Have you ever wondered what your chameleon's sleeping patterns are?
Do you wonder whether chameleons need more or less sleep than your other pets?
What is a chameleon's sleeping schedule? Do chameleons sleep for long periods of time?
Chameleons sleep on average about 12 hours each night, but this can vary based on the species and the time of year.
Rest is necessary for all living creatures on this planet. Some people sleep during the day, while others sleep at night. The body recovers from daily activities while sleeping.
Keep reading to learn more about your chameleon's sleeping habits.
Table of content in this article:
Do Chameleons Sleep?
How Long Do Chameleons Sleep?
Do Chameleons Sleep During The Day?
What to Do if Chameleons Sleep During The Day?
How Do Chameleons Sleep?
Do Chameleons Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Do Chameleons Sleep In The Dark?
Heat Lights At Night for Chameleons Sleep
Helping Your Chameleon Sleep
Do Chameleons Change Color When Sleeping?
Conclusion
Do Chameleons Sleep?
Chameleons sleep like any other living creature on this planet. Chameleons sleep during the night. During the day, they hunt or wait for food, and watch out for predators. Chameleons spend about 12 hours of sleep each night.
How Long Do Chameleons Sleep?
Chameleons generally sleep for 12 hours a day. Chameleons sleep roughly from sunset to sunrise, averaging about 12 hours.
Chameleons may require more or less sleep, depending on certain factors. Think of times when you needed more sleep, such as when you were sick or very active during the day.
Chameleons, like you, need more rest if they are ill or recovering from one. Your chameleon might also sleep more if it has expended more energy than usual.
Chameleon species will also influence the length of sleep required. Chameleons, which originated in rainforests, sleep more than their cousins in desert environments. Your pet's age, how much it ate, and the time of year can also affect how long it sleeps.
Chameleons sleep from sunset to sunrise, and during the winter months, they might sleep more since there is less sunlight.
In the summer, your chameleon will sleep less because the days are longer and the nights are shorter. Install a timer for the lights in your animal's enclosure to help regulate their sleeping habits.
Despite all those factors, the 12 hours we talked about above, are going to be a good baseline and will give your chameleon a good night’s sleep.
Food is another factor that influences the length of sleep. During the day, chameleons that are fed a lot of food will not sleep much. They might feel full and not be able to sleep well if they have too much food in their belly.
It's better to feed them small amounts of food throughout the day than one large meal at a time. You should also avoid feeding them at night.
Chameleons that are fed at night do not sleep because they are stressed out and their sleeping patterns are disrupted.
The more active they are during the day, the more sleep they will get at night. Chameleons that move around a lot during the day tend to sleep for longer at night. The reason for this is that they consume a lot of energy.
Chameleons will sleep longer if you play with them frequently during the day.
Do Chameleons Sleep During The Day?
Chameleons do not sleep during the day and are not nocturnal lizards. At night, they do nothing but sleep.
During the night, they don't get up to walk around and won't eat. The darker the night, the better for chameleons to sleep. Since their powerful eyes cannot see in the dark, these animals sleep at night.
In case you notice your chameleon sleeping throughout the day, pay close attention as this could be a sign they are getting sick.
They may also be dehydrated, causing them to become sleepy. If you are concerned, your chameleon might be ill, contact your vet.
Make sure the animal is sleeping before you contact your veterinarian. Chameleons occasionally close their eyes for a few minutes at a time, but this isn’t sleeping.
In the event that you moved their enclosure, they might be readjusting to their new environment or trying to calm themselves after being stressed.
What to Do if Chameleons Sleep During The Day?
During the day, chameleons do not sleep. If your chameleons sleep during the day, it could be a sign they're sick.
There may be something wrong with the chameleons, or there may be too many lights in the cage that are irritating their eyes. Dehydration could also cause them to sleep.
However, if you see your chameleons closing their eyes for a few minutes, don't worry.
There could be stress in their environment, such as introducing another chameleon to their cage or moving the cage.
During the day, baby chameleons in cages usually close their eyes for a few minutes.
For the first time, they are being introduced to a new environment. Place baby chameleons far from other chameleons in their cage to prevent stress.
You can put the baby chameleons in the larger cage with the other chameleons after a couple of weeks.
Keep an eye on the baby chameleon closely so that it is not stressed or scared.
How Do Chameleons Sleep?
Did you ever watch your chameleon sleep?
Perhaps you have noticed they like to sleep on branches, as they would in their natural habitat.
At night, they sleep clutching the branches in their enclosure, just like their wild cousins.
Chameleons in the wild clutch a branch near leaves or plant material to protect themselves from predators.
Chameleons in captivity might move around the enclosure to sleep in different places rather than just on branches.
Many chameleons display bold and vivid colors while they sleep. Additionally, they do not sleep with their eyes completely open.
As a way of keeping an eye out for potential predators during the night, some sleep with one eye open and one closed.
The alternate open and closed eyes throughout the night to give each side of the brain a rest, but still, keep an eye out for possible dangers.
Most chameleons will close their eyes almost all the way and leave an apparent slit in between.
Do Chameleons Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Chameleons usually sleep with one eye open and one eye closed. Chameleons can lose both eyes, but not completely close them.
By looking at their eyes, you can tell if they're sleeping. When they are sleeping, their eyes will look like slits.
Chameleons tend to sleep with one eye open to keep an eye out for predators and other threats. When they sleep, their right eye will close while their left eye will be open.
Within an hour or so, the right eye will open and the left will close. While watching for danger, each side of the brain needs a rest.
Do Chameleons Sleep In The Dark?
It is true that chameleons sleep in the dark.
For them, the darker the room, the better they can sleep. If the moon isn't out in the wild, it will be pitch black, so they're used to it.
Also, as chameleons are not nocturnal lizards, they cannot detect light at night. Therefore, they spend the night sleeping.
If you're setting up a cage, choose a location in your home that is almost completely dark at night. Night lights are usually left on around the house at night. The lights as long as they aren't directly exposed to them should adversely affect chameleons.
Many people prefer to move the chameleons to a new location when they are about to sleep when they live in an apartment in the city where it is usually well lit at night. That is fine, but keep an eye on your chameleons for stress.
Chameleons can get stressed out if they have moved around a lot.
You can also wrap a blanket around the cage. Chameleons will be able to sleep in total darkness. When you're just starting out, check to see if your chameleons are sleeping every few hours.
This option will be ideal for your chameleons if they are sleeping. Find another way to make your chameleon sleep if it is not sleeping. As you know, it's pitch black at night in their natural habitat.
In other words, chameleons should be able to sleep in the dark if you mimic their natural habitat.
Heat Lights At Night for Chameleons Sleep
Chameleons don't need heat lights when they are sleeping most of the time. Chameleons are cold-blooded and their bodies adjust to the outside temperature as well.
Occasionally, heat lights may be needed in certain situations. The temperature is warm throughout the year in their native habitat, which is a tropical climate.
During the day, it might be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night it might be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Chameleons can adapt to a temperature difference of 10 degrees.
During the winter months, heat lights might be needed if you live in a cold climate zone. Most homes have a central heating system, so some areas might be colder than others. If you place a heat light in the cage at night, you can maintain an optimal temperature.
Put the heat light close to where the chameleon usually sleeps when placing it in the cage. Usually, this will be near the leaf of a plant. You should not place it too close to the leaves of the plant or you might kill them.
On the market, there are a few different types of heat lights. Infrared bulbs with red colors will be most common. Some come with UVB (ultraviolet B-rays) and heat bulbs in one package.
Chameleons cannot process calcium in captivity without UVB lighting. With both setups, UVB lights can be on during the day, and heat lights can be on at night.
Helping Your Chameleon Sleep
When your chameleon has the right environment, sleep will not be a problem. Chameleons need a dark, cool place to live. Provide them with this environment. A chameleon doesn't mind total darkness at night since it sleeps at night.
If your pet is having trouble sleeping or regulating its sleep cycle, there are ways to help. Place their enclosure in a location that is not affected by light during the night to facilitate their sleep cycle.
If you have to move the enclosure often, the animal will become stressed. Place a blanket or towel in its enclosure if it is subject to frequent exposure to bright sunlight in a city or other location.
Your pet will be able to sleep in complete darkness. You can regulate your pet's sleep patterns by using a digital timer for the USB light and one for the basking lamp.
Even if you aren't at home, the timers will ensure that your chameleon stays on a 12 on, 12 off cycle.
During the night, chameleons also have an ideal temperature. They need a drop in temperature to help them cool off and fall asleep.
To allow them to sleep well, the enclosure temperature must drop by around 10°F (-12°C) from the daytime temperature.
If you live in a colder climate and are worried your home gets too cold at night, especially in the winter, consider installing a ceramic heater for the nighttime, but make sure it does not get too warm inside the enclosure.
Do Chameleons Change Color When Sleeping?
At night, chameleons usually turn light green. Their natural defense when sleeping is to blend in with their surroundings. Some species turn bright green, while others turn bright red. Their moods can also influence their color changes at night.
Chameleons in captivity tend to be light green or bright green. You should pay close attention to them if they are any other color than green. This can cause stress and illness.
Watch them over the next two days to see if they change back to light or bright green. When the lights don't come back to green, find out what the problem might be. Chameleons that are sick usually stay in one area day and night and don't eat much.
You can move them to another location or remove the chameleon from the cage and put it back in the cage if you suspect stress is the cause.
Conclusion
Chameleons spend the night sleeping in a cool, dark enclosure. Your chameleon sleeps 12 hours per night on average, depending on a variety of factors.
You can see that chameleons do sleep, and they need that sleep to stay healthy and strong. Chameleons require the same care at night as they do during the day. Ideally, the cage should be located in a dark, quiet area away from bright lights and noise.
The cage should also be set up with plants for them to sleep under. Your chameleon will be able to get a good night's sleep by mimicking its natural habitat.
We hope this article helped you understand how long a chameleon sleeps.
