why is my cham acting this way?!??!?!!??! HELP!

[chameleon884]

all day my chameleon has done nothing but go up and down his cage.
he always goes down to the bottom and climbs up on the screen to the top again. then he basks for about 5 minutes and does it over again. im not sure what he is trying to accomplish but its kinda making my worry

heres my HOW TO ASK FOR HELP form.

my chameleon: veiled, male, 10 months.
handling: only when i clean the cage, or move him.
feeding: crickets, i buy worms when i get the chance.
supplements: calcium, calcium D3, and herptivite vit. A.
watering: i mist my cham 3x a day. i see him drink every day.
fecal description: brown/ black-ish poops with white urates.

cage type: 18x18x36 screen
lighting: exo terra reptiglo 5.0 and a uva 40w uva bulb.
humidity: 40-60 percent.
plants: i use real wood branches and fake plants and biovines. i want to get a umbrella plant.
placement: it is not located near any air vents, or high traffic areas.
location: im in northwest indiana

also i havent seen him eat today. he does not seem to be interested in food. now im really worried
also he has gone up and down his cage 3 times in the last 10 minutes.

 

[carol5208]

I certainly wouldn't worry if he is active. I would be concerned if it was just the opposite and he was lethargic or something. An active cham is a healthy cham in my opinion! Are you feeding him everyday? If so cut back to every other at this point. Also, if you are mostly feeding him crickets only with an occasional worm he probably is totally tired of crickets. Mine won't eat crickets at all anymore. Try some other types of feeders.

 

[Jamelon]

If you want to get an umbrella plant id suggest going to home depot, thats where i got mine and they have them for a good price

 

[Psi]

my chameleon: veiled, male, 10 months.
cage type: 18x18x36 screen

My guess is he's pacing around trying to get out to get more room to explore.
It's more recommended around that age to get a 24x24x48 cage.
HTH

 

[chameleon884]

I certainly wouldn't worry if he is active. I would be concerned if it was just the opposite and he was lethargic or something. An active cham is a healthy cham in my opinion! Are you feeding him everyday? If so cut back to every other at this point. Also, if you are mostly feeding him crickets only with an occasional worm he probably is totally tired of crickets. Mine won't eat crickets at all anymore. Try some other types of feeders.

that sounds like a reasonable answer. i have fed him crickets all his life. i did feed him supeworms and hornworms for a week or so, but that was it. he might just be bored of crickets!

it just concerned me a little because hes never acted this way.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

We went through this with our first chameleon, a male veiled. He was pacing his cage like crazy. And even falling sometimes. I too was worried and took him to the vet. After fecals were done, exam, etc., the vet said we had the healthiest chameleon he'd ever seen, and that the chameleon was in "rut". He was about the same age as yours. His hormones had kicked in and his body was telling him, in every possible way, to escape the cage and go find a female.

This is very likely what is going on with your chameleon. He should eat when he gets hungry enough. You might try not even showing him food for a day or so. Then when he sees it, and is really hungry, the sight of the food will stimulate him to eat.

This is a good time to introduce new and exciting feeders to him. To try to get his mind off the hormones.

I wouldn't worry unless he refuses to eat for a prolonged period, or there is another change- such as eyes sinking in or lethargy.

 

[chameleon884]

My guess is he's pacing around trying to get out to get more room to explore.
It's more recommended around that age to get a 24x24x48 cage.
HTH

he is actually very small for his age. his whole body length is about 15 inches.
he fits into his cage just fine

 

[chameleon884]

We went through this with our first chameleon, a male veiled. He was pacing his cage like crazy. And even falling sometimes. I too was worried and took him to the vet. After fecals were done, exam, etc., the vet said we had the healthiest chameleon he'd ever seen, and that the chameleon was in "rut". He was about the same age as yours. His hormones had kicked in and his body was telling him, in every possible way, to escape the cage and go find a female.

This is very likely what is going on with your chameleon. He should eat when he gets hungry enough. You might try not even showing him food for a day or so. Then when he sees it, and is really hungry, the sight of the food will stimulate him to eat.

This is a good time to introduce new and exciting feeders to him. To try to get his mind off the hormones.

I wouldn't worry unless he refuses to eat for a prolonged period, or there is another change- such as eyes sinking in or lethargy.

ok thanks that makes me feel better now