colour changing question!!!

[mjdunkin]

my vieled cham is 2 and a half months old and i have had him for two weeks.
when i got him his neutral colour was green.
then he shed his skin a week ago and now seems to always be brown and turn green on the odd occasion.

Is this natural?

he has been sitting with his mouth open a lot today aswell.
Why is this?

 

[Jamelon]

if they are sitting there with their mouth open then he may be too hot. What are the temperatures in your enclosure?

 

[ruru]

for babies i wouldnt go above 80, around 78 is the perfect temp, usually when their mouths are open it means they are to hot(it's their way of panting like a dog) and it may be darker b/c it is still getting used to its new home still.

 

[mjdunkin]

coolest area is about 70F and basking spot is about 83-85F

 

[pssh]

What are you measuring temps with? If you fill out the how to ask for help form it may help to pinpoint things that may be causing him to stress out.

 

[mjdunkin]

i measuring temps with the exo terra thermometer and i filled out one of them sheets and got a lot of useful info but he only just started being brown a lot

 

[pssh]

Is it digital? It never hurts to check!

 

[mjdunkin]

no just a standard thermometer but im not the most knowledgeable cham keeper but im pretty sure i can read a thermometer and it i know it works.

 

[Jamelon]

standard thermometers arent the most accurate, digital ones are better. How often do you mist/day?

 

[mjdunkin]

i dont mist the tank i have a live plant for some humidity and a waterfall which i change the water every day with clean water(not tap water) to prevent bacteria from forming.

 

[ruru]

i dont mist the tank i have a live plant for some humidity and a waterfall which i change the water every day with clean water(not tap water) to prevent bacteria from forming.

i would highly suggest you take the waterfall out!!! that is a breeding ground for bacteria even with pure distilled water(even if you do clean it daily) and your chameleon can drown in it and if you believe your temps are correct i would lower them a little (to the suggested temp above)
and yes you can get more accurate answers if you fill out the "how to ask for help form" that i will have below
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.

 

[Ionstorm]

I would also recommend you fill out the how to ask for question form as posted above.

To start though pick up a digital thermometer they are much more accurate. Also remove the waterfall and start to mist the enclosure at least twice daily. The live plant helps hold the moisture in the enclosure but if you arent misting there wont be much humidity to hold in.

 

[jr andrade]

Yeah you need to do some misting for humidity he may have a URI because of low humidity and his opening his mouth is him trying to breathe through the thick liquid in his lungs

 

[pssh]

I wouldn't jump to a URI just yet. You need a digital thermometer to test the temps. Even a good non-digital thermometer can be several degrees off.

 

[jr andrade]

He just said he doesnt mist it which is just begging for respiratory problems now i agree it may not be a URI but its either a URI or high temps. He also said its around 70 degrees everywhere else now if the thermometer was "a little bit off" it wouldn't be so off that he has his mouth open.

 

[pssh]

Since when does dryness cause URIs?

 

[sandrachameleon]

A quality old-style thermometre, using mercury or the new stuff that is safer, are actually very accurate. The dial type are not. Even digitals can be a degree or two off. But its still a good idea to have a digital, one that saves the high/low max/min information, so you know wht the temperature has been while you were asleep or away at work etc. For less than $30 and homedepot you can get a cheap one that will also monitor humidity (which in a previous thread you indicated you were not yet doing).

Its worth the few dollars, especially as you have a very young chameleon, and are using a glass terrarium and a strong wattage bulb (nothing wrong with glass, but you do need to watch temps with babies and glass retains heat well.)

While your chameleon isnt likely to drown in a water fall, they DO easily build up with bacteria. Especially inside, where you cannot clean.

Dark colours can indicate stress. Or that it is warming itself (absorbing as much heat from light as possible). Open mouth can mean its too hot. Sometimes they will sit in the heat, get too hot, open their mouth to release heat, but not be smart enough to leave the basking area. Is your chameleon brown when in the basking area? Where is it when mouth is open? How often is its mouth open? Do you hear any sounds when the chameleon is breath with its mouth open? Can the chameleon get to the UVB withOUT being in the heat of the basking area?

Did you see the advice Kinyonga and others provided to your thread seeking advice - and did you follow the advice?