Chameleon staying in one spot

[briannavalli]

Hi, I got my two chams about a week ago and today my male has been staying hidden and sleeping. He’s a beautiful green but he won’t come out (yes they are fine to stay together. They love each other and are safe together don’t comment on that lol) but he’s eaten and drank but he used to be in his basking spot a lot, he hasn’t come out all day. I can see him and he will watch me but I’m still worried since a chameleon of mine passed away after acting like this(was a very small baby)

 

[MissSkittles]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I hate to tell you this and I do so in the nicest way possible, but your chameleons do not love each other and do not enjoy being housed together. They pretty much only unite for mating purposes and then go their separate ways. Keeping two together or even close to where they can see each other causes them stress. One is going to be more dominant and add to the stress.
If your male is sleeping during the day, that is not good and a sign that there is also something going on with him. For anyone to try and help you, you need to provide much more info. Here’s the help form.



Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[briannavalli]

Thank you! I appreciate it. But I’ve had many many many of chameleons in the past. I was very surprised to see them like each other. I didn’t expect it but he was packaged with her and would’ve leave her side. I had another set up (same set up ) in another cage for him but he was unhappy until I put him in with her. They are baby’s. They are super super sweet too. I’ve always had a way with reptiles. I kinda take the meanest ones and make them sweet. I know it’s not in their nature to be lovable to another cham but they both seem to be extremely happy around each other. I know all I need to know, was just worried about him. He’s alright now, he was just doing his own thing for a bit. He’s being his regular self again now

 

[AmandaS]

If you are worried that he is sleeping all day, good. That is a sign of illness. No, they do not like to be housed together.

 

[Tinytort]

I don't understand how you have all you need to know when you don't have basic knowledge of their behavior. Just because you have had reptiles in the past doesn't make your interpretations of their behavior right. Housing them together could be a fatal move on your part. Reptiles don't have human emotions. They only learn to tolerate and that could come off as looking like trust or something similar but it's not. This is frustrating because you came to the forum for help and you completely dismissed everything that was told to you and requested over arrogance. Separate your chams and do a lot of research. We have a lot of wonderful people on here that are real experts on chams that are willing to help, but you gotta put your ego to the side and put your chams first.

 

[Beman]

Hi, I got my two chams about a week ago and today my male has been staying hidden and sleeping. He’s a beautiful green but he won’t come out (yes they are fine to stay together. They love each other and are safe together don’t comment on that lol) but he’s eaten and drank but he used to be in his basking spot a lot, he hasn’t come out all day. I can see him and he will watch me but I’m still worried since a chameleon of mine passed away after acting like this(was a very small baby)

Thank you! I appreciate it. But I’ve had many many many of chameleons in the past. I was very surprised to see them like each other. I didn’t expect it but he was packaged with her and would’ve leave her side. I had another set up (same set up ) in another cage for him but he was unhappy until I put him in with her. They are baby’s. They are super super sweet too. I’ve always had a way with reptiles. I kinda take the meanest ones and make them sweet. I know it’s not in their nature to be lovable to another cham but they both seem to be extremely happy around each other. I know all I need to know, was just worried about him. He’s alright now, he was just doing his own thing for a bit. He’s being his regular self again now

They ABSOLUTELY should NOT be housed together. You are asking for health issues along with fighting over territory. These are solitary animals and will get aggressive and kill one another.

Bright greens are stress colors... Not wanting to come out and move around is a stress reaction as well.

 

[Ares05]

Separate them immediately.

Chameleons should not be housed together. I would setup another enclosure for the male, separated from the other, once you learn how to do so correctly. Be sure they cant see each other either.

Could you fill out this form.. Be sure not to miss any questions. When you are answering questions be specific and detailed.

Include pictures of both chameleons, and their setup from the lights down.

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[kinyonga]

So you have a male and female?
Please post some photos of them.

 

[MissSkittles]

Thank you! I appreciate it. But I’ve had many many many of chameleons in the past. I was very surprised to see them like each other. I didn’t expect it but he was packaged with her and would’ve leave her side. I had another set up (same set up ) in another cage for him but he was unhappy until I put him in with her. They are baby’s. They are super super sweet too. I’ve always had a way with reptiles. I kinda take the meanest ones and make them sweet. I know it’s not in their nature to be lovable to another cham but they both seem to be extremely happy around each other. I know all I need to know, was just worried about him. He’s alright now, he was just doing his own thing for a bit. He’s being his regular self again now

Hello again. Respectfully, you say you’ve had many many many chameleons in the past, but that does not automatically mean that you are an expert on keeping them. Please consider that if you were well-versed in chameleons, their care and what various behaviors mean, you would not have posted your original query. There are experts on chameleon keeping here on the forum and even they will probably admit that they are constantly learning new things about the finer points of chams.
While we do like to think our scaly friends do share the same emotions that we do, they do not. I’m quite new to the world of reptiles, but I’m finding that the majority of them much prefer solitary lives and are not happy and it can be detrimental to their health and well-being to share enclosures.
You obviously love your chams and want them to live long happy/healthy lives. You are being offered help in doing so. I suggest accepting that help and the advice of the very experienced keepers here.