keeps going to bottom!

[peddro]

Cage Info:

* Cage Type - screen and wood. 5.5'HX2.5'WX2'L?
* Lighting - exo terra UVA 150W for heat. repti-sun 5.0 linear tube UVB? 8am-10pm?
* Temperature - basking-87 degrees-floor-65 degrees? Lowest overnight temp-62 degrees. measured by digital thermometer.
* Humidity - not sure, i know this is bad-need to get a digital hygrometer. i mist him once a day for 10 mins, he drinks almost always. used to have an analog hygrometer but it sucks
* Plants - all live plants? umbrella, weeping fig, hibiscus,snake plant,pothos,dracaena?
* Location - basment, in a corner? not too much trafic. 5.5' is the highest


Chameleon Info:

* Your Chameleon - adlut male veiled-16 months approx.had him since february
* Handling - only when cleaning, if he gets stuck at bottom of cage.
* Feeding - silks, crickets, butterworms,wax worms and horn worms occasionally. around ten per feeding. feed every second day. at least one night they are gutloaded.
* Supplements - use herpitive multi-vitamin, calcium, calcium without vitamin D3-all rep-cal brand.
M------- Multivitamin with Beta Carotene
W------- Calcium without D3
F---------- Calcium with D3
Sun--------- No dusting required
* Watering - misting, water gathers on his head and he drinks it when it falls on his lips. 10 mins. he drinks everyday.
* Fecal Description - feces is dark brown, urine is white, no tested for parasites
* History - his old owner kept him in a 15 gallon because"he looked more comfortable", i moved him to a 44 gallon and then the new cage i just built him.
* Current Problem - he keeps going to the bottom of the cage and just sitting on the umbrella tree, i think he can't figure out how to get to the top.

 

[roguekiller23231]

I wouldnt worry, it's either too hot for your chameleon so he's moving down the viv. or he's looking for a dark spot to get some sleep.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Do you have sticks and biovine or something else that he can climb on between plants? If you provide lots of sticks or vine for him to travel on you may see some change. Kind of like a later and bridges to all the locations in the cage.

If you could post a pic I am sure people would be able to provide some good feedback

 

[peddro]

i'll get some more vines. should i just leave him there?

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

It may be a little cool for him , but he should seek out the bask area if he is too cool. You could try placing him a little higher near the basking spot. If he cannot find his way up there he may just not know its there. There is a chance he may just be hiding and doing what Chams do. Are there periods of time you do not observe him. He may be basking when you are not looking. The vines will help a lot. Make sure when you place the vines they lead at some point to the basking area.

 

[opihiman]

How is your Chams coloration? This may give you insight to whether you should mess with him....If he is that nice green and is acting normally except for being low....let him be...IMO

Also, where is you thermometer positioned on your cage...it is the cage where he basks or hanging on the outside?
just curious...

OPI

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I agree OPI - I think he is just doing what Chams do.

 

[Julirs]

You are a bit heavy on the calcium with D3 and the Vitamin-I would reduce the D3 to 2X monthly and the multi-vit to once monthly.

 

[AndrewH]

hes just thermoregulating, you need to worry when your cham is sprawled out on the cage floor. not from him just hanging out at the bottom. Im sure hes fine.

 

[SoCaliSon]

exo terra UVA 150W for heat.

This worries me... Your heat buld doesn't need to put out any kind of UV, and from what it sounds like this may be a compact coil(looks like a corkscrew) bulb...If it is... Ditch it fast. It is a good quetion about where your temp gauge is located. 87' sounds low if you are using a 150w bulb... seems like a 150 watt baskng bulb would cause higher temps, and may in cases be overkill. I use 60 watt house bulbs for basking and they do fine warming it up, and actually keeps the basking spot (8-10 inches from the bulb) around 92'. Whenever I see this behavior it tends to be because it is too hot higher in the cage near the bulbs, and they are down looking for a cooler spot to escape the heat. And like was said...make sure there is plenty for him to climb around on. Double check the temps under the basking bulb and make sure he is not just trying escape the heat.

~Joe

 

[peddro]

he is dark. he looks cold. the thermometer is 6" from the bulb. my house is usually pretty cold so... the UVA bulb is just a basking bulb, not swirly thingy-don't worry. he just sat there all day. i had to put some plastic under the cage and he climbed up to the top as he was a little concerned why his house was shaking(not crazily though) i'll put some more sticks in tonight.

 

[opihiman]

UV-A? Is this right?

OPI

Just Checking

 

[peddro]

it's just an incandescent bulb for reptiles. maybe look it up.

 

[peddro]

hey. he went up to the top today. he wasn't lost i guess. thanks