It’s been almost 6 years, really noticing signs of aging with my buddy skittle. I’ve already tried making his enclosure more elderly friendly by adding more vines and added a low wattage basking in the back so he doesn’t get too cold back there. All seems to work fine so far. I must say that it is very hard to see and experience. What has your past experiences been with aging chameleons?
My 6yo chameleon now vs when I just got him
- Thread starter Indominax
- Start date
Sonny13
Chameleon Enthusiast
Awesome he's already 6, good job. Aging is the worst, because you see them slowly decline and you can't do anything to stop it, only to comfort them like you did. Hard times! But, hey he's still there and an active oldie, enjoy him, he still looks like the chameleon version of George Clooney
Yeah exactly, I’ll enjoy him for the time he is around! He is very sluggish nowadays and perched most of the day but as long as he eats and drink I see it as a win
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
From what I’ve seen with other’s experience, he may have some arthritis which reduces his grip and agility. Adding branches or vines in between what you already have can be a help for him. Some have added safety nets to keep their falling chams safe from injury.
My old girl, also 6, has an occasional stumble of missing a branch, but hasn’t fallen. For the past couple of years, she hasn’t been able to shoot her tongue out more than a couple of inches, but she has a shooting gallery feeding station, so she gets right in there to get her bugs. She does pretty well catching black soldier flies even. I haven’t made any real changes for her, but I do watch her a bit closer and am prepared.
I have already decided that I won’t be putting her through vet visits for the natural decline and effects of aging, unless she is needing a humane euthanasia.
Best advice I can give and it doesn’t apply only to chameleons, is make the most out of every day he is with you.
My old girl, also 6, has an occasional stumble of missing a branch, but hasn’t fallen. For the past couple of years, she hasn’t been able to shoot her tongue out more than a couple of inches, but she has a shooting gallery feeding station, so she gets right in there to get her bugs. She does pretty well catching black soldier flies even. I haven’t made any real changes for her, but I do watch her a bit closer and am prepared.
I have already decided that I won’t be putting her through vet visits for the natural decline and effects of aging, unless she is needing a humane euthanasia.
Best advice I can give and it doesn’t apply only to chameleons, is make the most out of every day he is with you.
Glad to hear your girl is still doing well at 6 years! Yeah I had a feeling that he might have arthritis but some local keepers said it might give him more stress than it is worth since I’d have to drive multiple hours to the closest experienced Reptile Vet. The hammocks you mentioned might be a good idea once he starts to fall, have only seen him fall once luckily.
When I had old chameleons that I suspected had arthritis or something else going on in their old systems making gripping harder, I would provide bark strips about 5” wide that could be placed like a ramp for them to have a place that was easy to sit on without being so difficult for them to hold onto.
Sort of like these pieces…
https://www.amazon.ca/VINTORKY-Rept...NGoUAPSB&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1
Sort of like these pieces…
https://www.amazon.ca/VINTORKY-Rept...NGoUAPSB&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1
Thanks for the tip! I managed to find a small piece of cork and placed it as a bridge, hopefully this will help him
Attachments
This was my experience with my boy. It is something that is not easy to watch and honestly I would not wish the experience of watching the decline on my worst enemy. 
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...ttle-love-june-2018-february-9th-2025.194337/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...ttle-love-june-2018-february-9th-2025.194337/
