New set up seems to have stressed Chamelon?

[Powers]

Our Ficus plants haven't been looking too good these days, so we just went out and bought a couple Arboricola plants. We also recently purchased a stand to set his enclosure on. Since we did this (2 days ago) our Chameleon has been avoiding the plants, and he's been spending alot of time on his vine and the screen sides, both very unusual for him. His temps and humidity are good, should I just give him some time to adjust? Any advice would be appreciated.

Here are some pics of his set up now:

 

[Chase]

Probably getting used to the enclosure. Give him a few more days, he'll be better.

 

[jannb]

He needs vines and branches at the top to crawl around on.

 

[Powers]

He needs vines and branches at the top to crawl around on.

He has a vine, you can actually see him on it in the 1st picture at the top right. But besides that, all I am want to know is if the change in plants combined with the addition of a stand could be causing him stress?

 

[Chase]

Yes. You altered his enclosure, so he has to get used to it.

 

[jannb]

Yes, I have noticed that they do not seem to like change. Jann

 

[beeze]

He needs vines and branches at the top to crawl around on.

I agree that if he had some branches running diagonal across the top section of the cage he would probably stay off the screen. They can loose nails when climbing on the screen. He would also have something to sit on under his lights. This may also help him adjust to his new home.....it's pretty bare at the top and normally they spend allot of time in the top part of their enclosure.

 

[Chameleon Company]

As noted, sometimes a "new" cage, or a significant change to the existing one, can cause a very negative reaction. We have seen animals shut-down completely when moved to a new cage, even if the new one was larger and otherwise comparable. Most do adjust, but some will not. On several occasions we have had to return them to the older and smaller yet familiar enclosure to get them going again. Ficus can be difficult indoors (hard to kill here in Florida), but you may have to try a ficus again, in the hope of bridging the gap, if he doesn't come around. Hope it all works out.

 

[Docility]

Yeah My little guy didnt like the live plants i put in there either, but its just change. i currently use silk plants to create volume while i provide him with natural plants to eat though he prefers insects much more. Oddly enough when i got him a bigger cage he was fine with it, and didnt freak out he hung out on my shoulder and watch me build it, and got right in and went to work on exploring it, and still is pretty active to this day which is cool some chams can be kinda boring (he has his moments lol) but when we get new chams at work they always hide in the top corners for a week or so until they get used to the area

 

[Powers]

Thanks for all the advice. When I got up this morning he was sleeping in his new plant, so hopefully he's coming around.