Is it normal?

[R0UCHEBAG]

I have an 11 week old Nosey Be that I got from LLLReptile last Saturday so I have had him for 8 days.

He always seems to find a new spot to hang out at in his cage which is a 2X2X4 screen enclosure. Generally he spends a lot of time in the top of his cage but not an abundant amount of time in his basking spot which generally ranges from 81-84 degrees. Today he spent an hour or two in his basking spot, I saw him eat at least 5 lil crickets but I know he ate at least a few more than that just by doing a quick inventory of the crickets roaming around his cage.

Anyways, more to the point, he has been hanging out in the same spot which is about halfway up/down his cage resting his head on a leaf. He is fully aware of his surroundings and his eyes are open and did a good deal of following me around. His colors seem normal and all seems fine, except that he is so "low" in his cage for hanging out. I know they like to wander and check out the majority of their cages but it just seems like an extended amount of time to be down there. Is this normal? Am I just making a bigger deal of it then I should be? I don't KNOW him well enough to KNOW that this is just what he does so maybe I shouldn't be concerned but I just wanted to be reassured by other forum members that this is a standard thing. The only thing I have done differently than ever before is given him the calcium with D3 today. I plan to keep my regiment with supplements the same as most here on the forum and give him Calcium w/o D3 5 days a week (Monday-Friday), nothing on Saturday, and alternate between Calcium with D3 and a Multivitamin on Sundays.

Should I be concerned?

 

[Rockalita]

I feel your pain, i have been trying to look for unusual behavior in my panther chameleon but have only had him since wednesday so I am still trying to learn his normal behavior but people on here are so helpful!!!! Good luck!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I think his temperatures might just be a little too hot at his basking area. I kept mine at 83 and found that my baby would "gape" a lot when his temps were that high. I suggest you go ahead and keep him at 80 at the most and he will probably get closer to his basking area. My little baby wasn't smart enough to stay lower to avoid the heat but your little guy is doing the right thing. Hope this helps! I have only had my baby for 5 days but have learned LOTS here.

 

[R0UCHEBAG]

I feel your pain, i have been trying to look for unusual behavior in my panther chameleon but have only had him since wednesday so I am still trying to learn his normal behavior but people on here are so helpful!!!! Good luck!

Haha, they weren't lying when they said you will worry as if it was your child. I don't have children, but at least I know the characteristics of a human more than a chameleon!

 

[R0UCHEBAG]

I think his temperatures might just be a little too hot at his basking area. I kept mine at 83 and found that my baby would "gape" a lot when his temps were that high. I suggest you go ahead and keep him at 80 at the most and he will probably get closer to his basking area. My little baby wasn't smart enough to stay lower to avoid the heat but your little guy is doing the right thing. Hope this helps! I have only had my baby for 5 days but have learned LOTS here.

I have learned lots already too. Maybe I will just move my light up a couple inches and see if that helps. Thanks ma'am!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Your welcome! I do the same, i'm here all day to monitor his temps. so if it gets too low I move the bulb closer and if it starts warming up, I lift it up higher.

 

[R0UCHEBAG]

Your welcome! I do the same, i'm here all day to monitor his temps. so if it gets too low I move the bulb closer and if it starts warming up, I lift it up higher.

LoL, no offense ma'am but don't ya think that one day you should try and find the correct spot for it so that if you HAVE to be gone all day you don't have to worry about it

 

[Rockalita]

Yea it is crazy how fast you become attatched to them!!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Oh no, don't say that! Lol! I might have to get something with a lower wattage when that time comes.

 

[JaxyGirl]

You're going to find that when you first get your chams that you are going to worry, worry, worry and worry some more that's normal. We all did it and still do it even when they're older and we've had them for a while. Eventually you and your cham will settle down to with your own routine and you will recognize their mood. It could be that your cham is still scared and getting used to his surroundings and finding comfort in the vegetation lower in the cage. It would definitely help if you filed out the how to ask for help form so we can check out your husbandry and tweak anything that might need to be changed for the health of your cham. https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ and post a couple pics of your cham and setup. But chances are you have the first time cham jitters and so does your cham

 

[JaxyGirl]

Your welcome! I do the same, i'm here all day to monitor his temps. so if it gets too low I move the bulb closer and if it starts warming up, I lift it up higher.

What watt are you using? 40-60 watts usually work well to keep the basking spot consistent. 78-82 is a good temp for babies

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I'm using a 75 I was going to go buy another lower wattage but thought "Why spend more money?". I am planning on getting a lower wattage just not right away. It's far up enough that it doesn't get too hot for him. It has been raining for a couple of days here and has been very cold. I make sure his temps are good. I have a digital thermeter that records the lowest and highest temps and humidity. So far so good...

I know what you mean about first Cham jitters, i'm in our bedroom all day just watching him from our bed and constantly get up to check up on him. I wake up at 7 a.m. to feed, mist, and turn his dripper on. Most of the time I stay up but sometimes I fall back to sleep. I love him! But I often worry, especially because I lost my first Cham after 3 days of having him.

 

[Rockalita]

That sounds just like us, constantly checking the thermometer and humidity levels and just being paranoid, my boyfriend also had one die when he had his friend feed it one day while he was at work and he fed it something he found outside and it died, which makes us extra paranoid in just trying to do everything right!

 

[JaxyGirl]

I'm using a 75 I was going to go buy another lower wattage but thought "Why spend more money?". I am planning on getting a lower wattage just not right away. It's far up enough that it doesn't get too hot for him. It has been raining for a couple of days here and has been very cold. I make sure his temps are good. I have a digital thermeter that records the lowest and highest temps and humidity. So far so good...

I know what you mean about first Cham jitters, i'm in our bedroom all day just watching him from our bed and constantly get up to check up on him. I wake up at 7 a.m. to feed, mist, and turn his dripper on. Most of the time I stay up but sometimes I fall back to sleep. I love him! But I often worry, especially because I lost my first Cham after 3 days of having him.

Have you filled out the "how to ask for help" form Chameleon Info and posted pics?? If you haven't it's a really good thing to do so we can make sure that your set up is correct and help you make any tweaks or adjustments that might be needed for the health of your cham. It only takes a few mins but is really worth the effort.

* 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.