Dark colours when inside...

[Bizzle90]

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Panther Chameleon, 4 months, in my care for 3 weeks.
Handling - Twice in 3 weeks to bring him outside
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Crickets, silkworms. 12+ crickets every feeding, kale/other dark greens to gut-load.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?rep-cal calicum w/o d3, calcium w/ d3 twice a month
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? Hand-misting until MistKing, 5-10 minutes total per day. He's well hydrated.
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? white urates, healthy looking poop.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. came from a reputable owner


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? screen, 2x2x4`reptibreeze XL
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? 45W household, 5.0 reptisun uvb, 12/12
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? cage floor - 70F. Basking - 85F, measured by a National Geographic gauge, temps overnight - 70F
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Naturally humid basement, national geographic gauge to measure. (60%+)
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? Pachira Acquatica (braided money tree) - many owners on the forum also use this plant.
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? Basement, low traffic, top of cage is about 6' high.
Location - Where are you geographically located? Toronto, Canada


Current Problem - My panther is dark coloured throughout the day, from shades of grey to black. When I stick my hand near him he gets bright/light colours (probably because he gets angry). Also, when I brought him outside twice, he showed very light blue colours. He is also bright colours during his sleep.

Any ideas? Here are a couple of pics to notice the colour difference.

The picture where is was very black only happened once or twice.

 

[Pilotman800]

Is he dark when he's under the basking light? Maybe he's absorbing the heat?

 

[Bizzle90]

Is he dark when he's under the basking light? Maybe he's absorbing the heat?

He's always wandering around the cage, but even when he's near the light - he is still the same greyish colour!

 

[DavidBuchan]

Has he been like this the whole time you had him? What has the previous owner told you about his colours?

 

[Bizzle90]

Has he been like this the whole time you had him? What has the previous owner told you about his colours?

Didn't really ask him, there has been a few times where he has been nicely coloured. His colours are nice when he's outside, so why would they just be darker inside? I doubt the previous owner had the same problem!

 

[DavidBuchan]

I never kept a panther myself.........this is a long time for settling in, but usually if they are eating well then they are healthy. Could you post a couple of pics of the whole cage, maybe even the room? There may be something he doesn't like (bright red curtains? lol, a big mirror?). It would be a process of elimination, but they can be upset by the oddest things.....bright colours are prime suspects for now.....

 

[Bizzle90]

I never kept a panther myself.........this is a long time for settling in, but usually if they are eating well then they are healthy. Could you post a couple of pics of the whole cage, maybe even the room? There may be something he doesn't like (bright red curtains? lol, a big mirror?). It would be a process of elimination, but they can be upset by the oddest things.....bright colours are prime suspects for now.....

I'll tell you what's in the room...

There is a bearded dragon cage about 2-3 feet beside it, but the bd enclosure's sides are covered so they cannot see eachother. The walls are tan coloured, and no mirrors! no wacky curtains either, haha!

 

[Ace]

do you often bother the little guy? excessiv handling, always looking at him closely? looks like he got dark when he started to look at you or the camera...and maybe he wants a little higher basking temp, he does look to be on his side and wanting to bask


other than that i honestly have to tell you he is fine and your husbandry is very decent and spot on


other than that, mostly chams inside do have a little drab or not their best colors inside, because they are calm and do not want to attract attntion

when outside of coursr they brighten up because outside is awsome, though if he gets any more paler, that can be due to high temps/ heat, so give him some shadey areas too.


overall i feel he is fine, just give him some space, and i think he is just chillen

 

[Bizzle90]

do you often bother the little guy? excessiv handling, always looking at him closely? looks like he got dark when he started to look at you or the camera...and maybe he wants a little higher basking temp, he does look to be on his side and wanting to bask


other than that i honestly have to tell you he is fine and your husbandry is very decent and spot on


other than that, mostly chams inside do have a little drab or not their best colors inside, because they are calm and do not want to attract attntion

when outside of coursr they brighten up because outside is awsome, though if he gets any more paler, that can be due to high temps/ heat, so give him some shadey areas too.


overall i feel he is fine, just give him some space, and i think he is just chillen

I don't think I really bother him, I just go in every now and then to check on him! I rarely handle him - only twice since I've bought him. I lowered the bulb, so hopefully it gets warmer and he likes it.

If it is too hot in there, how would I be able to tell? When it is cold they often turn darker to absorb heat, so when it is too hot - do they turn lighter? (whiter?)

 

[Ace]

I don't think I really bother him, I just go in every now and then to check on him! I rarely handle him - only twice since I've bought him. I lowered the bulb, so hopefully it gets warmer and he likes it.

If it is too hot in there, how would I be able to tell? When it is cold they often turn darker to absorb heat, so when it is too hot - do they turn lighter? (whiter?)

yes that is true and when its really hot they open their mouths sorta like gaping

personally the basking temp i like for them to be 85-90 max

and the rest of the cage 70-78

other than that i think you are doing fine they do make us worry

as long as he eats, drinks, and poops you are doing awsome

 

[DavidBuchan]

I'll tell you what's in the room...

There is a bearded dragon cage about 2-3 feet beside it, but the bd enclosure's sides are covered so they cannot see eachother. The walls are tan coloured, and no mirrors! no wacky curtains either, haha!

I'm going to agree with Ace then.......can see no issues with husbandry, he's eating, drinking and pooping ok so there is no problem......