Flapjack turning black in sun

[LBonawitz]

My flapjack is always nice and green in his cage under his normal lights, but in the summer time (its coming again YAY!) i like to put him outside in direct sunlight for a more "natural" feel for him, but he always just turns black and looks mad. Why does he turn black in natural, unfiltered sun light?

 

[Miss Lily]

I would think that he's darkening his skin to absorb the heat. They seem to bask differently in natural sunlight. Lily turns very dark and puffs up while flattening out to expose one side more to the sun. The other side of her that's not in the sun stays light green. I see your chameleon is not a veiled, so maybe it's not the same for different types of chams.

 

[LBonawitz]

oh, well that would make sence. like a black sweater in the sun gets really hot. thank you! i guess i was just thinking of his mood and not his temprature. shame on me thank you!

 

[Miss Lily]

Here's a pic of Lily basking in the sun. She leans right over to make her surface area as large as possible and can double the size of her belly/side when she basks. I've seen her get bigger and darker than this.

 

[cLoNe]

Thats corrected Miss Lily. . thats what they do to absorb the heat more.

 

[LBonawitz]

oh, thank you all very much. i was so worried he was mad for some reason. the last thing i wanna do is make him mad and stressed out.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post

 

[chamelisa]

Sounds like normal basking behavior. Hey, how come you talk about this nice little fuelleborni but you don't show us pictures?

 

[Cainschams]

Sounds like normal basking behavior. Hey, how come you talk about this nice little fuelleborni but you don't show us pictures?

Thats what I was thinking

 

[merumontanus]

Sounds like normal basking behavior. Hey, how come you talk about this nice little fuelleborni but you don't show us pictures?

No kidding! Gorgeous species-- and much more rare in collections these days.

He must love the climate up there. A dream to any montane chameleon enthusiast...

 

[kinyonga]

It could also be his "I'm on guard" coloration from being outside of hit "territory" (his cage).