tail not curling while sleeping?

[kanjiman]

i was curious. my first, Amy, always curled her tail while she was sleeping.. but my new guy, Azul, won't curl his tail. he just sticks it straight out.

that seems really odd.. i haven't seen any chams do it.. i assume everything's kosher with it.. just a little weirded out.

 

[chameleonkev]

As long as he's sleeping and is healthy its not a problem

 

[ChameleonMom]

Is it straight just when he's sleeping? Does it ever curl, like if he's in his basking spot and relaxed? It does seem strange and I wonder if he's got a tail injury?

 

[kanjiman]

that's what i was thinking. thanks for the response he seems good. eating from my hand, drinking, going to the bathroom..

 

[absolutbill]

My Kosby (8 month male ambi) always sleeps with his tail curled tightly. However, the other day we moved him to his big boy cage and that night his tail was laying along his vine behind him holding on. I'm guessing that he wasn't as familiar with his surroundings so he wanted some extra security. Last night his tail was curled - maybe yours has a similar reason?

 

[lovepicasso]

My boy will sleep with his in a tight curl and sometimes and he will let it out straight at other times....don't know what all this means, but he is one healthy and happy cham.

 

[squeekz1992]

Kuzco slept with his tail straight out a few times, I don't think it is a problem as long as they curl it at least sometimes

 

[Olimpia]

If I had to guess, I think that tail curling is something chameleons do when they're uncomfortable. Like, how most of us wouldn't want our feet handing off the end of the bed, or have our arms dangling over the side just because it doesn't feel as safe (lest the boogeyman gets you!), I feel that chameleons curl up their tail because they wouldn't want a predator coming up along a branch and getting them by it.

Notice too that chameleons curl their tails when they flare up at us or at males, to make themselves look bigger, but it also springs from being afraid or uncomfortable. A chameleon that doesn't feel threatened will not curl up their tail when they're on your arm or in a free range.

So I think that not curling their tail is nothing to worry about. As long as the animal is healthy, the tail isn't discolored or injured, it's not something to worry about. Mine will sleep with their curls along the branch they are on too occasionally.

 

[squeekz1992]

If I had to guess, I think that tail curling is something chameleons do when they're uncomfortable. Like, how most of us wouldn't want our feet handing off the end of the bed, or have our arms dangling over the side just because it doesn't feel as safe (lest the boogeyman gets you!), I feel that chameleons curl up their tail because they wouldn't want a predator coming up along a branch and getting them by it.

Notice too that chameleons curl their tails when they flare up at us or at males, to make themselves look bigger, but it also springs from being afraid or uncomfortable. A chameleon that doesn't feel threatened will not curl up their tail when they're on your arm or in a free range.

So I think that not curling their tail is nothing to worry about. As long as the animal is healthy, the tail isn't discolored or injured, it's not something to worry about. Mine will sleep with their curls along the branch they are on too occasionally.

Really? Even with relaxed colors?

Kuzco and Pascal have this think where they wrap their tails around my wrist , but then climb to my chest and curl up their tail and go to sleep. I always thought it meant they were relaxed.. now I feel bad lol

 

[wglyons]

The tail curling is a defense mechanism when the Cham feels threatened. It makes them appear larger to a predator. This is one of the reasons they normally sleep with a curled tail...it's not that he's uncomfortable or currently feeling threatened, he's just being proactive to a threat as opposed to reactive...

If your Cham is showing his relaxed colors while sleeping, I'd say he's fine. Maybe he's so fine and relaxed that he doesn't feel the need to curl up at night...Maybe you're too sweet to your little guy!!!

Greg

 

[kanjiman]

The tail curling is a defense mechanism when the Cham feels threatened. It makes them appear larger to a predator. This is one of the reasons they normally sleep with a curled tail...it's not that he's uncomfortable or currently feeling threatened, he's just being proactive to a threat as opposed to reactive...

If your Cham is showing his relaxed colors while sleeping, I'd say he's fine. Maybe he's so fine and relaxed that he doesn't feel the need to curl up at night...Maybe you're too sweet to your little guy!!!

Greg

i like that! i would hope that's the case heheh.

last night, i noticed that when i went to bed, his tail was curled and when i woke up, it was straight out all in his relaxed colors and just sleeping soundly on the door of the cage. he hasn't slept in the same spot more than once! crazy little guy

 

[Olimpia]

Really? Even with relaxed colors?

Kuzco and Pascal have this think where they wrap their tails around my wrist , but then climb to my chest and curl up their tail and go to sleep. I always thought it meant they were relaxed.. now I feel bad lol

Wrapping a tail around a branch or an arm is different, but I don't know how easily chameleons fall asleep on their owners, sounds really unusual.

Not that this is necessarily relevant to you and your pets, but reptiles will close their eyes in extreme stress to block out the stressor, and people usually confuse this with enjoying being petted or held.

 

[Carlton]

My first wc verrucosus never curled his tail and he was a nervous little guy. He used it just fine when climbing around, but curling it just wasn't part of his defensive vocabulary. I often wondered if he simply forgot where he last left it