Convulsions?

LSepkowski

LSepkowski

New Member
So my chameleon every day or so will be sitting on a branch and will start to convulse forward and back. Sometimes he opens his mouth or puffs up a little in the neck. I figured it's a scare tactic to keep predators away, but it's been happening more often. Does anyone have experience with this? Is he okay?
 
Is it too hot? They open their mouths to cool off too. Have you changed anything in the cage lately? He could be angry at something in the cage... A video would help. Also fill out the how to ask for help form in the health clinic.
 
What kind of cam is he? If he's a Jackson's Male mine does the exact same thing. Sometimes when I walk by or if he sees one of the cats he'll puff right up open his mouth and do a quick couple of jerks almost like a hard shiver for a few seconds. Then he goes on with life as if nothing happened. Just as long as he's eating or drinking...it seems like normal behavior
 
What are the temps of your cage? Like stated before chams will show this behavior if the cage is to hot its like a dog panting
 
JaxyGirl said:
What kind of cam is he? If he's a Jackson's Male mine does the exact same thing. Sometimes when I walk by or if he sees one of the cats he'll puff right up open his mouth and do a quick couple of jerks almost like a hard shiver for a few seconds. Then he goes on with life as if nothing happened. Just as long as he's eating or drinking...it seems like normal behavior
Click to expand...

Yeah he's a jackson. I guess he's acting normal of yours does it too.
 
LSepkowski said:
Yeah he's a jackson. I guess he's acting normal of yours does it too.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily,
Will you fill this out for us?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.


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?


Pictures are helpful
 
[YOUTUBE]iyQ3SQX8oTI&NR[/YOUTUBE]

Does it look like that? That is generally how they show off. Also, just put it on mute the music has nothing to do with it :rolleyes:
 
Leaf dancing... I like that... I also like how Jannb calls it a strut!!! Jasper does that across his vine all the time =]
 
i love watching leaf dancing. It always makes me laugh

steve irwin once found some cham in the wild and noted how it was "blowing" in the wind like a leaf would
 
I didn't get a chance to submit this yesterday.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Jackson's chameleon, Male, Not sure of the age, but he's 5 inches from snout to his butt. I've had him for 3 weeks now?
Handling - I only handle him once every few days for a minute or two. He doesn't like it too much?
Feeding - I give him gut loaded crickets once a day. He'll eat anywhere from 4 - 7? I usually feed him in the morning, and then again later in the day. I am gut loading my feeders with collard greens, endive, and dandelion.
Supplements - I've been lightly dusting my cricket with calcium with d3 (i know that i should be dusting him with calcium without d3, but i haven't been able to find anything at petco or petsmart.)
Watering - I use a drip system, a mister and a spray bottle. I mist 4-5 times a day with a fog maker and I spray the cage with a bottle in between? I have seen my chameleon drink, but i don't see it every day?
Fecal Description - His droppings are a medium/dark brown color. He hasn't been testes for parasites, but he was captive bred.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen. 18x12x22 inches?
Lighting - Repti Glow "Tropical Terrarium Lamp 5.0 UVB," which emits 30% UVA and 5% UVB. It stays on for 12 hours a day.
Temperature - My day time temp is anywhere from 74-77 degrees. Night time temp is 68-71 degrees? I have a digital thermometer sitting on the back wall of the middle of the cage.
Humidity - The humidity is 30%, but i think that my humidifier is wrong because my misting system is in the front of the cage and the hydrometer is attached to the thermometer in the back of the cage. I'd say more around 50. This is definitely an area where I need to work on. Its very dry in my room so its hard to keep the humidity up all the time. The humidifier I'm using now it manual, so i need to be there to turn it on, which obviously doesn't work out well when I'm not home.
Plants - I have a pothos, and just added yesterday a scheffiera arboricola (hawian umbrella), dracaena fragrans (corn plant), and adracaena fragrans (green dracaena)
Placement - My cage is on a dresser in my room. The top of the cage is about 5 feet off the floor. No vents or windows. It's not highly trafficked.
Location - I live in central New Jersey, which is sooo dry during the winter time.
 
And also in to response to rocky's video, his shake is more intense then that. Its like he's shivering back and fourth. He doesn't move his legs to much. They stay put and his body shakes. I've been reading a little bit into MBD and now I'm worried thats what he might have. He has been eating and drinking though. He doesn't do it that often, and when he does shake, it's only a few seconds, so i cant really get a video of it. I haven't have him long enough to do any damage though. =\ Anyone have insight into my problem?
 
I believe jacksons "bob" a lot more intensely then other chameleons.

[YOUTUBE]cHOloO-m_No[/YOUTUBE]

That's a male showing off to a female before mating, but that is basically how they show off to predators etc. As you can see they do a lot more jerks etc. then the other chameleon did.
 
Rocky said:
I would suggest ditching the coil uvb bulb you have and picking up a linear tube. There is a lot of evidence showing that the compact uvb harms chameleons eyes and can cause them to go blind.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...por-bulbs/-/zoo-med-15-repti-sun-50-uvb-bulb/

That's what you need and you can get a cheap fixture for it at walmart or homedepot.
Click to expand...

I do have a linear tube. Petsmart sells the same light in a tube and bulb form, which probably confused you because most people that have repti-glow have the bulb.

Rocky: thanks for the video. That's how my Jackson's moves, much more jerky. I feel better now knowing this is most likely normal behavior. Thanks to everyone else for your help. =)
 
Ok thats good. I just googled the bulb and that was what came up >.<

I believe the reason jacksons are more jerky is because their horns are their main visual while other types use their colors.
 
Rocky said:
I believe jacksons "bob" a lot more intensely then other chameleons.

[YOUTUBE]cHOloO-m_No[/YOUTUBE]

That's a male showing off to a female before mating, but that is basically how they show off to predators etc. As you can see they do a lot more jerks etc. then the other chameleon did.
Click to expand...

Thats funny because I do the same thing when I show off for females
 
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