Chameleon dreaming?

[Forestdellic]

My male chameleon when he's asleep he sleeps in an upright position and every now and again I catch him yawning. During this yawn he shakes a bit and lets out a low frequency squeak, very similar to a squeaky door.

I've only had him for five days.

Night Temperature; 60.6F / 80% humidity

Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[Jesse brooks]

probably not. ive never had mine do that but all chameleons are defferent but I don't think that that's a problem but I don't know

 

[Blink]

Hello. From what you described, there is possibility that you chameleon is exhibiting some symptoms of respiratory infection. I had rescued a very sick chameleon that had RI, and he slept in the same way. Gaping and squeaking noises are symptoms as well. Pease fill out the How to ask for help form provided in the health section so that more experienced members can help you. If it does turn out to be respiratory infection I strongly suggest that you see a veterinarian, as he would require antibiotics. Thanks.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Drakes24]

I think the night temperature is to cold you should have it around 75

 

[Blink]

I think the night temperature is to cold you should have it around 75

Chameleons need to cool down at night. Between 65F and 70F is fine. Could probably even go a bit lower, but you don't want to push it. You could probably use to go up several degrees, but I know that some members on here drop it to 60. I know that chameleons can drop to a night temperature of 50 degrees, but I since I have no experience with that, I wouldn't suggest any lower than 60.

 

[Trace]

A yawn, with a twist and/or a shake? Does it usually happen shortly after they’ve warmed up for the day? If so, it’s perfectly normal and I, personally, call it their morning stretch but others may have other pet terms for it. I can’t give any physiological reasons or if they do it leading up to a shed for it but all chameleons do it.

If he is sitting there with his mouth open all the time then the cage is too hot or he could have an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). There is a little about URI’s here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/healthx/head-neck/

 

[Carlton]

I think the night temperature is to cold you should have it around 75

Most cham species can be kept safely in temps as low as 55-60 F at night. 75 is much too warm.

 

[Forestdellic]

Hello. From what you described, there is possibility that you chameleon is exhibiting some symptoms of respiratory infection. I had rescued a very sick chameleon that had RI, and he slept in the same way. Gaping and squeaking noises are symptoms as well. Pease fill out the How to ask for help form provided in the health section so that more experienced members can help you. If it does turn out to be respiratory infection I strongly suggest that you see a veterinarian, as he would require antibiotics. Thanks.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

A yawn, with a twist and/or a shake? Does it usually happen shortly after they’ve warmed up for the day? If so, it’s perfectly normal and I, personally, call it their morning stretch but others may have other pet terms for it. I can’t give any physiological reasons or if they do it leading up to a shed for it but all chameleons do it.

If he is sitting there with his mouth open all the time then the cage is too hot or he could have an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). There is a little about URI’s here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/healthx/head-neck/

He does not do it all the time, just random times here and there when he is sleeping and also does it a couple of times in the morning when he's warming up.

During the day he does not do it at all, at least I've never seen him but the majority of the time he looks as if he's normal, moves around, drinks, basks, his mouth is closed...etc

Thank you so much for the help already! I think just in case I'll make an appointment with the vet to check up on his health. If there is anything I'll be sure to know from beforehand.

Do I fill in the form and post it back here or create a new thread with my answers?

 

[Forestdellic]

Most cham species can be kept safely in temps as low as 55-60 F at night. 75 is much too warm.

I've read over and over again that veiled chameleons can tolerate low temps, as low as 40. So far it has never dropped to that and I don't want it to drop that low. People do the mistake into thinking that just because an animal can handle harsh conditions its okay to introduce them without properly being aware that it takes its toll on the animal.

 

[Forestdellic]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, 4months. I've had him around 5 days
Handling - None except to clean his cage
Feeding - Mealworms, dubia roaches, locucts and crickets. Random amounts, between 5-10. I leave like 5 crickets in his cage in the morning for the day and a small bowl with some mealworms. Sometimes I dump a locusts here and there but not very often. I raise my own dubia roaches. Mealworms are in a container with bran and sometimes I dump in some apples, pieces of orange, carrot...etc I do the same for my crickets and locusts with the acception of watercress/dandelion leaves.
Supplements - Repashy Super Cal NoD3. Zoomed repti vite. I dust food with calcium every other day. Reptivit once a month
Watering - Spray bottle with warm water. First thing in the morning, first thing when I come back from Uni/work and 2hours before lights off. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.
Fecal Description - 2 solid chunks with moist/liquid around them. The brown is light in color. The urates sometimes have a small amount of yellow in it. Has not been check for internal parasites.
History - None, bought from a petstore in Napoli


Cage Info:

Cage Type - 18inches by 18inches by 25.5 inches height. Screen cage
Lighting - Arcadia 10.0 UVB, 60W zoomed basking light, silver coated light reflector. Light schedule from 7am - 7pm
Temperature - Backing 80-85; Ambient is around 72; Cagefloor 64F. Lowest overnight 60.2F I use digital thermometers. One for the basking spot, one for the cage floor and one measuring the ambient mid lvl cage.
Humidity - 60% - 70%. I live in a humid country. Humidity is mainted both naturally and regular misting. Digital hygrometer.
Plants - Yes I use live plants. Ficus trees.
Placement - The cage location is in my bedroom. They are next to a window, not direction in front of it. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? Around 18-20inches
Location - Malta


Current Problem - When he is asleep is stands in an upright position, very similar to a wolf howling at the moon. Every now and again, randomly, he opens his mouth and lets out a small squeaky/creaking sound, similar to that of a door. He also does this a few times in the morning when the lights come on. The female does this too in the morning. During the day I never heard them do it. Their mouths are always shut and they appear to breath normally. They won't eat a lot though, sometimes none at all, even when I am offering different feeds, which is worrying me a lot.

 

[mvad]

As far as veileds goes 60f at night is entirely acceptable as long as they have a chance to bask as soon as the lights come on in the morning. As someone mentioned 75f as a night temp is not correct or advisable.

Also with a young veiled you should be dusting with calcium with out D3 every day and doing the calcium w/D3 and vitimans suppliment every 2 weeks.

 

[Forestdellic]

As far as veileds goes 60f at night is entirely acceptable as long as they have a chance to bask as soon as the lights come on in the morning. As someone mentioned 75f as a night temp is not correct or advisable.

Also with a young veiled you should be dusting with calcium with out D3 every day and doing the calcium w/D3 and vitimans suppliment every 2 weeks.

That's what I am doing. I mentioned I used the Repashy SuperCal NoD (or is that still with D3??) and dusting with multivitamins once a month, I'll switch it up to 2 weeks.

For now though my chams have got a respiratory infection. I am sure of it, most of the signs are there. I call the vet asap this morning and I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow. Probably start a course of antibiotics.

Ugh for a first timer it sure has been a rough start, I hope they make it through.

 

[Blink]

It is always good to take a trip to the vet, even if you are unsure, just to be on the safe side... so it's very responsible of you. Just make sure that the vet has chameleon experience, or at least reptile experience. I wish you and you chams the best of luck!

 

[Carlton]

Current Problem - When he is asleep is stands in an upright position, very similar to a wolf howling at the moon. Every now and again, randomly, he opens his mouth and lets out a small squeaky/creaking sound, similar to that of a door. He also does this a few times in the morning when the lights come on. The female does this too in the morning. During the day I never heard them do it. Their mouths are always shut and they appear to breath normally. They won't eat a lot though, sometimes none at all, even when I am offering different feeds, which is worrying me a lot.

It could be that he's fighting off an infection rather than succumbing to it. Maybe a borderline situation that needs a bit of help. It is very telling that he's not eating. Sick chams don't. As respiratory infections get worse the cham often shows a lot of mucous in their mouth, blocked nostrils, more and more gulping, gasping, and blowing out their throat, more time in that snout upright posture, spending more and more of the day sitting dark and quiet in the basking area as if unable to stay warm. From what you describe I think you are right to pursue this further. I don't think it will hurt to raise the nighttime temp a few degrees given that you have good local humidity levels.

PS: I really like your avatar!

 

[Forestdellic]

It is always good to take a trip to the vet, even if you are unsure, just to be on the safe side... so it's very responsible of you. Just make sure that the vet has chameleon experience, or at least reptile experience. I wish you and you chams the best of luck!

That's exactly what I told the Miss's Thank you! I am trying to look on the positive side and take this as a bonding experience, nothing says love like nursing back to health

It could be that he's fighting off an infection rather than succumbing to it. Maybe a borderline situation that needs a bit of help. It is very telling that he's not eating. Sick chams don't. As respiratory infections get worse the cham often shows a lot of mucous in their mouth, blocked nostrils, more and more gulping, gasping, and blowing out their throat, more time in that snout upright posture, spending more and more of the day sitting dark and quiet in the basking area as if unable to stay warm. From what you describe I think you are right to pursue this further. I don't think it will hurt to raise the nighttime temp a few degrees given that you have good local humidity levels.

PS: I really like your avatar!

Either or it's not worth the gamble. These cham's are something I worked for; they have good potential and I want to see that fruit. So far, symptom wise, it doesn't sound like it's advanced. The sound he makes is done during the day also, three times in the past 12hrs but he's in pain poor fella

The visit can't come any sooner!

Neet picture huh? Cheers!