Gaping mouth
- Thread starter heidipaige1988
- Start date
heidipaige1988
New Member
This is a photo of her from the front
Please post some photos of all of her.How old is she?
Does she have an egg laying bin in her cage?
What’s the basking temperature? Is she sitting in the basking area when she’s doing it?
How much do you feed her in a week?
What supplements do you use and how often for each. I’m particularly concerned about D3, prEformed vitamin A, calcium.
Does she have an egg laying bin in her cage?
What’s the basking temperature? Is she sitting in the basking area when she’s doing it?
How much do you feed her in a week?
What supplements do you use and how often for each. I’m particularly concerned about D3, prEformed vitamin A, calcium.
heidipaige1988
New Member
Here is a full pic I took of her while she was doing it. She just developed her colors around 2 months ago. She only does it in her basking area which is currently at 81 degrees.
heidipaige1988
New Member
Sorry I forgot to add she does have a laying bin
heidipaige1988
New Member
I have been giving her 4-5 large crickets dusted in the repti calcium every day and then twice a month I give her 3 dusted with reptivite
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
That looks as though your Chamaeleo calypatratus is thermoregulating if your Chamaeleo calpatratus is doing that behavior only while basking. That is normally done under a basking spot without opening their mouths. However I have had chameleons open their mouths while thermoregulating before. I would keep an eye on that behavior.
Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
How are you measuring basking temps? Are you using a thermometer gun, analog gauge, one with a wired probe end, etc?
heidipaige1988
New Member
I use one with a wired probe end
heidipaige1988
New Member
I’m not sure but she just started developing her colors 2 months ago
ehdee6
Chameleon Enthusiast
My Jackson does this when he's regulating his heat. The difference between heat regulation and an URI is that: with an URI the cham would be looking up, and you'd hear them struggling to breath; whereas, with heat regulation they just sit with their mouth open (like a puppy on a hot day). But, being it's a female vailed of maturity, I'd also be worried about her egg production. I see you've previously been given the link to @MissSkittles wonderful blog on egg laying, and you've mentioned that you have a lay bin. If you'd like a full husbandry review please copy and paste the following with your answers. 
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
--------------
Please Note:
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?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
--------------
Please Note:
- The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
- Photos can be very helpful.
heidipaige1988
New Member
It’s behind her tail. Should it be in the center of the basking area? I have it on the edge because I was afraid she’d mess with it
heidipaige1988
New Member
My Jackson does this when he's regulating his heat. The difference between heat regulation and an URI is that: with an URI the cham would be looking up, and you'd hear them struggling to breath; whereas, with heat regulation they just sit with their mouth open (like a puppy on a hot day). But, being it's a female vailed of maturity, I'd also be worried about her egg production. I see you've previously been given the link to @MissSkittles wonderful blog on egg laying, and you've mentioned that you have a lay bin. If you'd like a full husbandry review please copy and paste the following with your answers.
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?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
--------------
Please Note:
- The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
- Photos can be very helpful.
- Your Chameleon - Veiled Chameleon, Female, 7-8 months (estimated)
- Handling - Rarely handle. Once a month maybe
- Feeding - 4-5 large crickets dusted in repti calcium once a day, everyday. 3 reptivite dusted crickets twice a month. I give the crickets the cricket food they sell at the store.
- Supplements - repti calcium without d3 all feedings, reptivite with d3 2 times a month
- Watering - I use a spray bottle mister twice a day. Morning and night for around 2 minutes
- Fecal Description - brown with pure white tip no orange
- History -she is a rescue from wildlife. She was released in the wild in Florida and I took her in
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - full screen cage
- Lighting - linear uvb bulb t5 and heating bulb 50w both by Arcadia for 10 hrs a day
- Temperature - basking is 81 and non basking lower levels are 78. Gets to 70 at night
- Humidity - I have a humidifier I run at night with a wire probe at the end which detects humidity. Reptizoo brand one green base
- Plants - pothos, monstera and a dying croton that needs to be replaced
- Placement - on top of a 4ft dresser away from vents and ceiling fan isn’t used
- Location - I am in south west Florida
Current Problem
- My girl currently has an open mouth when she’s in her basking area and I am worried she might be sick. She sneezes sometimes but I believe that is snalt due to hard water I use in all of her drinking/misting water (I will be changing her type of water from now on)
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Your husbandry looks pretty good to my quick scan. I wonder about her being fed so much and her egg production. Can you post some current pics of all of her body? Different views if you can get them would really help.
heidipaige1988
New Member
heidipaige1988
New Member
I didn’t think I was over feeding her. I was following the instructions I was given in the last post I made and I must’ve mis read them. I thought at 6-7 they still got fed daily?
