Hissing, but not intimidated?

[SilverWolf]

So my jackson chameleon, Tricky was just being a jackson chameleon, relaxing, walking around on a vine, sitting a few minutes and exploring a bit more. It was about time for me to start misting his enclosure, and as I opened the door he climbed all the way to the highest branch right under the basking light. I started misting, and let him drink out of my spray bottle. After I finished, I noticed he was sitting in the same spot but with his mouth opened. But he was just yawning it seemed. But after looking back a minute later, he was gaping again. Not yawning though. I checked for signs of respiratory infection but no signs other than gaping. I decided to give him some more water, and he drank again out of my spray bottle. After I stopped and set the bottle down, he opened his mouth again but as though to yawn, only he made a strange sound. It wasn't a clicking, "clacking" or popping noise. It was kind of like a hiss. It almost sounded like a human gagging. If you've ever seen the Disney film, Tangled, it reminded me of a sound the chameleon Pascal would make. It was sort of like a hiss, but it definitely wasn't a hiss at me. he was also noticeably blotched at the time. I figured if it wasn't respiratory infection as there are no other signs of that, then it might have been that he was too hot (right under the basking bulb) but didn't realize WHY he was so hot.

But what do you think? I've checked and he's fine right now, not gaping anymore. He's actually climbing back down as I type.

 

[sharp229]

You are correct, they gape when they are too hot. If he was doing this right under the basking light then chances are heat is the cause. Some of my chameleons will gape when basking for a minute or two and then eventually climb away. It seems like it takes them a while to decide they are too hot, even though they have numerous basking spots at different temps.

As long as your temps are right he is probably fine. Not sure what the sound would have been, maybe he was swallowing something?

 

[SilverWolf]

The only thing he could be swallowing would be the water I gave him, but yes I suppose that's possible.

 

[sharp229]

It's hard to say without seeing it. If he continues to do it try getting a video.

 

[junglefries]

I wonder how many chams are in animated movies. I knew of Rango, but not of Tangled. My son and I have watched Rango so many times. Are all the cham movies one word titled?

 

[SilverWolf]

I wonder how many chams are in animated movies. I knew of Rango, but not of Tangled. My son and I have watched Rango so many times. Are all the cham movies one word titled?

Tangled is more family orientated than Rango, in my opinion. Not sure if your son would like Tangled more than Rango though, it's…arguably a "disney princess movie," although they specifically made an effort to attract family's, boys any girls rather than just little girls.

Anyway, here's a picture of what Pascal, the chameleon in the film Tangled, looks like.

http://cartoonsimages.com/sites/default/files/field/image/disney-tangled-pascal-wallpaper-0592.jpg