6 week old panther fell... not moving

[Tankamoto]

I just got home from work with some fresh crickets and was excited to feed my little guy since I knew he was hungry and I ran out of crickets yesterday.
Normally I approach him and make sure he sees me before I open his enclosure but this time I guess he didn't see me.
I opened the enclosed and startled him and he dropped to the floor.
He layed there flat, eyes closed but breathing. He dropped about 12 inches. His legs were sprawled out to his sides.
My heart sank and still has me worried sick.
I let him be for about 10 minutes and he finally opened his eyes, but remained flat on the floor. I gave him a poke with my finger and he's standing on all 4 legs now, but STONE still. His eyes are open and moving, and his body is off the floor and standing on his legs, but he's not moving.

He puffed up at me and flattened his abdomin out, so that's a sign he still has function below his neck.

I sprayed his enclosure and wrapped a sheet around it in hopes his just in shock from being knocked out.

I feel terrible and like a horrible person. I haven't owned a chameleon for a while and he literally is my pride and joy. I hope he's ok.

 

[bobcochran]

I don't think a 12 in. fall should do any long lasting damage if he landed on the bare flat plastic bottom of his cage. Just keep an eye on him for couple of days, I bet he resumes normal behavior.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I just got home from work with some fresh crickets and was excited to feed my little guy since I knew he was hungry and I ran out of crickets yesterday.
Normally I approach him and make sure he sees me before I open his enclosure but this time I guess he didn't see me.
I opened the enclosed and startled him and he dropped to the floor.
He layed there flat, eyes closed but breathing. He dropped about 12 inches. His legs were sprawled out to his sides.
My heart sank and still has me worried sick.
I let him be for about 10 minutes and he finally opened his eyes, but remained flat on the floor. I gave him a poke with my finger and he's standing on all 4 legs now, but STONE still. His eyes are open and moving, and his body is off the floor and standing on his legs, but he's not moving.

He puffed up at me and flattened his abdomin out, so that's a sign he still has function below his neck.

I sprayed his enclosure and wrapped a sheet around it in hopes his just in shock from being knocked out.

I feel terrible and like a horrible person. I haven't owned a chameleon for a while and he literally is my pride and joy. I hope he's ok.

That being still after a fall is a defense behavior. They feel their life is endanger, drop to the forest floor and then stay still like a fallen leaf not like the tasty morsel they are. I think that behavior--freezing after dropping--even has a name.

He's likely fine.

He wasn't knocked unconscious.

 

[Chachi]

Try not to worry. You got very lucky and the two people that are talking to you have huge experience. Whenever i see someone with a big problem, i look for answers from these two people.

 

[Tankamoto]

Good news guys,
I took his sheet off this morning and turned on his lights and the son of a gun was hanging out upside down on the top of his cage.
I misted his cage and threw in some more crickets and he drank and ate a cricket.

Movement seems fine.

Thanks everyone for reassuring me!
I

 

[alphakenc]

They fall n they get back up,Im glad he is ok ,keep a good eye on him.

 

[kelly_girl199]

Good news guys,
I took his sheet off this morning and turned on his lights and the son of a gun was hanging out upside down on the top of his cage.
I misted his cage and threw in some more crickets and he drank and ate a cricket.

Movement seems fine.

Thanks everyone for reassuring me!
I

How big is yours? Mine is almost 7 weeks(had him for a month) and I feel like he has barely grown. He looks TINY still. He eats and drinks very well.

 

[cyberlocc]

I think that behavior--freezing after dropping--even has a name.

Its called a "Feign Death", "Tonic Immobility", or "Thanatosis" lots of animals do it . (its got a few names lol)

They are not trying to look like a leaf per se. More so they are trying to play dead, to look less attractive as prey.

 

[Craigwyatt]

Your baby would have to fall the exact wrong way to be really hurt. 12 inches is basically nothing for a baby. I have baby's fall all the time right in front of. When I spray them sometimes they freak out and hit the floor. I don't even pay any attention to them when they fall because I've seen it happen so many times. They fall and immediately start climbing back to the top. Sometimes they sit there for a min but that's it.
I'm sure your new guy is just fine. You just scared him a bit. It happens.

 

[Tankamoto]

Thanks guys, he's doing great. He definitely deserves an award if he was playing dead. I've had my little guy for almost 3 weeks.
As for as size goes he has doubled in size since I got him. When I first got him he was about the size of a quarter. When I first got him I was feeding him pinhead crickets, now he eats about 2 or 3 week old crickets. I stood away from fruit flies because I really see no nutritional value in something with such little mass.
If you see them every day you may not notice the change in size too much. Over the holidays I gained almost 10 lbs from eating to good. My buddys that I work with at the office didn't notice a thing, but my friends that I see a handful of times a year saw it immediately lol.