What if you're a night owl/keep weird hours?

[wilfred]

I tried to search for the answer to these questions but couldn't come up with any.

Sometimes, I have really weird hours for my work (sometimes work until 6am and sometimes start @ 2-3am.)
Can I turn on a light while my chameleon is sleeping?
I'm assuming because they can't hear the sound I won't wake him up, will I?
Are varied feeding times a problem?
I won't be able to afford an automated mister for about 3 weeks after I get him.
Are varied misting times a problem?
Can I mist while he's asleep?

I'd appreciate any answers especially form those who are also night owls or work weird hours on occasion.

 

[hiihenry]

I'm a night owl too, and usually am up doing something in my room until 3 am. I have found if I keep the lights not too bright, my cham won't wake. You could also cover the side where the light would reach him. I've played music late at night and my little guy hasn't woken.

As for feeding, I wouldn't feed him right before his light is about to go off.

 

[Carlton]

A light will wake him up. Drape a dark sheet over the cage. Chams can hear low frequency loud sounds like woofer so don't play loud acid rock at night. If you spray him at night don't spray him directly. Some chams will startle and let themselves drop off the perch if they are disturbed or touched. Water spraying at night will take longer to dry so you don't want to overdo it. He probably won't wake up to drink. They don't need to be fed at the exact times every day, in fact variety is better. But, if you feed him right before the lights go off he'll have food in his stomach while his metabolism is too low to digest it. It won't hurt him to wait until the next day when he's warmed up.

 

[Malicious]

I tried to search for the answer to these questions but couldn't come up with any.

Sometimes, I have really weird hours for my work (sometimes work until 6am and sometimes start @ 2-3am.)

Can I turn on a light while my chameleon is sleeping? Get a automated timer.. Problem solved!

I'm assuming because they can't hear the sound I won't wake him up, will I? They will still wake up.

Are varied feeding times a problem? They need heat to digest their meals, feeding to late, will result in undigested food and non real nutritional absorbtion. Mornings and early afternoons are the ideal times for feeding.

I won't be able to afford an automated mister for about 3 weeks after I get him.
Are varied misting times a problem? Why not just wait 3 more weeks to ensure you can provide the proper care? Makes more sence to me..


Can I mist while he's asleep? Would be kinda pointless, the don't really "Drink walk" in their sleep!

I'd appreciate any answers especially form those who are also night owls or work weird hours on occasion.

I am not bashing you whatsoever mate, I just think your better off ironing out the details before you bring him home. An automated timer and an automated misting system are going to make all the difference in the world for you. Most breeders or sellers won't mind hanging on to the animal for the additional 3 weeks, till your set-up is complete.


-Jay

 

[wilfred]

Jay I have the timer for his lights I was talking about lights for me so I can see. I know you guys are never bashing. Everyone here is unbelievably helpful.

Great info thanks

no feeding before bed got it.

Also I plan on feeding dubia among other insects, they don't bite chams like crickets do right?

 

[dodolah]

i would suggest to put him in a separate room where the lights can be turned off during that odd hour.
They might not be able to hear sounds.. but, they certainly recognized lights and will wake up when you turned on the lights.
Like Jay said, best time to feed them is in the morning. I feed my chams in the morning only.

no misting while they are asleep.
Big NO NO.. they can get Respiratory problem if it continues on.

Roaches don't bite like crickets.
But, try to avoid having feeder overnight.. especially, when they are free ranged. They will eat poops, dirts, etc.. and then your cham will eat them in the morning.

 

[wilfred]

i would suggest to put him in a separate room where the lights can be turned off during that odd hour.

Wish I could but I live with roomates and so I have no other room option. Maybe I'll get a small light with just enough light so I can see.
Do a lot of ppl really go to bed when their chameleon does?

 

[Goggles]

Mine is in the living room and he will sleep with the T.V. on, but we don't turn any lights on.

 

[dodolah]

Wish I could but I live with roomates and so I have no other room option. Maybe I'll get a small light with just enough light so I can see.
Do a lot of ppl really go to bed when their chameleon does?

No. I do tend to work better at night where it's quiet and serene.
I do not work where my cham is sleeping since that room needs to be dark.. at least dark enough where I cannot work without destroying my eyesights.
In this case, can't you work in you rliving room or something?

 

[chambabysitter1]

I don't. I also spend the majority of my time in the same room as the chameleon at night.

During the day mine is outside, but at night I bring her into my computer room.
Once it is bed time, I keep all the lights in the room off except for a couple monitors.

If I need light for a minute or 2, I turn the regular light on. Any longer and she wakes up. If I need a longer amount of time in the light, I use a very low wattage lamp that is faced away from the cage. This is dim enough so that it just illuminates a very small part of the room.

The suggestions Malicious gave above were very solid.

If you can't keep the noise and lights down during the night, perhaps a chameleon isn't the pet for you. Don't take it the wrong way, but some compromises do have to be made for such a sensitive exotic animal. That is the sacrifices we make for living with such an odd pet.

 

[panthercham]

My chams are in my home office. I often work past midnight so mine get covered up to keep the light out so they dont wake up. I got some light weight blackout drapes from Walmart that keeps the light out very well

 

[Slofe]

Every cham is different. I spend all my time in the same room as my chameleon and while I do have a fairly dim lamp on all the time, there have been times i've had to turn on the very bright main light and this hasn't woken him up.

 

[dodolah]

Although i agree that every chams have unique characteristics of their own, I would consider their shared physiological adaptation.
Being diurnal, chameleons are adapt in sensing lights as their cue to wake up. Their parietal eye is an apparent evidence of it.

Messing their biological clock by creating lights during the time when they are supposed to sleep and recuperate will soon be detrimental to their health.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[lisa h]

Messing their biological clock by creating lights during the time when they are supposed to sleep and recuperate will soon be detrimental to their health.
QUOTE]

As it does with ours. Lots of scientific literature out there on the detrimental effects of shiftwork and lack of sleep in humans. We might be wise to take cues from our animals.

 

[wilfred]

Malicious dodalah and chameleon baby sitter thanks for your concern for my future chameleon and his well being when living with me. Anyone who cares about my chameleon's wellbeing is a friend of mine.

I would only need the light when walking into my room or out of it. Such as when I'm going to or coming back from the shower. I won't be working in there when he's sleeping.
Also the situation and times I presented are the extremes and would only happen 4-5 times a year @ the most.

If to have a happy chameleon I could never turn a light on while he was sleeping that would be a pittance for me. Once I get my chameleon, to quote cars the movie, I'm gonna be " happier than a tornado in a trailer park!"
So yeah point is all do whatever it takes and I am crazy excited.

 

[dodolah]

I would only need the light when walking into my room or out of it. Such as when I'm going to or coming back from the shower. I won't be working in there when he's sleeping.
Also the situation and times I presented are the extremes and would only happen 4-5 times a year @ the most.

Seems like flash lights would do the job rather than turning on the light in the room.
That's what I do when I need something from my cham's room.

 

[wilfred]

sounds like a plan I could also just turn on the light in the hallway and the light that trickles in would do the job.

 

[panthercham]

Isn't it funny how we adjust so much for them & so willingly....I have had countless bruises on my shins and ankles from walking into furniture etc in the dark than rather turning on a light a disturbing them. I agree Wilfred, they are so worth it

 

[philanddeb818]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but this is my nightly routine. I turn on a light to inspect each Cham at night and the feeding colonies. I make sure they are sleeping, check to see if there is any abnormal coloration, poops, whatever that might catch my eye.

OURS SLEEP THROUGH IT! Often it is around 3am when I do my checks. It's only about 2 - 5 minutes lights on.

Our estimation: they adapt to our routine as much as we adapt to theirs.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but this is my nightly routine. I turn on a light to inspect each Cham at night and the feeding colonies. I make sure they are sleeping, check to see if there is any abnormal coloration, poops, whatever that might catch my eye.

OURS SLEEP THROUGH IT! Often it is around 3am when I do my checks. It's only about 2 - 5 minutes lights on.

Our estimation: they adapt to our routine as much as we adapt to theirs.

I must agree, before my hyper sensative clock schedule i had my uvb bulb on 24 hours and heat lamps on spiratically. My chams would just go to sleep at night even though the lights were on, i am not saying it is healthy for them but they do adapt. I have sensed that since all lights go out at 10 they sleep harder and are imposible to wake up by hand. So you choose what you want to do, and then react how you must for your animals health and well being. Who knows maybe your cham can sleep at night with all lights on. Some people do get sensative on this forum and think their way is the best, but from a vets mouth, Dr. Greek "So many people have different methods of how they do things, and they all can work, but to say yours is better than some one else's is not always true" So like i said you can test anything out as long as you fix it if your cham doesnt like it. Its called a hobby for a reason, find your OWN way while taking into consideration the advice you get from the senior members and knowledgable members.