Normal Basking Behavior or?

LizardLurkin

Established Member
A few days ago, I installed a petcam in Spooble's enclosure to watch him throughout the day. I noticed sometimes, he opens his mouth while under the basking lamp. This particular moment, he seems to be getting into it quite drastically. Does this seem unusual or concerning? I haven't noticed anything off about him otherwise.
 
It's fairly new, and visible, and he was eager to climb all over it for the first couple days. I guess it's possible he could be seeing himself reflected 😓

The ambient temps are usually 75-77 farenheit, and the basking is surely a bit higher. I have a probe hanging around the general basking area and it's always a few degrees higher than the govee temp gauge to the left.
I did read that they'll open their mouths while basking sometimes to regulate themselves.
If he's getting mad at his reflection, though, what a mighty display 😱
 
I mean he IS looking at the camera while doing it... LOL. My vailed did the same thing to her frog machine when I first installed it... Sat looking at the hose hissing at it forever. She actually did it for three days, so I removed it. Her humidity is fine without it too I ended returning it and got a jungle dawn.
 
Oh my gosh, what a tale 😅 They're so cute when they're angry. I did poke a hole in the top for the wire to go through, so perhaps I should look into some more stealthy solutions so it won't stress him out any.
 
Your enclosure temperatures look okay. You may want to put a fan inside or outside your Chamaeleo calypatratus enclosure pointing into the enclosure to add air flow. That should add fresh air and possibly stop the mouth opening. An idea.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
 
When was the last time he shed? I'm willing to bet that's what is happening - when my guy gets into a shed this is how he acts. He puffs up, yawns, twists his body, etc... trying to break old skin free. Just my opinion though.
 
@LizardLurkin If you Google USB fans for computers on Amazon, you'll find some appropriate fans with high or low settings. I think we should all consider each other's climates, as well. For instance, in Florida today the weather was forecast for high humidity above 80 and heat at around 24c in heat. In that, you would never use a heat lamp for a cham. However, say in Canada in the Yukon it's 14c and humidity of 40. You'll want some extra heat if your ambient isn't above 25c... No?
 
I found this, which seems like it'd do the trick on days when the basking temps are too high.
I know at a point, veiled males require basking temps of 85f. Not sure how old he needs to be before I make that switch.

@ehdee6
I live in Alaska, and the days are quite mild, with mornings still being pretty cold despite the time of year. His enclosure takes basically until the afternoon before reaching 76-77 ambient temps. I do think there's something to the shedding suggestion, because he's been rubbing intermittently on his branches and I spotted a white patch on his thigh.
 
So far the probe has been reading 79-81. It may vary day to day, though.
Edit: Still will look into a fan though. Is there a particular recommendation for that?
So you said you were placing the probe to get a reading... How long are you leaving it there and what time of day did you take the reading? It will be better if you have it permanently hooked into the basking branch with a few small zip ties then pull the digital device outside of the cage so it does not get wet.
 
@Beman I affixed it to the branch early in the day and then got the reading a little later in the afternoon. It's permanent now, as it is definitely beneficial to keep an eye on the reading.
I'll take note of the readings and do what it takes to cool things down if the numbers creep too high until I get the fan! Thanks for taking the time to give me advice and I'm taking it to heart 🫶

@MissSkittles He really showed it who's boss if you ask me
 
@Beman I affixed it to the branch early in the day and then got the reading a little later in the afternoon. It's permanent now, as it is definitely beneficial to keep an eye on the reading.
I'll take note of the readings and do what it takes to cool things down if the numbers creep too high until I get the fan! Thanks for taking the time to give me advice and I'm taking it to heart 🫶

@MissSkittles He really showed it who's boss if you ask me
As long as your temps at the branch below the heat are sitting 79 -81 then where he rises up higher the max he would be in would be 85. Watch if he continues to do it. They can do this gapping stretching thing first thing when they are warming up too. So that may be all it is. But if he is holding the mouth open we need to look at the cause. Sometimes this can be response to something like the addition of the camera, or to being too hot, but gaping non stop can be a sign of a respiratory issue as well.
 
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