Help, Baby Panther Chameleon is black

[PaulZarate]

Hey guys my baby panther is black, like strict black. It's pretty weird, I think the cage is set up fine, the temperature is usually in the high 70's low 80's and the humidity is around 50%-60%. I have two live plants in there and he's 3 months old. This just started happening today, but when I put my hand in there he seems to turn back to his original color.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3130/photo2ib.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2044/photofy.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2691/photo1db.jpg

 

[Julirs]

You may want to try bumping up the temps a bit-he may be cold.

 

[PaulZarate]

Well at that moment it was kind of low compared to usual. It's usually on 80 or above.

 

[Lancecham]

He will display better colors if it was a little warmer in the cage.

 

[PaulZarate]

How warm is a good temperature?

 

[Julirs]

Try 85-87F.

 

[PaulZarate]

I raised the temperature up to 86 and he was still black, however the temperature dropped 75º and he went back to his normal colors. Are all panther chameleons different with their requirements?

 

[Julirs]

I raised the temperature up to 86 and he was still black, however the temperature dropped 75º and he went back to his normal colors. Are all panther chameleons different with their requirements?

Every individual is different. I would leave him between 80-85. He gets his colors back because that is what they do when they are stressed, you are near, or messing with him.

 

[Puppy]

Funny huh? I've got a baby panther also he's going on 4 months in a week. He also is black a lot of the time temps and all are fine. I think thats just the way they look when babies. I'm sure when you are putting your hand in there he is getting fired up and thats why his color changes. Mine will go from black to green and he is even starting to show some colors like yellow and a little red on his neck. Give him time to grow his color will come.

 

[dmaizer]

my baby panther is the same as your panther, and the same temps.

 

[panthercham]

Every individual is different. I would leave him between 80-85. He gets his colors back because that is what they do when they are stressed, you are near, or messing with him.

This is good advice...bump up the temps. You haven't had him very long so he he is stressed with adjusting to his new surroundings, with you and you just fussing over him.

Give him some privacy and a little bit of time to settle in....he sees you as a predator at the moment and is a frightened baby cham (you said he is turning black when you put your hand in his cage). Maybe put an old towel around 1 or 2 sides of his cage to block some of his view of people and to make him feel more safe. Take down the towel for an hour or 2 a day gradually increasing it until he is settled in and more relaxed. They are all individuals and some take to their new surroundings fairly quickly and others take longer.

He is a lovely cham