anything, but if you drop it on their nose it will roll down over their mouth and they'll naturally lick it away.

My knee-jerk as a novice, though, would be that your chameleon needs some better hiding places in the cage or the cage needs to be elevated or *maybe* the temperatures are too cold. Just all guesses until more information comes in.

 

[kriggs93]

If anyone is looking at this now, I'd appreciate it much more if you could go to my new blog post, which includes all of his info

https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleon-black-spots-135113/