Taking laps in the cage

[webghost]

So recently my cham finished shedding his skin and I noticed that ever since then, he has been on the move taking laps in the cage non-stop. It's as if he is running a marathon lol.. Is this a healthy sign of a chameleon? The guy doesn't stay put! .. any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[chendy]

im not an expert keeper nor do i have years of experience but to me it doesnt sound like a bad thing

 

[panthercham]

So recently my cham finished shedding his skin and I noticed that ever since then, he has been on the move taking laps in the cage non-stop. It's as if he is running a marathon lol.. Is this a healthy sign of a chameleon? The guy doesn't stay put! .. any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

What kind of cham do you have, what age and what do you have him/her housed in?

 

[webghost]

It's a Jackson 8-9 months old. His cage is 18x18x36 and eAts crickets and super worms

 

[panthercham]

Best to fill this in....I don't have experience in Jacksons but I moved my panther into a big boy cage 24 x 24 x 48 at 7 months when he became restless. Seems to be the time frame when they start to mature. How are your temps?

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.


Pictures are helpful

 

[webghost]

Sure thing, here you go:

* Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Jackson Chameleon, Male, around 8 months old. It has been in my care for about 2 months now.
* Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? I only handle him once every two weeks when I need to fully clean out the cage. Other than that I don't ever handle my cham.
* Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I feed him brown crickets every other day and sometimes every day depending on if he will eat. I also feed him super worms and just today goliath horn worms. I gut load the crickets with dinofuel, bug burger and some other vegetables (carrots, potatoes, etc.) I also put a ton of water crystals for the crickets to quench on.
* Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? The ones I use are herptivite, reptivite, reptile calcium w/ d3 and reptile calcium without d3
* Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I have the Mist King ultimate system which turns on for 30 seconds to 1 minute every 2-3 hours. I also have the little dripper which drips at a slowly and steady pace. I don't see him drinking much mainly because I am not home that often. I work 8-9 hours a day so it is very rare I see him drink.
* Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? The feces is consistent. Yes I took him to the vet 1 month ago and he was fully tested. At the time he had some issues opening his mouth so the vet thought it might be some infection. We gave him baytril for 1 1/2 week and he stopped opening his mouth.
* 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? It is 18x18x36 screen cage
* Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reptisun 5.0, 60 watt basking lamp and the schedule is 12 hours a day from 8 am to pm.
* Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? Range is 82-83 on the hot end and mid 60's in the other end.
* Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? Humidity is around 60-70 and sometimes high 70's. I have a hygrometer to measure the humidity
* Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? I was using a live Peace Lilly but it recently died so at the current moment, it is only fake plants
* 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? Cage is located in my room about 2 feet above the ground. It is not near any ventilation or A/C unit. It is also not near any high traffic areas.
* Location - Where are you geographically located? Los Angeles, CA

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Is that your cham in your avatar? Cuz he looks much older than 8-9 months! I'd say at least a year, if not older. I've had my boy Jax (in my avatar) since he was a baby, and is currently about 8.5 months old. As you can see, he looks nowhere near as developed as your boy. Did you get the jackson from a store? Cuz most of them have no idea what they're talking about. I've had someone tell me a Jackson was 4 months old, when it was more like a year and a half.

Question, when your Jackson is "running laps", is this in his plants or on the cage floor? One of my Jacksons likes to lap up water from the floor whenever I'm misting and if the drip system is running. He'll just walk in circles on the bottom drinking water for 15 minutes or so. That's the closest thing I can think of in my experience with Jacksons "running laps". If that's not the case, I have no idea. Either way, a moving cham is a healthy cham

 

[webghost]

Is that your cham in your avatar? Cuz he looks much older than 8-9 months! I'd say at least a year, if not older. I've had my boy Jax (in my avatar) since he was a baby, and is currently about 8.5 months old. As you can see, he looks nowhere near as developed as your boy. Did you get the jackson from a store? Cuz most of them have no idea what they're talking about. I've had someone tell me a Jackson was 4 months old, when it was more like a year and a half.

Question, when your Jackson is "running laps", is this in his plants or on the cage floor? One of my Jacksons likes to lap up water from the floor whenever I'm misting and if the drip system is running. He'll just walk in circles on the bottom drinking water for 15 minutes or so. That's the closest thing I can think of in my experience with Jacksons "running laps". If that's not the case, I have no idea. Either way, a moving cham is a healthy cham

Not on the floor, it goes up and down the branches so it is on his plants. Yes I got him from the store and the seller told me it was around 8 months old. They may not have known either I'm thinking.. It does seem more like a year old

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Well, what made the seller beleive it was 8 months? Do they breed them in the store? I'm thinking no...I mean you can't blame them for their lack of knowledge, they prob make around $8-$9/hr., so you can't really expect too much I don't think.

 

[camimom]

both my chams do laps and go crazy for a few days after a shed.
I think its because they are so happy the itchy skin is gone that they take advantage and start roaming everywhere.

Side note- I also think your boy is alot older than 8-9 months.
can you take a picture of him from the side, full side body photo, on a tape measure or something we can compare his size to?