Chameleons are famous for their uncanny ability to change colors. As the popular 1980s song, Karma Chameleon, goes, “Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams: red, gold, green.” White is evidently not on this list, so when a chameleon turns white, it’s natural to wonder why.
There are many reasons why a chameleon may be turning white, including stress, illness, and even shed cycles. If you notice that your chameleon’s skin is starting to look pale, dull, or outright white, it could be a sign of one of these underlying causes.
In this article, we’ll explore why your chameleon may be turning white or pale, how to address the underlying issues, and when to visit a vet.
As a chameleon owner, you’re probably used to your pet showing off its amazing color-changing abilities. So when you notice your chameleon turning white or pale, it can be alarming.
Not to worry – a white or pale chameleon does not necessarily mean something is wrong. In fact, there are a few common, harmless reasons why your chameleon’s colors may appear dull or faded
In this article, we’ll go over the top causes and what to do if your chameleon is turning white or pale.
Common Causes
Here are some of the most frequent causes for a chameleon turning white or pale:
Shedding
One of the most common reasons for a white chameleon is shedding Chameleons shed their skin as they grow in order to remove dead skin cells
During a shed, you’ll see flaky white skin appearing on your chameleon The white skin occurs as the old layer separates from the new layer underneath
Younger chameleons tend to shed more frequently, about every 3-4 weeks. Adult chameleons shed less often, around once every 1-2 months.
Shedding usually takes a few hours up to 1-3 days. As soon as the old skin finishes shedding, your chameleon’s colors should return to normal.
Stress
Stress is another major cause of pale color in chameleons. When stressed, chameleons release cortisol and other hormones that can temporarily affect their pigmentation.
Sources of stress include:
- New home or environment
- Sudden changes in temperature or humidity
- Unfamiliar food items
- Too much handling
Look for other signs of stress like decreased appetite, glass surfing, and dark stress bars on the skin. Eliminate the stressors and your chameleon’s color should bounce back.
Improper Temperatures
As cold-blooded reptiles, chameleons depend on environmental temperatures to regulate their body heat. Unsuitable temperatures can put them under stress and cause pale coloring.
If temperatures are too high, they’ll turn light colors to try cooling themselves down. Too cold, and they can become hypothermic and lethargic.
Make sure your enclosure stays within your chameleon’s ideal temperature range. Most species do best with 70-80°F ambient temps and a 85-110°F basking area.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can lead to dehydration, which causes the skin to appear pale and dry.
Prevent dehydration by misting the enclosure 1-2 times per day and maintaining 65-85% humidity, depending on species. Make sure your chameleon has easy access to clean drinking water too.
You may notice signs like sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, and urine with a yellow/orange tint. Increase hydration immediately if you see these.
Malnutrition
Nutritional deficiencies can also lead to loss of color. Chameleons need a balanced diet with calcium supplementation.
Feed a variety of gut-loaded insects like crickets, worms, grasshoppers. Dust prey with calcium/vitamin D3 powder at every other feeding.
Also provide leafy greens, veggies, and some fruits. Panther chameleons mainly eat live prey and don’t need produce.
When to See the Vet
In most cases, a white or pale chameleon just needs some minor husbandry tweaks to get their color back. But if you notice any of the following, a vet visit may be necessary:
- Loss of appetite or energy
- Labored breathing
- Swollen eyes/body
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Injuries/wounds
Let the vet examine your chameleon to pinpoint any underlying illness and get proper treatment. The sooner the issue is diagnosed, the better chance your pet has of recovering.
What To Do If Your Chameleon Is Pale
If you notice your chameleon turning white/pale, here are some steps to take:
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Check for shedding – Look for flaky white skin that is sloughing off. This is normal during a shed. Provide higher humidity to help the process.
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Watch for signs of stress – Glass surfing, dark lines on the skin, decreased appetite can indicate stress. Remove any stressors.
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Measure temperatures – Use a thermometer/hygrometer to ensure proper basking and ambient temperatures in the habitat.
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Increase hydration – Mist more frequently and check that your chameleon is drinking. Add more live plants to raise humidity.
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Review diet – Feed more calcium-dusted insects. Provide greens and veggies too. Make sure prey is gut loaded.
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Limit handling – Don’t over-handle your chameleon while it recovers its color. Keep handling to a minimum.
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Visit the vet – If symptoms persist more than a few days or you notice illness, see an exotic vet.
With some observation and small habitat adjustments, a pale chameleon can regain their beautiful colors. But if anything seems off, always reach out to your herp vet for advice. With proper care, your chameleon’s true colors will shine through once again!
Why Is My Chameleon Turning White?
As mentioned, there are multiple reasons why a chameleon may be turning white. It’s important to identify why your chameleon is showing these odd colors so you can address it as soon as possible.
Before you panic, you should know that some chameleons experience color changes as part of their typical life cycle.
Maybe they’re transitioning from juvenile to adult, or maybe they’re just changing color depending on their environment.
If they seem to be perfectly fine, aside from looking a little paler than usual, it’s likely that they’re simply going through a color phase.
This is why it’s important to take note of your chameleon’s usual color and behavior, so you can identify any changes.
One of the most common reasons why chameleons turn white is because they’re currently undergoing a shed cycle.
Like all reptiles, chameleons shed their skin periodically as they grow (and even eats it). During this process, their skin may appear pale or whitish in color, with white flakes that will eventually fall off.
This pale color should not be cause for alarm as it usually passes after the shedding process is complete.
If your chameleon is on the younger side, keep in mind that they will shed more frequently than their adult counterparts.
Juvenile chameleons below the age of 18 months tend to shed every 3-4 weeks, while fully grown adults may only shed every 1-2 months.
Some signs that your chameleon is simply shedding include:
- Pale or whitish patches on the skin
- Small white flakes
- Puffed out eyes
- Decreased or loss of appetite
- Rubbing against surfaces
Once they’re done shedding, the chameleon’s skin will regenerate, and their natural colors will return. This can take anywhere from a few hours to one day, depending on your chameleon’s age.
Some older chameleons may take up to three days to shed completely, so don’t be surprised if your little old guy isn’t done yet by day two.
Stress can also cause a chameleon to turn white or pale in color. This is due to the release of hormones such as cortisol, which can affect their body in various ways, including a change in skin color.
Chameleons can become stressed for different reasons, such as new environments, changes in temperature or humidity, or even an unfamiliar diet.
You may notice some unusual behavior, such as glass-scratching or tongue-flicking, that can indicate this.
If you recently changed something in your chameleon’s environment or regular routine, it could be why they’re now looking pale.
Incorrect temperatures can have a pretty big impact on your chameleon. Temperature changes, in general, are already quite stressful for chameleons — incorrect temperatures can be downright harmful to their health.
Chameleons are cold-blooded animals, which means they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. This means even their color-changing ability can be affected by temperature.
If the temperature is too high, they may take on a lighter skin color to cool their bodies down.
Too much light can also cause them to turn pale, as they may try to avoid the heat by staying in dark places or burrowing in the substrate.
However, if temperatures drop too low, chameleons can experience hypothermia and become lethargic. This can also cause them to look pale and less vibrant in color.
For optimum results, your chameleon enclosure should be maintained between 70°F and 90°F in the daytime, depending on their species. For instance, veiled chameleons prefer 80 to 88°F while panther chameleons prefer around 70°F.
You should also provide your pet with an area to bask under UVB lighting, which allows them to absorb the necessary vitamins and minerals that are essential for their health.
Depending on the exact species you have, the temperature in their basking area should range between 85°F and 110°F.
Poor diet is another common reason why chameleons turn white. Chameleons are omnivores that need a balanced diet of live insects, leafy greens, fruit, and vegetables in order to stay healthy and vibrant.
If they don’t get this, they can become malnourished, and that can cause their color to change and even turn pale or white.
Luckily, malnutrition is easily preventable and even treatable with the right diet and the proper supplementation.
You can provide your chameleon with a variety of live insects, such as crickets, mealworms, or wax worms. All feeder insects should always be gut-loaded with veggies and fruits.
You should also supplement their diet with calcium and other minerals to boost their immune system.
Another potential reason why your chameleon may be turning white is dehydration. Proper hydration is essential for keeping your chameleon’s skin healthy and vibrant in both color and texture.
Dehydration happens when the body doesn’t get enough water for it to function properly. This can lead to anemia and a pale appearance, both of which are quite concerning.
It can also cause the urate in their feces to become tinged with yellow or orange, unlike the usual white.
The best way to avoid dehydrating your chameleon is to provide water sprays regularly. Chameleons love drinking water that drips off of leaves and branches, as it mimics their natural environment.
You can also increase humidity levels in order to make sure your chameleon stays properly hydrated. The ideal humidity levels in chameleon enclosures range between 65% and 85%, depending on the exact species.
To increase humidity, you can do the following:
- Do regular misting
- Reduce possible airflow
- Add more live plants
Renal failure is a serious condition that can be fatal to your chameleon. With renal failure, the kidneys cease to function and can no longer filter waste or toxins from the body.
This can cause a chameleon to look pale or white, as well as become lethargic, weak, and have difficulty breathing.
Renal failure can be caused by infections and even improper care, both of which can be prevented with proper husbandry protocols such as using clean substrates, filtering the water, and providing a balanced diet.
If you suspect that your chameleon is suffering from renal failure, take them to a herp vet as soon as possible so they can receive proper treatment.
Why is my chameleon a dark color?
FAQ
Why is my chameleon going white?
If your chameleon is starting to fade out their colors it is time to cool them off immediately. A cold chameleon will slow down.
What color do chameleons turn when they are sick?
A drastic change in color may also indicate that your pet chameleon is sick. Sick chameleon colors vary, but when a typically blue or green lizard suddenly starts to turn brown or black, they may be significantly ill.
How to tell if a chameleon is dehydrated?
- Sunken Eyes: A healthy, hydrated chameleon’s eyes should appear rounded or almost pyramidal in shape. Dehydration can cause the eyes to appear sunken, flatter than usual, and perhaps even closed.
- Skin Wrinkles and Sagging: Dehydration can cause a chameleon’s skin to wrinkle or sag, especially around the face and body.
- Dry Poop: The consistency of a chameleon’s poop can indicate its hydration status. Dry, crusty poop suggests dehydration, while moist poop indicates adequate hydration.
- Loss of Appetite: A dehydrated chameleon may lose interest in food or eat less than usual.
- Yellow/Orange Urate: Normal urate (the white/yellow part of the poop) can turn yellow or orange in dehydrated chameleons.
- Lethargy: A dehydrated chameleon may also appear lethargic, sluggish, and less active than usual.
- Trouble Shedding: Dehydrated chameleons may have difficulty shedding their skin.
- Loss of Skin Elasticity: Dehydrated chameleons may have skin that is less elastic than usual.
- Dented/Cracked Scales: Dehydration can also cause a chameleon’s scales to appear dented or cracked.
Do chameleons turn white?
Whether transforming themselves from blues and greens to yellows, oranges, or reds, chameleons exhibit a variety of vibrant colors. But one color we don’t often see chameleons display is white. So, if you notice your chameleon start to turn pale or white in color, you might ask: Why is my chameleon white?
How do chameleons change their skin color?
Most chameleons can change their skin color by expanding or contracting cells in their skin that contain different pigments. They can blend into their surroundings by altering the color of their skin to match the background.
How do you know if a chameleon is shedding?
As shedding time approaches, you’ll notice your chameleon’s skin start to turn dull or pale in color. This is an indication that the skin is loosening and ready to come off. Then, once the skin has separated, it will appear white and flaky, eventually falling off in small pieces.
What is a chameleon’s true color?
A chameleon’s true color is considered that of a pale opalescent color or a sort of whitish color. Think of a crystal without any directed light pointed at it. It kind of has a frosted glass appearance. This is essentially what happens to a chameleon’s skin if it is not being specifically focused to reflect certain colors.
Why does my Chameleon turn black and green?
When you go to pick up or handle your chameleon, notice how much he changes color. If he becomes black and green striped in color, chances are he is trying to intimidate you. While this is all very adorable and quite pretty to look at, it means that he is being aggressive because he is stressed out.
Why do chameleons lose color?
Bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections can make your chameleon sick, causing them to appear pale and lose their coloration. These types of illnesses often arise due to unsanitary conditions within the chameleon’s enclosure or contaminated feeders.