My chameleon doesn't change colours

[IuliaG]

Hello, I've had Eddy since may, he's grown beautifully but he doesn't show spectucular colours like the rest of the chams here. Is that normal? He's always green, and when he's angry he gets a little bit grey. But no reds, blues, not even oranges. His shade changes a bit, not always the same and he gets beautiful patterns. Is something wrong with him?

I can't take him to a vet, as I live in a small town where exotic animals aren't usual, so there's no one specialised in reptiles. Not even in the area. So, I need your help.

 

[MelissaB]

Your chameleon is a Veiled, they don't turn the range of colors that panthers do. So his range of colors is completely normal.

Here's a link to the site's care sheet on Veiled Chameleons. It has a lot of great information.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

 

[brownie64]

What MelissaB said is true he won't get the colors of a panther, or a female carpet. But when they get fired up they can show really intense coloration of what they do have, and be quite beautiful. However to display those intense colors he has to be in the mood, usually mad. I wouldn't recommend doing this all the time, but try putting him in front of a mirror, and watch him shine. They get really upset when they see another male.

 

[leedragon]

 

[jajeanpierre]

Hello, I've had Eddy since may, he's grown beautifully but he doesn't show spectucular colours like the rest of the chams here. Is that normal? He's always green, and when he's angry he gets a little bit grey. But no reds, blues, not even oranges. His shade changes a bit, not always the same and he gets beautiful patterns. Is something wrong with him?

I can't take him to a vet, as I live in a small town where exotic animals aren't usual, so there's no one specialised in reptiles. Not even in the area. So, I need your help.

As others have pointed out, your chameleon cannot show the colors that a panther will. As he gets older, though, his colors will be more and more spectacular. They are sometimes a bit muddy colored as they are approaching adulthood.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Go to JannB's profile page and look at her albums. She has a lot of pictures of veileds and that will show you the magnificent colors they will show. Yours might be a little too young to be showing the bright yellows and blues that some show.

 

[IuliaG]

Indeed, I've noticed that he got a bit "muddy". Thank you all for your answers, I started to get a little bit stressed, but I'm relieved that this is normal.

 

[JaniP]

Indeed, I've noticed that he got a bit "muddy". Thank you all for your answers, I started to get a little bit stressed, but I'm relieved that this is normal.

He is a very handsome looking boy, by the way!

 

[Decadancin]

So I will show you my veiled when he is showing off some color, but he is generally not like this. Often he is less colorful than the pics you attached.

All Flared Up!

• Decadancin
• Jul 11, 2013
• 4

Zaphod starting a shed

• Decadancin
• Apr 25, 2013

Perfect Camouflage!

• Decadancin
• Jun 20, 2013

Veiled chameleons do not have the "showy" colors of many panthers, but I think they are still spectacular .

 

[Alexander1]

Mostly variations of greens yellows blue greens and some orange, usually veiled walk around green or muddy brown until they get upset

 

[The Learned Lizard]

Veileds like most chameleons have a specific set of colours they can adapt as necessary. So Veileds will always be dull greens, browns with slight yellow until they need to change i.e stress, attracting a mate etc.
Some of the ones showing those bright colours on the posts above show the chameleon is slightly angry or excited. You can see how they puff up and how their tails curl up tightly. Look at the way one front leg is raised like its about to Karate chop you.

Your chameleon looks great by the way.

 

[jehovahgmolah]

"The only surrounding this would help them blend into would be a sad clown convention".....when I seen that on the video, I sure laughed HARD!!! ROFL
"

 

[CheekyMinx]

My guy can go from a not so nice looking grey/brown to an almost blue tone - but that's when he is not so happy with me. Like this morning (actually, like always).