Cham Stress

[Rune]

First, i bought some wax worms today and put them infront of my cham. He didnt eat them. After about ten minutes, he did. Then I tried feeding him another and he didnt eat. Do they not eat because they are scared?
Then my mom let my cat outside, and even though she ran and didnt go near my cham, he froze, turned black, and I poked him and he did nothing. He is green now.. but.. Will my cham be ok? He also still isnt eating his crickets.
>.<
And, another thing.. Its one of the first 90 degree days in texas, so I decided to take my cham out. He was a pretty lime green, and seemed to love it, but he kept opening his mouth randomly. Same in the shade.
Also, one last thing, I was getting my cham out to eat his worms, and he turned BLACK. like, really black. He also tried hissing, and curled up. Next time, do I just leave him in? How should I pick him up? I want to make sure he wont be mean older, if I am "abusing" him by picking him up when hes that way.
Sorry for all the questions. Thank you.

 

[Thompson]

To me it sounds like you're around him to much. It sounds like when you feed him you stare at him until he eats and this stresses him out. Try putting his food in a non-see through cup and leaving the room. Come back in about 30 minutes to see if the food has been eaten. If he doesn't like the wAx worms, and I've read that a couple peoples chameleons haven't either, then try roaches, silk worms, crickets, super worms and hornworms. Chameleons are solitary animals and love being alone without us poking around in their cages. Though the cat was no where near the chameleon he will still get stressed while in it's presence. Everything to your chameleon is a threat and he's afraid that everything will eat him.

When you say he was opening his mouth while outside in 90 degree weather is probably because he was over heating, most likely the reason for the pretty lime green colors. When taking chameleons outside in that hot of weather he needs water and a place to get out of the heat into some shade.

 

[carol5208]

Rune, Thompson gave you some very good advice here. As much as we want to handle and hold our chameleons we have to learn to give them space. Don't be poking at him and leave him alone to eat. You are probably causing him alot of undo stress. And why are you "taking him out" to eat his worms? Leave him in his cage to eat!