Stress?

[joer]

Well its been little over a week now since I bought Jade. I want to take pics of her but she is always really dark unless she is sleeping. Then she is bright green almost a yellow. Every time I come into the room she might be green then dark in about 40 secs after I walk in. Is this stress? I walk in very quit and nothing is load in the room at all. 8)

[Trace]

Yeah, she's just getting used to her new surroundings. It usually takes a week or two (sometimes longer depending on the individuals personality) to finally settle in.

Is she in a heavy traffic area or your house? If so, it may help to move her into a quieter room. I think you posted a pic of her cage, she had lots of plants and things to hide in. If you think she feels a bit exposed, you can always add more.

Try your best to ignore her for the first bit. Obviously feed, mist and maintain her on a daily basis, but until she feels more comfy, limit your handling times.

Cheers!

Trace

[joer]

Ok thanks alot. Yah she is in a room were noone goes into.

[Brock]

Yep, each cham is different in terms of getting used to new surroundings. My female veiled got used to me in 2 days, my male took 2 months.

-Brock

[meow_mix450]

ya brock and trace is right, its still taking my chameleon to get use to me, its been a month now

Meow

[gfisher2002]

I agree. Everything I read about chameleons gave me the impression they take time to adjust to their new home. My female ambanja ate out of my hand 30 seconds after I put her in her cage for the first time. Now she eagerly comes to me, crawls on my hand and up to my shoulder. She loves sitting their. Even when I'm lower than her cage, she climbs DOWN to my shoulder. She's awsome. Every Chameleon IS different. Just give her time.

[Collide]

LOL I just rearanged my cham room yesterday my female veiled is getting all nervious takes her about 2 weeks to not shrink and run and hid when i walk in the room. I try not to move them but had to change it. Some cham's will not be fazed at all and some get mad that i changed something oh well I wouldent worrie as long as she is eating ect...

[gfisher2002]

Holy crap Collide, you have 7 Chameleons. Lets see roughly roughly 30 crickets a week times 7 chams is 210 crickets a week, thats 840 crickets a month!!! Not to mention misting and electricity. Do you use an automated rain system? Wow. I'm jealous!! :)

[Trace]

*snickers* 840 crickets... that's nothing. I go through close to 4000 a week!

Trace

[Collide]

lol and im jelous of trace hehe

I dont have a misting sytem although over the next month i will be working out how to make and get one if the cost is too high i might just grab a system off Greg West. I pity trace though thats alot of chams to mist with no system. alot of time but when u love them its not really work...

[meow_mix450]

hey collide there addicting:p Trace how many chams you got now, lets not include your babys:p or your gonna make us all jealous lol

Meow

[gfisher2002]

No kidding. 1 of the 2 places that sell cricks here get 10000 every wednesday. I thought that was alot. I have an amazingly effective and reliable automatic misting system i built. It cost me 60 bucks in total too. If you like I'll explain it to ya, just PM me. Greg West's system's look awsome. If I had seen his add before I built mine I'd have bought one.

[meow_mix450]

hmmmm can you explain it here, i think everyone here is going to be intrested in how you made one. Is it working well

Meow

[gfisher2002]

It works awsome. You can get misting heads off the front of high quality spray bottles, not the $1 dollar ones, but the 10 dollar ones. I found mine at a hair salon. You take it a part so you just have the misting head. Then attach a peice of airline hose or even 1/4 airline(I used 1/4") and secure it with a hose clamp.
The other end run to a pail or small tank or container(whatever you want) and heat the end of the hose so it's pliable. This is to stretch the end over the output on a powerhead. You dont need a high output head, I had an extra aquaclear 402 laying around from my aquariums. With the hose stretched over the end (and I mean stretched since the powerhead has a 3/8"output) secure it with a hoseclamp.(you could use reducers if you like) Now set the powerhead in the water in your container and plug it in. And bang, it's raining.
TIP: I used a valve between the powerhead and the misthead to regulate the water flow. Also you can rotate the mist head to change from fine to thick mist. I run the powerhead on a timer (you WILL have to use some trial and error to figure out how often and for how long to mist) Mine kicks in for 10 minutes, 2 times a day. And I use a custom made water resovoir built in above the enclosure. It uses about a litre of water every 2 or 3 days. Keeps the humidity in her enclosure between 50 and 70 at all times.
Also you can use stronger powerheads(802) for more than a mister. These mist heads need little pressure to work so a powerhead is more than enough to make them spray nice. Also the lower you put the powerhead from the misthead the more "head" the pump has. So try to put it above. Makes a big difference.
Not the most sophisticated system out, but is more then adequate for my 1 panther. Any questions just ask.

[meow_mix450]

wow thats great

Meow

[choriona]

wow! Awsome description & set up gfisher!! I am definately going to try that out!!

[Trace]

Not the most sophisticated system out, but is more then adequate for my 1 panther. Any questions just ask.

I've got a question... got a pic?

Trace

[gfisher2002]

Sorry, no digital camera yet. Like I told Meow, im working on it. When I get one there will be pics of her, her enclosure, the mister, and more of her. I can't wait. I hope she's not camera shy.

[meow_mix450]

Nah, i dont think they are, if you keep your distance youll get lovely shots, cant you take it on film and develop them and get a friend to scan just a thought

Meow

[gfisher2002]

my father inlaw has an awsome digital. I'm gonna borrow it soon.

[meow_mix450]

Great to hear post it soon looking forward to seeing it

Meow