Open mouth

[Alex_Boris]

Hello!
I‘ve noticed that my chameleon sometimes sits with his mouth opened. I’m a new owner and had him for 1.5 months. If anyone knows if there is any meaning to it: hungry, dehydrated, etc. Thank you!

 

[Mrjamwin]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Go ahead and fill this form out. There could be multiple reasons such as that's how they regulate their heat and cool down

 

[kinyonga]

Is it sitting under the basking light when it's doing it?
Any wheezing or excess mucous in its mouth?

 

[Alex_Boris]

• Your Chameleon - Veiled, male, 3-4 months. I have it for 1.5 months.
• Handling - I didn’t handle it yet cuz he is scared so I’m trying not to push it but to tame him with hand feeding.
• Feeding -crickets, mealworms, calci worms( doesn’t really go for this ones), hornworms( the smallest I can find) and wax warms. I have a powder food and cubes for crickets. He eats in the morning usually up to 2 worms and a few crickets ( 10-11 am) than he gets a 3-4 crickets (1-2 pm).
• Supplements - multivitamin twice a month, calcium+D3, 3/week. ZooMed and other brand.
• Watering - I have a little dripper and than I have a mister ( mist 3 times daily for about 2 mins). I use tap water plus ReptiSafe water drops.
• Fecal Description - Not tested. Consistent and pretty normal.
• History - Got him from a breeder.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Screen, exoterra brand. L size.
• Lighting - 9am-9 pm. Usually for a daily time I take him outside to enjoy natural sunlight and fresh air. But I have heat bulb and uvb bulbs. Attached below.
• Temperature - doesn’t drop below 70. Busking spot on average 80. Attached the photos. Have a digital thermometer inside the cage.
• Humidity - Humidity is around 30-60. Once outside might be up to 80 especially after the rain. Once it’s drops to 30 I mist the cage. I have also little dripper and heating pad so the water on the bottom can evaporate.
• Plants - one, hibiscus plant. Already replanted in organic soil. Have a screen around the plant so insects and chameleon can’t get the soil. I had this plant more than a week before I placed it in a cage. Water only with spring water.
• Placement - Living room, regular A/C ( not below 70). No fan is on near the cage.
• Location - Florida, Orlando.

 

[Alex_Boris]

Is it sitting under the basking light when it's doing it?
Any wheezing or excess mucous in its mouth?

He was sitting under a heat bulb. I didn’t notice anything.

 

[PabloTheCham]

He was sitting under a heat bulb. I didn’t notice anything.

chameleons, like dogs, open their mouth to cool off. If your cham was under the basking spot when he opened his mouth, he was probably too hot. Try lowering his basking branch from the light to make it less warm, or raising the lamp from the basking spot.

 

[kinyonga]

He's likely too warm. Try turning off the heat light for a few minutes next time he does it and see if he shuts his mouth.

 

[Alex_Boris]

Thank you, everyone for responding!

 

[kinyonga]

Please let me know if it solved the problem.