chameleon gasping

[Orangejuiceman]

hello everyone. I have had all my husbandry checked, just a heads up there.

Today it was so nice outside, high of about 80, sunny and breezy. i took my chameleon outside like i always do on nice days here in miami. he seemed 100% normal all day long, i was outside with him.

at 630 pm, i went to get him from his outdoor cage to take him into his indoor cage, and i caught him gasping. he gave me three big gasps which ive never seen him do before. i misted the cage as i always do before bedtime, and he is in there now hunkering down for bed.

not sure what this could be from, or what behavior its displaying, but his food and lights have been good for the last year of his life and nothing has changed much outside of updating vitamins and food

 

[Mitcchar]

When chameleons are hot they will turn a gape and/or turn a light color. From what it sounds to me he might’ve just overheated outside

 

[TheMotherChameleon]

If the temperature was 80 and there wasn’t a place for him to get out of the heat overheating is a definite possibility

 

[GrannyK]

Could he have been upset knowing you are his taxi indoors? Mine can sometimes get testy knowing free roam time is over.

 

[Orangejuiceman]

Could he have been upset knowing you are his taxi indoors? Mine can sometimes get testy knowing free roam time is over.

could be, he has never been sassy with me ever in his life, never hissed, never screamed or even showed a chainsaw chin, i was wondering the same as well.

 

[MissSkittles]

Does he have a shaded area in his outside enclosure? Even though the temp may be a pleasant 80, if he’s just sitting directly in the sun, he’s going to easily overheat. Also, keep an eye out for respiratory infections signs - gaping, thick ropy saliva, holding his head up, eyes closed during the day, lethargic, etc.