Ambanja slowing down

[Thompson]

I have a quick question, those who keep ambanja’s, do your males ever go through a period where they seem to slow down and get fuller in color? Temps have dropped and my boy Lenny seems to be going in hibernation mode lol. His colors have gotten much fuller and his activity throughout the day has slowed down a lot as well. He is still very healthy, and nothing has really changed with my husbandry. Just wondering what happened to the vibrant colors!? First pic is of him recently the second is him a couple months ago.

 

[jannb]

What’s his temps? How’s his UV bulb?

 

[Thompson]

I just switched his uvb bulb last month and his temps have dropped to 65F at night and 70-75F ambient throughout the day. Basking temp remains 85F.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Something like this has been noted multiple times here. Exposure to natural sunlight has helped.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/chameleons-color.185003/#post-1702671
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...urned-grey-what-can-i-do.182226/#post-1661148
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/concerned-about-chameleons-color-lack-of-activity.182683/

More via archives/google

 

[Vinesar21]

It happened to my cham too, not really sure what exactly causes it. Weather, winter funk. I heard some people say it mostly happens to the ones kept outside, mine is always kept inside. He was almost like a ghost then came back to life but it took a few months. I started to give up on him thinking he was just an ugly duckling his bars change between red and blue...weird

 

[Lpsouth1978]

Happened to my guy Chuck a while back. Perhaps one of the more extreme cases too. Biggest help was natural sunlight. I started taking him outside as often as possible, for as long as possible. Within a few weeks he was back to normal. Check out my thread to see his before and after photos.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...grey-what-can-i-do.182226/page-2#post-1663803

 

[EmilioTheAnkify]

I think @Vinesar21 is correct. “Winter funk”.
At the end of this video Brian from FramsChams calls it that also.

 

[xxaprilrose]

So I have two male panthers. One is only 6 months and he’s in my living room with no natural sun exposure and he’s doing great. My other male who’s 10 months is in a room next to a window and he’s currently like this. Now I have to say I live in NY so bringing him outside is off the table but when it was nice out back in sept or so I would open up his window and he looooooved that. He got the breeze and could see out the window and it was his fav thing ever. Now I can only open the curtains so he can see but he doesn’t get the fresh air and he’s in this winter mode right now. Very dull in color and much less active. Nothing else has changed therwise besides humidity but he’s not dehydrated by any means. The last 2 days he’s been a tad more active but still kind of sluggish. I agree that I think it’s due to the winter. I can’t wait to open the windows for him again and even try an outdoor enclosure during the summer.