Sleeping location

heebie_geebies · 09-02-04, 03:30 PM

This may seem kind of trivial, but what happens when you folks turn the lights out. Currently, well since Sunday when I got him, I don't think Juno (my 2 month old male veiled) moves after the light go out. In the morning I will find him pretty much in the same spot. It is usually in a higher area of the cage, close to the basking spot. I don't remember ever reading such info, plus I couldn't find it. So I am just curious if this is normal. Being that his eyes are so small, I would not think his night vision is to well. Hence I am wondering if he is holding on for dear life when the lights go out. Maybe my chameleon is just scared of the dark! I don't want to traumatize the little guy so early in life. I also wouldn't mind him to have a milder attitude when he gets older, which is apparently hard to find.

Any thoughts?

CarlC · 09-02-04, 03:48 PM

Chameleons are strictly diurnal. In a couple of case in the wild females have been found raoming on the ground. If I remember correctly they were either gravid or had looked as if they had just laid eggs.

You animal will find a favorite spot to sleep and you will find that the animal will return to this spot night after night. This is true even in the wild. I found C. brevicornis, C. nasuta, C. gastrotaenia, F. petteri all sleeping in about the same spot for many nights. The sex of the animal did not make a differance. In almost all cases they could be found in the same spot or very close to the spot they were in the night before.

One thing you might want to do is turn out your heat lamp 1-2 hours before the florescent light goes off. This will give the animal time to find it's sleeping spot. It also simulates a more natural type set-up.

Carl

heebie_geebies · 09-02-04, 04:03 PM

Sounds like a good idea. I will do that.

Thanks.

meow_mix450 · 09-02-04, 05:13 PM

Yup, its possible that your turning off your lights to soon. Some also poop in the same spot. My chameleon sleeps in the same spot everyday.

Meow

tranz · 09-03-04, 09:16 PM

hi, i just got my chameleon 4 days ago..i found out that at around 8pm every nite it would go to a spot among the leaves of the hibicus and rest even with the basking ligth and the flourecent light on.

CarlC · 09-04-04, 05:17 AM

hi, i just got my chameleon 4 days ago..i found out that at around 8pm every nite it would go to a spot among the leaves of the hibicus and rest even with the basking ligth and the flourecent light on.
>>>>>>>>>>>

Your new Chameleon is probably used going to sleep at that time.
When using artifical light I always allow for 12-14 hours of light. My heat lights would always go off about and hour before the florescents.
With the common species this doesn't seem to be a big issue but with the majority of species I have kept it was critical to initiate breeding.

Carl