Veiled Cham hanging their mouth open?

Lincolntowncar

Lincolntowncar

Member
Hey so I have a male veiled cham and he does this thing where he lets his jaw hang open very slightly and it seems a little weird.. he’s not mad, not hissing or dark.. anyone know if this is an issue or just something weird? Doesn’t happen all the time but sometimes I’ll catch him doin it lol whenever I open the cage door he closes his mouth though... really weird
 

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But of course listen to Brody and Janjan, there both much more experienced then I am, I’m just going off of my research and what I know.
 
Liam G said:
But of course listen to Brody and Janjan, there both much more experienced then I am, I’m just going off of my research and what I know.
Click to expand...
It can be a sign of other things as well which is why the health form was requested. We need all the info to try to give proper feedback :)
 
Lincolntowncar said:
Where can I find this help form
Click to expand...
Here you go


Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


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.

--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon male and I’ve had him for like 6 months now
  • handling - don’t really ever handle him
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Feeding him dubias, 6 every two days or around there, gutloading them with carrots
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Reptical multivitamins and calcium w d3
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? For now pressure mustang, couple minutes every few hours and yes all of the time
  • 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? 2 x 2 x 3, all mesh
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reprisun uvb 5.0 and 75w basking 8am to 8pm
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 84-85 basking and ambient is around 73
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 40-60 daily and plants with misting and plenty of foliage. Hydrometer on the top and middle
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? 2 Pothos one at the top one at the bottom
  • 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? Top of my desk by my computer, by the window but not in the sun, never opened window no vents near by.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? East Bay Area
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
His mouth is hanging open sometimes, not too commonly but I’ll catch it every few weeks
--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Lincolntowncar said:
Chameleon Info:
  • Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon male and I’ve had him for like 6 months now
  • handling - don’t really ever handle him
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Feeding him dubias, 6 every two days or around there, gutloading them with carrots
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Reptical multivitamins and calcium w d3
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? For now pressure mustang, couple minutes every few hours and yes all of the time
  • 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? 2 x 2 x 3, all mesh
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reprisun uvb 5.0 and 75w basking 8am to 8pm
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 84-85 basking and ambient is around 73
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 40-60 daily and plants with misting and plenty of foliage. Hydrometer on the top and middle
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? 2 Pothos one at the top one at the bottom
  • 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? Top of my desk by my computer, by the window but not in the sun, never opened window no vents near by.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? East Bay Area
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
His mouth is hanging open sometimes, not too commonly but I’ll catch it every few weeks
--------------

Please Note:
  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
Click to expand...
This is my opinion, I’m not as experienced as others on here but he might be hungry. I noticed mine doing this when I first got him, I fed him 12-15 crickets every day and this stopped. Mine is also a Juvenile. Can’t remember how old yours is if you posted it. My guess is that you need to feed him daily if he’s young. I’m curious to see what others think.
 
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KDaters said:
This is my opinion, I’m not as experienced as others on here but he might be hungry. I noticed mine doing this when I first got him, I fed him 12-15 crickets every day and this stopped. Mine is also a Juvenile. Can’t remember how old yours is if you posted it. My guess is that you need to feed him daily if he’s young. I’m curious to see what others think.
Click to expand...
Well, I discussed that issue about a week ago on here and realized that he’s about 9 months and his appetite reduction is completely normal. He was eating 15-30 a day then went down randomly and I got scared but yeah, got some reassurance that it’s completely natural. So I think I can cross that out but thanks for the feedback friend (:
 
@Lincolntowncar said supplements being used are....."Reptical multivitamins and calcium w d3"...how often for each of those? Does the reptical have D3 or prEformed vitamin A in it? If you're going to use the powders for dusting you need a phos free calcium powder too. The calcium powder should be used lightly at almost every feeding...the phos free calcium/D3 should be used twice a month lightly and the vitamin powder twice a month lightly. The vitamin powder should have a beta carotene (prOformed) source vitamin A.

PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system but prOformed sources won't so this is safe but you may need/want to give the chameleon a little preformed every once in a while.

D3 from supplements can also build up which is why we do it this way and we leave the chameleon to produce the rest of its D3 from its exposure to the UVB. D3 from UVB exposure won't cause problems as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it at will.

Hope this helps!
 
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Reptofreak said:
I realize that the form helps with figuring out what’s going on, that said everyone’s extreme hard on for it can be off putting to some new individuals. Just my opinion, nothing more...
Click to expand...
Your still new here, with time you will see. You don’t see the value in it because you are not in and out of 15 threads a day helping people while trying to remember their individual mistakes straight like we do on a daily basis. The form is critical tool we use to get a complete picture of what’s going on.

Every aspect of your husbandry ties into other aspects, it’s a web. It is especially critical for inexperienced keepers to fill it out because they do not understand how intertwined everything is. They don’t know what questions to ask, they haven’t made the connections in their mind yet about such things as temperature and humidity and how that one relationship affects everything from hydration and shedding to basking distance and potential respiratory infections. I realize the form can be off-putting and or overwhelming to a rookie, but in all honesty it’s also a wake up call to the difficulties faced when Cham keeping. A fair number of keepers agree with you, several of them are already on this thread. It boils down to this, the form is the single best, repeatable way for us to get the required information from people seeking advice. I understand this is your personal opinion and your entitled to it.

If you have a better way, please share it.

Without the form your basing your advice on an incomplete picture, your guessing at best.

With the form it’s an educated guess, big difference.
 
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@Lincolntowncar ok hun I am going to go through the entire form with you. Redlining everything I see that is either needs improvement or if I have an additional question. If you can please post pics of the entire cage for me that would be helpful just so I can visually see it as well. :)

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon male and I’ve had him for like 6 months now
  • handling - don’t really ever handle him
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Feeding him dubias, 6 every two days or around there, gutloading them with carrots Amount of feeders is good. I will post the care image for other feeders you could add in for variety. Gutload needs to be improved on... It is not about feeding the insects as much as it is about packing nutrients into them to be passed on to the cham. get this and follow the instructions for making it. https://www.amazon.com/Repashy-Burger-Insect-Food-340g/dp/B00RM796YA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CBNZHFW4XMQV&keywords=repashy+bug+burger&qid=1570462942&sprefix=repashy+bug,aps,206&sr=8-1
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Reptical multivitamins and calcium w d3. Please tell me what your schedule is with these two and if you are using a calcium without D3 and the schedule you follow for it.
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? For now pressure mustang, couple minutes every few hours and yes all of the time. does he have a dripper to have access to constant water? Are you timing your mistings to make sure they are long enough for him?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Have you had a fecal done?
  • 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? 2 x 2 x 3, all mesh... Is this the 36 inch high or the 4 foot high cage?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reprisun uvb 5.0 and 75w basking 8am to 8pm Is the reptisun a T5HO fixture?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 84-85 basking and ambient is around 73
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 40-60 daily and plants with misting and plenty of foliage. Hydrometer on the top and middle... Try to make sure humidity is sitting below 50% during the day when the cage is warm. 30-40% is the proper daytime range for a Veiled.
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? 2 Pothos one at the top one at the bottom
  • 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? Top of my desk by my computer, by the window but not in the sun, never opened window no vents near by.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? East Bay Area
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
His mouth is hanging open sometimes, not too commonly but I’ll catch it every few weeks When he does this is it when he is basking or are you noticing him doing it lower in the cage? Do you see any stringy saliva or hear any wheezing?


chameleon-food(1).jpg
 
Last edited:
Brodybreaux25 said:
Your still new here, with time you will see. You don’t see the value in it because you are not in and out of 15 threads a day helping people while trying to remember their individual mistakes straight like we do on a daily basis. The form is critical tool we use to get a complete picture of what’s going on.

Every aspect of your husbandry ties into other aspects, it’s a web. It is especially critical for inexperienced keepers to fill it out because they do not understand how intertwined everything is. They don’t know what questions to ask, they haven’t made the connections in their mind yet about such things as temperature and humidity and how that one relationship affects everything from hydration and shedding to basking distance and potential respiratory infections. I realize the form can be off-putting and or overwhelming to a rookie, but in all honesty it’s also a wake up call to the difficulties faced when Cham keeping. A fair number of keepers agree with you, several of them are already on this thread. It boils down to this, the form is the single best, repeatable way for us to get the required information from people seeking advice. I understand this is your personal opinion and your entitled to it.

If you have a better way, please share it.

Without the form your basing your advice on an incomplete picture, your guessing at best.

With the form it’s an educated guess, big difference.
Click to expand...
Great points, I humbly retract my comment...
 
Beman said:
@Lincolntowncar ok hun I am going to go through the entire form with you. Redlining everything I see that is either needs improvement or if I have an additional question. If you can please post pics of the entire cage for me that would be helpful just so I can visually see it as well. :)

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - Veiled chameleon male and I’ve had him for like 6 months now
  • handling - don’t really ever handle him
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? Feeding him dubias, 6 every two days or around there, gutloading them with carrots Amount of feeders is good. I will post the care image for other feeders you could add in for variety. Gutload needs to be improved on... It is not about feeding the insects as much as it is about packing nutrients into them to be passed on to the cham. get this and follow the instructions for making it. https://www.amazon.com/Repashy-Burger-Insect-Food-340g/dp/B00RM796YA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CBNZHFW4XMQV&keywords=repashy+bug+burger&qid=1570462942&sprefix=repashy+bug,aps,206&sr=8-1
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Reptical multivitamins and calcium w d3. Please tell me what your schedule is with these two and if you are using a calcium without D3 and the schedule you follow for it.
  • Basically, at first I was following what you guys told me, without D3 every feeding, multivitamins every two weeks as well as with D3 every two weeks. I proceeded to speak to specialist breeders who initially began with telling me they’ve been successfully breeding chameleons for a very very long time. Anyway, they began by telling me there is no reason not to give the chameleon both supplements every day, as they have not seen any problems arise from that. They Also told me that calcium with no D3 is pretty much pointless and explained why but I can’t recollect because it was a while ago. Not saying any of you are wrong but what’s the reasoning behind why it’s every two weeks for the two? And also why calcium with no D3?
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? For now pressure mustang, couple minutes every few hours and yes all of the time. does he have a dripper to have access to constant water? Are you timing your mistings to make sure they are long enough for him?
  • No, I’m adding a dripper and also I’m getting the mistKing system shipped to my house hopefully within the next few days (: as of now though, I’ve been using a pressure mister for about 1-2 minutes every few hours before work.
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? Have you had a fecal done?
  • No, it doesn’t look abnormal or anything so I haven’t deemed it necessary.
  • 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? 2 x 2 x 3, all mesh... Is this the 36 inch high or the 4 foot high cage?
  • I believe it’s 36 inches, I looked at the dimensions last night when I got home. I’ll send pics.
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reprisun uvb 5.0 and 75w basking 8am to 8pm Is the reptisun a T5HO fixture?
  • No, this was another confusing aspect for me that was described on here as mandatory. The experts also went over this when I asked and told me the one I was using was fine and the only reason to get one of those is if your enclosure isn’t getting UVB beamed onto all of it and if the current one isn’t able to hit certain spots of the enclosure. Also if they’re getting more than 5 hours outside of the enclosure daily that would be the only reason to shine that much of UVB onto them. Again, if reasoning is given I’ll surely consider purchasing a new bulb but it’s very reassuring to hear from people who have done this stuff for almost all of their lives. Also, not saying anyone is wrong, just challenging (:
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? 84-85 basking and ambient is around 73
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? 40-60 daily and plants with misting and plenty of foliage. Hydrometer on the top and middle... Try to make sure humidity is sitting below 50% during the day when the cage is warm. 30-40% is the proper daytime range for a Veiled.
  • Got it
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? 2 Pothos one at the top one at the bottom
  • 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? Top of my desk by my computer, by the window but not in the sun, never opened window no vents near by.
  • Location - Where are you geographically located? East Bay Area
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
His mouth is hanging open sometimes, not too commonly but I’ll catch it every few weeks When he does this is it when he is basking or are you noticing him doing it lower in the cage? Do you see any stringy saliva or hear any wheezing?
Haven’t really paid too much attention but
I think it’s while he’s basking. No wheezing nor saliva that’s why I was confused!

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