If a chameleon has its mouth open does it always point to something bad?

[Jonah S]

Every now and then Larry will have his mouth open and when he sees me he closes it. He isn't gaping and there isn't heavy breathing, he acts and looks completely normal. He doesn't always do it, today was the first time I saw him do it in two weeks or so. He just saw a vet a few weeks ago and got great remarks so I don't imagine anything happened since then, I just figured I would ask and get some opinions.

 

[jannb]

He might be too hot. What's his hottest temps?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Might he be a bit hot?

 

[Goggles]

They will gape to lower their body temperature.
Is he under his heat lamp when he does this?

 

[kinyonga]

If he's just too hot its easy to remedy...but if you hear any popping or wheezing noises and/or he keeps it open even when he's not too hot then its a health issue.

 

[Jonah S]

He is usually toward the top of his enclosure, ironically in front of the heat lamp. I have his temperature probe on one of his bendy sticks and it gets to 90 or so. He can climb on the side of the cage infront of the map though where I imagine it is a bit warmer. As of yet he hasn't done that, at least that I have seen.


There isn't any popping or wheezing, just him with his mouth open slightly.

 

[jannb]

90 is to hot...get him down to around 80.

 

[Goggles]

90 is to hot...get him down to around 80.

Jann is right.
You can lower the wattage of the bulb to reduce his basking temperature. It's easier than lowering his basking spot.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Ya 90F is quite hot. What's the temp in the middle of the cage, away from the basking spot? Are there similar branches and leaves mid-cage? Can it reach the UVB light without being in the basking heat spot? One wonders why it would choose to spend too much time in too high heat, rather than just moving away.

 

[kongchi]

It might also be because hes almost shedding, or atleast, thats what mine does.

 

[Jonah S]

I will move the lamp until I can get a lower wattage, I'm using a 75 watt right now. Ill check the temp for the middle of the cage tomorrow, it is usually around the mid to low 80's and it gets cooler as he moves towards the left side of the cage. There are ample climbing limbs and branches, he seems to enjoy the lamp a bit too much. I have had to move the lamp a number of times because he wants to get as close to it as he can sometimes. The UVB lamp is resting on top of the cage while the heat lamp is off towards the side angled in so he could very easily get UVB only if he wanted to and infact he does this at various points of the day.

I have often times wondered what Larry is thinking. Like I said, he really loves to be in front of the lamp and I have moved it before so he doesn't get cooked. Other times he will move away from it and hang more towards the UVB. It really just depends on the day and what he feels like doing I suppose.

 

[JaxyGirl]

I will move the lamp until I can get a lower wattage, I'm using a 75 watt right now. Ill check the temp for the middle of the cage tomorrow, it is usually around the mid to low 80's and it gets cooler as he moves towards the left side of the cage. There are ample climbing limbs and branches, he seems to enjoy the lamp a bit too much. I have had to move the lamp a number of times because he wants to get as close to it as he can sometimes. The UVB lamp is resting on top of the cage while the heat lamp is off towards the side angled in so he could very easily get UVB only if he wanted to and infact he does this at various points of the day.

I have often times wondered what Larry is thinking. Like I said, he really loves to be in front of the lamp and I have moved it before so he doesn't get cooked. Other times he will move away from it and hang more towards the UVB. It really just depends on the day and what he feels like doing I suppose.

Try a 60 wat bulb and see how that works