Spike opens his mouth wide and puffs up his chin

[courta00]

I was just curious if there is a reason why my chameleon would sit and open his mouth really wide and puff up his chin? Or if this is normal for chameleons to do. He usually does it around meal time, when he is under his light.

 

[RyU]

Could be yawning. If his color changes, and he starts rocking around, he's pissed ^^

 

[ZiggyStardust]

He could be too warm - chameleons gape when they're too hot, its their equivalent of panting.

What are your basking temps?

 

[courta00]

He doesn't do anything other than open his mouth and puff out his chin, I thought it looked like yawning but wanted to make sure. He has never hissed at me or done anything that seemed aggressive, I know the previous owner (He's a rescue) said that Spike would hiss at their teenage son, but I personally have never experienced that behavior. He will however shake his head at me occasionally lol
His basking temperature I believe is about 84-87 but I cant remember for sure:/

 

[TreyLcham]

he probably just doesn't like your hand going in the cage so every time u go to feed him and gets a little pissed off. If it was the basking temp being to hot he wouldn't puff up he would just be opening his mouth so in my opinion he is just a little territorial. How old is he? Topically they are more aggressive during there maturing stages of around 6months(teenage know it all stage)

 

[courta00]

I'm not sure of his age because he was a rescue, a young teenager had him but stopped taking care of him so I brought him home with me. They don't know how old he is either because they found him walking across the road out in the country. Someone on here said he looks to be over a year. When I feed him he isn't in his cage, he is out because for the longest time he wasn't able to eat on his own, I would have to put the crickets directly into his mouth for him. He doesn't ever do it while he is in his cage or when I am attempting to handle him, any time I pick him up or touch him he is very calm.

 

[Craig94089]

Has he been doing it for awhile or just lately? I just witnessed my first shead since I had my guy and he started to open his mouth and puff his chin two days before I could see he was going to actually shed. I had a strong hunch the shed was coming from loose skin and him rubbing his face on the screen and branches.

 

[Trace]

If this random open mouth and distended gular was accompanied by a twist of the body and a shudder/spasm then it’s nothing to worry about. I'm not sure if there is a technical term for it but I call it the morning stretch; they seem do it shortly after waking and warming up. I don't know if there is a physiological reason for it but it's something chameleons do.

If he is sitting there with his mouth open all the time then the cage is too hot or he could have an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

 

[courta00]

It has just been lately, he is shedding right now so that may be why also.

 

[courta00]

He doesn't sit there with his mouth open for very long, it is usually about 2 or 3 times in a row but just for a second or two each time.