Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

ern79 · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: panthers gaping

i have 2 young panther chameleons in vivs next to each other, temps are fine, the move back and forth the thermal gradient, they bask and they are eating machines, they cant see each other but now and again i see them sitting with their mouths wide open, not at the same time and they are not displaying (theres no jerking, posturing or colour changes) what could this be? im worried they need more water but they have done this in an area where water drips are available (although not in the process of trying to drink) any ideas?
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stuartdouglas · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

Usually chams gape in an effort to cool down. What are your temp's in the basking spot and ambient in the viv. What sort of viv are you keeping them in?

ern79 · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject:

they are in wooden vivs with a basking spot of 90 F and a cool end of 24 c (sorry im mixing my units, for some reason the figures are in my head that way) the odd thing is, they hang around the spot lamp and gape, why dont they just walk down to the cool end if theyre that warm? other than that they are looking perfect, nice colours and eating real well.
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"perfection in miniature"

stuartdouglas · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:44 am Post subject:

try turning the basking spot down to 85F

ern79 · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject:

will do, thanks for the help Smile

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"perfection in miniature"