Colours of enclosures

[littleliz]

I personally prefer the idea of greens in vivs however there does seem to be very differeing oppinions that I keep coming across. What colours can your chams see in their enclosure?

I noticed on another post on the forum that a member said they were going to change the colour of their pegboard style viv to black/dark brown, and another member said that black should not be used because it implied danger to chameleons? On the other hand there are other references to dark coloured vivs having the opposite effect
http://www.ukchameleons.co.uk/housingwood.htm
and ofcause the flexariums that everyone seems to favour around here are indeed black mesh? So does anyone have a really good link to anywhere that tells us more about the effect of colours on our chams. I think this is really interesting.

 

[dodolah]

I can certainly understand what you are worried about.
I do like the ideas of having green cage for your chameleons.
As far as Black goes, let me just say that i have 2 chameleons and both are in a screen cage with black aluminum bars.

My veiled show stress coloration all the time (except when he's moved into the silver cage outside); while at the same time, my panther seems to be careless of the black color.
But, then again, it could be that my veiled isn't liking his new reptile room, instead of his new cage.

With that being said however, I do notice that my veiled seems to be calmer when I am wearing green or white shirt.
And, again, my panther seemed to be fine with whatever color.
He only knew that when the cage door is open, it's time for him to check out his feeding cup.

off course, the logic behind hating "Black" imho is that the color seems to be stress/ danger/ aggression coloration.

With the black and both of your eyes focusing on the chameleon (it's can't be helped since we cannot move our eyes independently like them ), I wouldn't be surprised that in his mind, you looked like a bigger chameleon that is about to make him into lunch.

Is that making sense at all?
sorry if i sound confusing. I'm typing this at 2 am.

 

[littleliz]

so does the chams not liking dark colours only apply if people wear black????
There must be research that has been done on the effect of colours on our chams?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I haven't had a problem with black.
Chameleons can see all colors (better than we can)
"Fired up" colors seem to be the ones that stress them ... ie: don't paint your viv red or yellow.
Greens and browns would be natural looking and cause no stress.

-Brad

 

[dodolah]

so does the chams not liking dark colours only apply if people wear black????
There must be research that has been done on the effect of colours on our chams?

I am not aware of any research about the effect of colors on chameleons. Perhaps, someone else can chime in about that.
Imho, I think some coloration appear to stress more on certain chameleons.

My veiled has always been timid and shy personality wise.
He reacts strongly with the color of black and red and seems to get "happier" (for the lack of better word) when around neutral color with lighter value (such as white and light green).

My panther, he is just happy as long as the guy who keep coming every morning brings him food.

 

[Kosmo]

I haven't had a problem with black.
Chameleons can see all colors (better than we can)
"Fired up" colors seem to be the ones that stress them ... ie: don't paint your viv red or yellow.
Greens and browns would be natural looking and cause no stress.

-Brad

I agree with this completely. If you look at the nature of the animal, nearly all chameleon social interaction is based on visual ques. For example when a chameleon fires up, it displays the most vibrant colours possible to ward off members of the same species, when stressed they darken and blend extremely well with their environment. (I am amazed every time I see my bright orange\yellow Maroensetra disappear into an all green enclosure. Associated with firing up is also the puffing of the body to appear larger as well as an open mouth. My personal philosophy is to keep colours earthy and nature. My cages are dark brown… greens, black, even stained wood tones would all be suggested. Avoid the brighter colours where possible.

regards,
Kosmo

 

[slof]

keeeping browns and greens in the cages would be best as your keeping natural environment feel to it all and the only reason i can think of for reacting to wat yor wareing is if u look remotly like natural preditors and as your a hell of alot bigger its goin to seem threterning to them

 

[sandrachameleon]

Next time I paint I'm planning to do blotches of green, brown and black.

But does anyone think it would be wrong of me to do a little "experiment" ?
I thought I'd paint some cardboard pieces in different colours, cut to fit one side or the back of the cage. Put in the white painted one, observe behaviour of occupant. Put black in, observe. Green, Blue, Brown....
thoughts? I dont really like the idea of "using" my pets, but I am kinda curious to see what they seem to "like" best, so that I can use that preferred colour thereafter.

 

[littleliz]

Don't foget to let us all know the outcome. I think it would be fine. After all if your cham seems upset by the experiment you don't have to continue.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I did the experiment today
See page three of this related thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/question-black-cages-7405/index3.html#post140318