Chameleon trying to escape

[Nova14]

I’ve had my chameleon for a while now. When I first got him he had some heath problems but he is doing much better now. I recently moved him into a bigger cage and he was very happy in it for the first few months. He ended up eating a bunch of the plants so it was pretty sparse. He started trying to escape so I added a bunch more but it’s been a few weeks and he’s still trying to get out. The cage is 36 inches high 18inches deep and 36 inches wide. I have all the right lighting and he gets good ventilation. The humidity if a little low cause we live in a desert but not so low it should cause a problem. I don’t know if he’s bored or sick or just needs more time to adjust. The screen on the side is usually taped to the front so it can get ventilation.

 

[ehdee6]

Hey hey,

I understand Iggy had a Respiratory issue you recently treated. Can you answer the following questions to help us better understand the situation? 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.

 

[Andrew1283]

He probably sees his reflection in that front glass

 

[Nova14]

Hey hey,

I understand Iggy had a Respiratory issue you recently treated. Can you answer the following questions to help us better understand the situation? 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.

• Your Chameleon - The species: vailed sex: M age:~11months How long has it been in your care? ~7 months
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Only for vet visits or when he escapes.
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Cricket (all he’ll eat but trying to get some other stuff) What amount? However much he wants What is the schedule? Some in morning and night How are you gut-loading your feeders? With some fruits and vegetables we pre mixed
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repi zoo calcium without d3 and vitamins with d3. Calcium ever other day and vitamins every 3 weeks
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Dripper from the top How often and how long to you mist? In the morning before his lights come on. Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? He has never been tested but his poop is regular and looks heathy
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. He has a slight deformity in his ribs from breaking them before we got him. The vet said that he looks healthy now and it doesn’t look like it causes him any pain.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Combo. dimensions above.
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? Reptisun 5.0 strip and 100watt heat light. What is your daily lighting schedule? On at 8:30 off at 21:00
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Floor ~68 basking spot ~86 Lowest overnight temp? 68 How do you measure these temps? Temperature gauge
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? Day ~40-50 night ~75-85 How are you creating and maintaining these levels? Mist and fogged What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity gauge
• Plants - Are you using live plants? Yes If so, what kind? Pothos, umbrella tree. I don’t remember the others but I looked them up before buying to makes sure they were safe
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? We have a fan in the room so it doesn’t get stuffy. The room is low traffic. At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor? 66in
• Location - Where are you geographically located? West texas

 

[ehdee6]

As the others said, it could be that he's used to a screen cage and is now seeing his reflection in the glass. It looks like you have most things in check. I'm not 100% on the supplement schedule. I have a female vailed and give her calcium with every feeding, and the multivitamin (Arcadia LoD) every other week.

Feeding - Cricket (all he’ll eat but trying to get some other stuff) What amount? However much he wants What is the schedule? Some in morning and night How are you gut-loading your feeders? With some fruits and vegetables we pre mixed

For feeders, you mentioned in your other recent thread, that he's on a cricket only strike. Understandable, some chams really love the movement/hunt. Have you tried getting black soldier larvae to hatch into flies? Or blue bottle larvae? My Jackson can be a bit picky too, he loves the hunt. I've found fly larvae are much easier to hatch into flies, than caterpillars into moths. Just keep the larvae in a warm area and they'll start transforming into flies in no time! You might have to order these larvae online. Also he's getting to the age where he might naturally be losing interest in eating everyday. Have you tried feeding him every 2nd or 3rd day?

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Dripper from the top How often and how long to you mist? In the morning before his lights come on. Do you see your chameleon drinking? Yes

Are you hand misting, along with the fogger/dripper? I recently switched from hand misting to an automated system. I've found that the automated system creates more humidity. I'd also suggest misting just before lights out. This gives them time to clean themselves and drink before they're left in the dark. Once the lights go out their first priority becomes finding a safe place to sleep, not drinking or cleaning.

Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? Reptisun 5.0 strip and 100watt heat light. What is your daily lighting schedule? On at 8:30 off at 21:00

How old are the bulbs? Reptisun Zoomed bulbs lose their UVB power after 6 months. Are your basking branches 8" below the UVB fixtures?

Is the bottom bioactive, or are the plants in pots?

 

[Nova14]

As the others said, it could be that he's used to a screen cage and is now seeing his reflection in the glass. It looks like you have most things in check. I'm not 100% on the supplement schedule. I have a female vailed and give her calcium with every feeding, and the multivitamin (Arcadia LoD) every other week.


For feeders, you mentioned in your other recent thread, that he's on a cricket only strike. Understandable, some chams really love the movement/hunt. Have you tried getting black soldier larvae to hatch into flies? Or blue bottle larvae? My Jackson can be a bit picky too, he loves the hunt. I've found fly larvae are much easier to hatch into flies, than caterpillars into moths. Just keep the larvae in a warm area and they'll start transforming into flies in no time! You might have to order these larvae online. Also he's getting to the age where he might naturally be losing interest in eating everyday. Have you tried feeding him every 2nd or 3rd day?



Are you hand misting, along with the fogger/dripper? I recently switched from hand misting to an automated system. I've found that the automated system creates more humidity. I'd also suggest misting just before lights out. This gives them time to clean themselves and drink before they're left in the dark. Once the lights go out their first priority becomes finding a safe place to sleep, not drinking or cleaning.



How old are the bulbs? Reptisun Zoomed bulbs lose their UVB power after 6 months. Are your basking branches 8" below the UVB fixtures?

Is the bottom bioactive, or are the plants in pots?

I am hand misting I got an automatic mister but it broke. The bulbs are fairly new and the basking branches are 7.5” away. The plants are potted. I’ll give the flies a try thank you