Gaping...for fun?

[heather89]

I've read a lot on the forum and done searches about mouth gaping so I know that it can be caused by heat, URI, aggression, but I have a cham that does it a lot and none of the previously mentioned reasons fits.

Jackson's male, ~1 year old, ~65 grams. 85 max temp in basking spot, day cool spot of ~74 and a nighttime temp. of 65-68. (doesn't seem like heat would be the issue)

He gapes like almost a greeting when I enter the room and then closes his mouth shortly after or when I walk over. He does not retreat from the front of his enclosure, doesn't turn dark. He isn't afraid of me (unlike when he was younger) and doesn't shy away from me or my hand. (doesn't seem like behavior if it was aggression or fear)

He gapes before feeding time briefly as I prep food. I hand feed silkworms and the occasional meal worm and he hunts for his crickets. He seems very healthy. He eats good. His tongue, eyes, and mouth all look good. Fecal is normal. Alert, aware, and overall just seems like a healthy male in his prime. (I feel like a URI would show in more ways than just gaping).

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? I didn't think much of it until I read over and over that this is not ok behavior.

 

[NHenn]

Based off the situations where he is gaping and how he is doing it I would assume it is heat related. I would try dropping the temps during the day by even 2-3 degrees and see if it stops, you might be surprised.

 

[heather89]

Thanks. I'll try that. He actually hangs out toward the top of the cage. It's 48 inches tall and he hangs out and gapes about 12 inches from the top. He comes down at night and when hunting, but otherwise he has a favorite stick toward the top. You'd think the goofball would just move down where it's cooler, but I think I'll raise the basking bulb and see if that makes a difference.

 

[SilverWolf]

Thanks. I'll try that. He actually hangs out toward the top of the cage. It's 48 inches tall and he hangs out and gapes about 12 inches from the top. He comes down at night and when hunting, but otherwise he has a favorite stick toward the top. You'd think the goofball would just move down where it's cooler, but I think I'll raise the basking bulb and see if that makes a difference.

You know I am not too sure if it is heat, but go ahead and try raising it just in case. Before I had good foliage and sticks for him to bask under the basking bulb, he had to climb the screen ceiling and hang upside down under the bulb. Now this was too hot for him, so when he was really little, he would just hang there, and become blotched and spotted in colour and gaping. he was stressed because he was too hot, but couldn't really reason to climb down because that wold be "too cold" XD. Once I put more sticks up there, he basks there and never has a need to hang upside down anymore. But yes…chameleons are indeed silly sometimes. That's okay though, it makes caring for them entertaining.