chameleon basking one side at a time?

[MrScowt]

like the title my chameleon , nigel, seems to bask one side of his body at a time. like people tanning and then flipping to do the back. he like leans way over on his branch for a while then hell lean way over on the other side. any one else chameleon do this?

 

[Hoj]

Typically the light would only be coming form one side so yes they do tend to bask more on one side. Mine dont really switch side too often

 

[reptilover]

My veiled does that also. He will flatten out darken up and lay like a pancake. He doesn't switch sides super often but he does do it. Is ur basking spot about 90-93?

 

[Carlton]

like the title my chameleon , nigel, seems to bask one side of his body at a time. like people tanning and then flipping to do the back. he like leans way over on his branch for a while then hell lean way over on the other side. any one else chameleon do this?

Totally normal. You may also notice that he gets darker on that side, flattens himself and arcs his torso while he's doing this. Their flexible ribs help them change their body shape to create as much flat darkened surface as possible to speed up heat absorbtion.

 

[MrScowt]

yea carlton that seems to be exactly what hes doing. its just funny.

 

[Carlton]

yea carlton that seems to be exactly what hes doing. its just funny.

I know! It's like they are little radar dishes for the sun, so cool to see. I had a verrucosus once who would lie down on his side on the carpet in a particular sunny spot while free ranging.

 

[Kmw]

Our veiled always basks leaning over, i find it amusing. He looks like a gangster.