Veiled chameleons color. Any

[CaseyBattershell]

Hello everyone I’m new to the site and I’ve acquired a vieled chameleon from a local pet shop. He’s about 4 months old. When I first got him he was always pretty green in color. After about a month he’s not green as much besides when he sleeps or if I put him in my bathroom while the showers running. He’s more brownish thought the day when I have him in his enclosure. I have a 2x2x4 screen enclosure. 100 watt basking light and a 5.0 ubv light. I mist the cage every few hours. Eats mainly crickets sometimes super worms. I have live plants in the enclosure . He eats well and is pretty active throughout the day. Don’t like to be handled too much. I’m just curios if it’s normal for him to be brown most of the day. I know that they darken some while basking . But even when he goes low to cool down he stays darker. Any advice would be helpful thanks!

 

[CaseyBattershell]

I can also say when I got him from the pet store he just a the 5.0 ubv bulb and a red bulb on him all day. So could it be bc of the basking bulb ?

 

[chameleonneeds]

The differently lighting at the pet store wouldn't be the reason for the difference in colour now, and don't change to using those red bulbs. He has started taking on his adult patterning and colouration. I don't personally think that the dark colours are anything to be alarmed about.

Chameleons go darker when they want to bask - they are able to get warmer faster if they are darker. What is the basking temperature and ambient temperature of the cage?

It also looks like you're using a cfl uvb bulb. You should change it to a 5.0 linear tube so that it covers more of the cage.

If your chameleon isn't the friendliest and shys away from you that could also be why he is dark. I suggest you fill the cage up with more live plants and vines to walk on. I also think your cage is pretty dark so maybe you can add some more natural looking lights (lower wattage than your basking light - you don't need lots of basking lights shining down). Maybe some 6500k cfl bulbs - they will be good for your plants too.

 

[Carlton]

Hello everyone I’m new to the site and I’ve acquired a vieled chameleon from a local pet shop. He’s about 4 months old. When I first got him he was always pretty green in color. After about a month he’s not green as much besides when he sleeps or if I put him in my bathroom while the showers running. He’s more brownish thought the day when I have him in his enclosure. I have a 2x2x4 screen enclosure. 100 watt basking light and a 5.0 ubv light. I mist the cage every few hours. Eats mainly crickets sometimes super worms. I have live plants in the enclosure . He eats well and is pretty active throughout the day. Don’t like to be handled too much. I’m just curios if it’s normal for him to be brown most of the day. I know that they darken some while basking . But even when he goes low to cool down he stays darker. Any advice would be helpful thanks!

Many veileds go through a brownish phase as their hormones start to kick in. He's lost his baby coloration but doesn't quite have his adult color yet. Also, a contented cham isn't brightly colored most of the time. Brightening color is a stress response. Some stress is OK, sitting fired up a lot of the time is not. He's still a light green when asleep right? That is normal.

 

[CaseyBattershell]

The differently lighting at the pet store wouldn't be the reason for the difference in colour now, and don't change to using those red bulbs. He has started taking on his adult patterning and colouration. I don't personally think that the dark colours are anything to be alarmed about.

Chameleons go darker when they want to bask - they are able to get warmer faster if they are darker. What is the basking temperature and ambient temperature of the cage?

It also looks like you're using a cfl uvb bulb. You should change it to a 5.0 linear tube so that it covers more of the cage.

If your chameleon isn't the friendliest and shys away from you that could also be why he is dark. I suggest you fill the cage up with more live plants and vines to walk on. I also think your cage is pretty dark so maybe you can add some more natural looking lights (lower wattage than your basking light - you don't need lots of basking lights shining down). Maybe some 6500k cfl bulbs - they will be good for your plants too.

The differently lighting at the pet store wouldn't be the reason for the difference in colour now, and don't change to using those red bulbs. He has started taking on his adult patterning and colouration. I don't personally think that the dark colours are anything to be alarmed about.

Chameleons go darker when they want to bask - they are able to get warmer faster if they are darker. What is the basking temperature and ambient temperature of the cage?

It also looks like you're using a cfl uvb bulb. You should change it to a 5.0 linear tube so that it covers more of the cage.

If your chameleon isn't the friendliest and shys away from you that could also be why he is dark. I suggest you fill the cage up with more live plants and vines to walk on. I also think your cage is pretty dark so maybe you can add some more natural looking lights (lower wattage than your basking light - you don't need lots of basking lights shining down). Maybe some 6500k cfl bulbs - they will be good for your plants too.

I actually just purchased a 24 inch hood and 5.0 linear tub just waiting to receive them. But on the exact tempature I’m not sure. I know the the cage stays around 80 during the day and drops to 65-70 at night. I have a gage about half way down . Not sure though on the basking temp.

 

[CaseyBattershell]

Many veileds go through a brownish phase as their hormones start to kick in. He's lost his baby coloration but doesn't quite have his adult color yet. Also, a contented cham isn't brightly colored most of the time. Brightening color is a stress response. Some stress is OK, sitting fired up a lot of the time is not. He's still a light green when asleep right? That is normal.

Yes he’s always a nice lighter looking green when he sleeps.

 

[Graves923]

Its normal. As mentioned above, veileds do go through a muddy brown stage before they start showing adult coloration. You'll start noticing more greens, yellows, and blues with each new shed.

A few suggestions, I would add some more horizontal vines or branches for him to climb throughout the cage. It'll give him more options when moving about the cage to get to or away from heat and UVB.

Also, you can get a laser temp gun pretty cheap from any home improvement store. They are more precise in getting temps in specific spots than gauges since you literally point and shoot to get the temp reading. This will help dial in his basking spot and make sure it is not too hot.

 

[CaseyBattershell]

Its normal. As mentioned above, veileds do go through a muddy brown stage before they start showing adult coloration. You'll start noticing more greens, yellows, and blues with each new shed.

A few suggestions, I would add some more horizontal vines or branches for him to climb throughout the cage. It'll give him more options when moving about the cage to get to or away from heat and UVB.

Also, you can get a laser temp gun pretty cheap from any home improvement store. They are more precise in getting temps in specific spots than gauges since you literally point and shoot to get the temp reading. This will help dial in his basking spot and make sure it is not too hot.

Thanks for your advice / suggestions. I’ll deff be looking into a laser temp gun.