Brown when basking?
- Thread starter Jon114
- Start date
lancaster0861
New Member
Yea i think it is and most folks on here i would say believe the same. I know when i was trying to get my guy adjusted he would turn a dark green/brown while basking then go back to normal once done. Its kind of like when your wearing a black t-shirt in the sun and feels a lot hotter than a white one in the sun. They display darker colors help them conduct more light/heat sometimes. You could try to up the heat a little bit and see if that changes anything. More than likely if your temps are good then he should be ok though. Seems like a lot do ok like that though!
You might want to check out the great care sheets--they give the proper basking and ambient temps for juveniles of each major species of chameleons. Your temps are just about right for a veiled cham:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
but may be a little high for a panther:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/
but as I don't know what species you have, it might be safer for you to check the appropriate care sheet to find out whether your temps are spot on or not. I wouldn't raise them before checking, as you don't want to give too much heat.
In addition to the links above, if you scroll up and click on the tab "Resources," then look to the left and click on Care Sheets, you can get to whatever species you have and scroll down for temperature info.
Good luck!
Sandy
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/
but may be a little high for a panther:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/
but as I don't know what species you have, it might be safer for you to check the appropriate care sheet to find out whether your temps are spot on or not. I wouldn't raise them before checking, as you don't want to give too much heat.
In addition to the links above, if you scroll up and click on the tab "Resources," then look to the left and click on Care Sheets, you can get to whatever species you have and scroll down for temperature info.
Good luck!
Sandy
Right, forgot to tell, it's a veiled.
I've been over those sheets LOTS of times, hah.
I was just a little curious, chameleon behavior is new to me.
I did raise the temp thinking he was basking because it wasn't warm enough, but then he started to pant so I lowered to temps again.
Sometimes he sits upside down on the screen, right under the UVB bulb. Is this ok? He has plenty of perches for basking options.
Temperature is the same but he's still constantly basking. Maybe 95% of the day. Maybe that's because he's been eating a lot - he's a pig!
He has been panting a bit while basking, which is a little worrysome. I don't want him to dehydrate himself, as I have yet to see him drink despite being stealthy while veiwing. His urates are also a bit orange at the ends, but mostly white. Temps are still 85-86. Is everything normal?
He has been panting a bit while basking, which is a little worrysome. I don't want him to dehydrate himself, as I have yet to see him drink despite being stealthy while veiwing. His urates are also a bit orange at the ends, but mostly white. Temps are still 85-86. Is everything normal?
ReptileLove18
Established Member
what do you have for him to drink? just misting or a dripper or a misting system? orange tip means he needs to be drinking more
are those you basking temps? panting while basking means hes a little too warm.
these are the recommended temps for veileds on the caresheet:
Temperature:
Baby/juvenile (<9 months): ambient 72-80F (22-26C), basking 85F (29C)
Adult males: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 90-95F (32-35C)
Adult females: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 85F (29C)
also, what is your feeding schedule? what time during the day do you feed him?
are those you basking temps? panting while basking means hes a little too warm.
these are the recommended temps for veileds on the caresheet:
Temperature:
Baby/juvenile (<9 months): ambient 72-80F (22-26C), basking 85F (29C)
Adult males: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 90-95F (32-35C)
Adult females: ambient 75-80F (23-26C), basking 85F (29C)
also, what is your feeding schedule? what time during the day do you feed him?
Yes, basking temp is 85. Ambient 74-80. I feed him in the mornings. 10-15 small crickets. I've only had him about 5 days now. He has a dripper which lasts almost all day, but I have yet to see him venture close to it, and I mist him often, about 4-6 times a day.
ReptileLove18
Established Member
well everything sounds on point! so i would say that he is still settling in and will drink more soon, probably isnt right now because he isnt settled in. the dripper drips on foliage right? just keep an eye on his urate to make sure it starts losing the orange tip, he should start drinking more and it should be getting white that shows that he is fully hydrated. orange or yellow urate means he isnt drinking as much as he should be. and he will move down if he is too warm to self regulate his body temperature so i think hes fine just needs time to get used to the new enviroment. its great hes eating that well for you already!
that shows that he is fully hydrated. orange or yellow urate means he isnt drinking as much as he should be. and he will move down if he is too warm to self regulate his body temperature so i think hes fine just needs time to get used to the new enviroment. its great hes eating that well for you already!Can anyone else add some more input?
He's still a constant dark brown whenever he's near the basking light. I tried raising it yet again, but he ended up panting. He gets as close as possible to the screen. Temps are still 84-86. He does eat a big meal every morning, maybe he's just spending all day digesting? He ate 25O!!!) small crickets today, and would have gone for more, but I decided that was enough. I'm just being a worry-wort I guess.
I took him out today because one of his plants tilted over, and although he acted scared stiff, he was a normal green.
He's still a constant dark brown whenever he's near the basking light. I tried raising it yet again, but he ended up panting. He gets as close as possible to the screen. Temps are still 84-86. He does eat a big meal every morning, maybe he's just spending all day digesting? He ate 25
O!!!) small crickets today, and would have gone for more, but I decided that was enough. I'm just being a worry-wort I guess.I took him out today because one of his plants tilted over, and although he acted scared stiff, he was a normal green.
LazardLizard
New Member
I missed it some where, what kind of Cham are we talking about? The other memeber is giving good advice.
ReptileLove18
Established Member
its totally normal for him to be brown when basking, many chams do this, they are absorbing the warmth and digesting. now that you have raised the temp, is the basking temp 84-86? or the ambient temp? they do take approximately 4 hours after eating to digest and they have to bask to do thatCan anyone else add some more input?
He's still a constant dark brown whenever he's near the basking light. I tried raising it yet again, but he ended up panting. He gets as close as possible to the screen. Temps are still 84-86. He does eat a big meal every morning, maybe he's just spending all day digesting? He ate 25
I took him out today because one of his plants tilted over, and although he acted scared stiff, he was a normal green.
its good hes eating lots! hes got lots of growing to do if he is panting he is a bit too warm. baby veileds temps should be 72-80 fahrenheit ambient and 85 basking. what kind of enclosure do you have him in and what size? I missed it some where, what kind of Cham are we talking about? The other memeber is giving good advice.
we are talking about a 2-3 month old male veiled
