My boy is shedding....is this normal behavior?

[lovepicasso]

My now maybe 4 month old veiled is shedding, the first time I have seen this in him and he acts like he is pissed off at the entire world.....he bloats himself up, turns dark and has almost fallen off his favorite limb trying to scratch the back of his head with his back foot....he really doesn't want me to hold him and turns his back on me if I put my hand to him....is this normal, he is hurting my feelings?

 

[SouthCaliChameleon]

I'm wondering if my little man is going to shed too... his colors are'nt as good and he's darker, and for the first time.. he's opening his mouth to me and puffing up... being a little jerk!

 

[lovepicasso]

I'm wondering if my little man is going to shed too... his colors are'nt as good and he's darker, and for the first time.. he's opening his mouth to me and puffing up... being a little jerk!

Mine is not opening his mouth to me, but is hesitant to get on my hand....good luck to you.

 

[ReptiGeek]

I'm no expert since I only got my chameleon today, but my baby is just finishing up his shedding. Only a few scraps left on his head. I was told to just make sure that to help the shedding process along I should mist with warmer water for the time being, and then go back to room temperature once his shedding is complete. Hope I helped

 

[GreenWithEnvy]

Yes, yes! Totally normal! When they are young, each time they shed their colors will start coming out more. Don't worry your little guy will go back to his normal mood when he is all done. It normally doesn't take too long but this will happen fairly regularly. My husband and I joke that ours are PMS'ing and call it "that time of the month"! But nothing to worry about!

 

[Hoj]

Yes ^^^agree
they often get a little pissy during a shed, can you blame them??? It has to be itchy

 

[Olimpia]

The reason they puff up, gape, shake around, and rub against everything is that they're trying to loosen the skin, break it, and scratch it off. So chameleons will do weird things during this time but it is all normal.

It's not you, it's him!

 

[Julija]

Completely normal

One of the reasons for this kind of behaviour is that chameleons eyes shed together with the rest of the body. Pieces of old skin get in the way of your guys vision, which makes him feel less secure, since he can't see much. So, for example, your familiar hand just looks to him like something blurred and moving = a threat = puffed up and gaping chameleon well, that's my theory, anyway

Just give him a bit more privacy while he sheds and otherwise - slow and soft movements when you're around him (though this, I would say, is advisable around reptiles in general).

 

[GasmaskCowgirl]

Very normal... the way I explain reptile shedding behavior in general is: Picture when you have a sunburn and the pain is gone, but you have excess skin that's peeling off still. It's itchy and a bit uncomfortable, right? You probably aren't exactly too happy of a camper. Same with them, they most likely don't enjoy the feeling of their skin shedding, hence why they like to rub on things to try and help take it off.

Keep in mind, you should NEVER help peel skin off of them, as some skin may not quite be ready to come off and it could cause them pain. Though if they are having issues with their shed, they sell shed-aiding sprays and even some water can help "loosen" the skin... but really, time usually is all they need.

I've found that all my reptiles, chameleons and others, tend to be a bit moody during their shedding time. It's definitely healthy, necessary, and completely normal though, so no worries.

 

[lovepicasso]

Thanks for all the replies....he is done with this shed and back to his normal sweet boy chameleon.

 

[Chameleon2341]

Sad

Unfortunately my chameleon rango has passed away he was taken to the vet as he wasnt eating and he was shedding and his tummy was swollen the vet said he was constipated and he was meant to give us antibiotics but he didnt im only 12 and u must no how hard it is to lose someone but i felt i lost my best friend amd it is all because he had an infection on his head (which was like a pea stuck to his head) and the vet gave him medication that was too strong im sooo sad rite now:'(