What do these colors mean? (pics)

[Eggimations]

So I've had my little 3 month old veiled Derpy for about 3 weeks now. He eats like a best, and I've seen him drink several times. His poop and urates are fine, so he's settling in well. He's even got used to me, crawling up my hand after a little while. He is somewhat scared of my hand if it's in the cage, but once he's out there are no problems. I'm assuming it's a territorial thing. Normally, he's a happy green. However, when I take him out of the cage and let him climb he turns different colours. He stays his normal happy green on my hand, but turns an even brighter green when climbing some wires hanging off a shelf near my desk. He also likes climbing a sort of metal bulletin board with little holes. When Derpy does that he changes his color to green with spots and stripes. When he gets back to my hand he quickly changes back to his normal happy green. Is this normal? Pics: Happy colors

Colors on the board

 

[ChrisZ]

Seems to be stress coloration.

 

[Eggimations]

That was my first thought, but he turns back to normal as soon as he gets on my hand. Does climbing walls stress him out? He's quite eager to climb onto the wall, and just as happy to climb back onto my hand.

 

[Carlton]

There is "stress" and there is "Stress". Not all stress is negative. Some stress color displays are due to excitement and activity. When a cham is actively moving around (such as when he's exploring outside his territory) he may show a more patterned appearance because he's trying to look less like a cham and more like a clump of sun-spotted leaves. If he also sways and rocks back and forth while he walks it is also part of the confusing display.

BTW, I wouldn't really describe his solid green as "happy", but rather "calmer".

 

[Eggimations]

Thanks for the info! I can tell when my cham is upset, he turns a dark green and puffs up. When he's really pissed he'll turn black and hiss. Good to know his different colors are just him getting exited

 

[Mijah139]

I imagine he is showing these stress colors because he feels exposed and vulnerable. It would make sense that he would feel safer in his enclosure where he has foliage to hide in, and he may be familiar enough with you to feeler safer with you around. Try including some plants for him to hide in when free ranging and see if he still uses these colors

 

[Eggimations]

AHHHHHH... That makes even more sense. He also makes that color sometimes when he's climbing up the wall of his cage and is a ways away from plants.