changing cham encloser?

[maritimExotics]

Hey guys was just wondering, i like to change my enclosers for a change and kinda make my pets feel like there not in the same place all the time, is this a bad idea for chams would they get stressed out too much? same cage just change the set ups inside

thanks,

Ryan

[dank7oo]

Its not the greatest idea. It is very stressful to change their surroundings; remember, chameleons are very territorial, and therefore feel threatened when they are no longer in "their" territory. I try not to change mine, and if I do have to move things, I try to keep it as close to the original as possible.

Jason

[galad]

You could maybe try changing it slowly over a period of a couples months. But nothing to drastic of course.

ws

[maritimExotics]

cool, so when yous clean you do piece by piece and replace back in same spot? thanx
ryan

[dank7oo]

No, but I try my best to place it back the way it was.

Jason

[galad]

just came into my mind today, are chameleons really territorial?
Sure they are agressive when they see eachother, but do they actually have territories that they deffend against other chameleons?
I know some of the larger ones that dont move around much will be gaurding his perch from other chameleons that come to close.
But what about the smaller more active ones, I would think that they just wonder around looking for food and trying to stay out of site, getting into confrentations here and there with other chameleons.
So maybe it depends on the species wheather or not they are territorial?
And even then things change in their environment. Branches breaking off and old trees falling over.
I could be wrong, but I dont really think changing the enclosure a bit at a time over a longer period of time could be to stress full.

I myself have removed dying plants without replacing them, with no ill-effect on the chameleon. But then it could just be my chameleon.

What does everyone else think? Since only three of use have been discussing this.


peace

ws

[labomb]

I have had my young veiled barely a week now and it has been very interestiing watching him check out his territory little by little each day. He is discovering favorite spots as he ventures out. tonigh he was too funny as I watched him hanging upside down like a monkey looking at who knows what