Signs of aging

marisa · 02-01-04, 05:08 PM

Anyone know any common signs of aging in chams?

Gus has been eating fine.....everything fine really....but he has started spending more time on the cold side of his enclosure for the past month (i checked temps all good there) and he has also started going to "bed" at around 3 in the afternoon. Right now he is sleeping away like its the middle of the night and its only 4:45. He has also been resting his head on the branch a lot like he is just tired....when you wake him up his is fine...but I have noticed just a slow down...

Does this sound like aging? I mean he is old...6 or something like that already. He does do a daily "warm up" and spends from about 8 a.m. until 11 or noon under his light, but then moves to the cool side and naps the rest of the day.

Marisa

choriona · 02-02-04, 12:39 AM

Sounds like my lazy gramps (he's 5). Not much activity from him. he can barely be bothered to eat some times. Some days he just dosen't even get out of bed! And he sleeps far away from the heat source, temps could be around 15C sometimes. But he is a good old man.
He is still feisty when I try to pick him up, but otherwise just generally slow.
You could try limiting the areas Gus can go, if you are worried about him. Maybe older chams should be treated like young chams. Smaller space and more attention to details. More spraying, maybe even hand feeding. Just some thoughts.

marisa · 02-02-04, 12:51 AM

Well he still eats on his own fine but if it gets that far I will make sure to hand feed him some to ensure he is eating enough.

He is definitly sleeping more....I am honestly hoping to find Gus dead one day "suprisingly" instead of any situation where he may suffer or have to be taken to the vet to be put down. It sounds weird I know.

But thanks!

Marisa