Do you ever wonder what emotions chameleons are trying to communicate through their actions?
Are you interested in learning the warning signs for a chameleon in distress?
Have you ever seen a chameleon hiss and wondered what it means?
Why do chameleons hiss?
Chameleons hiss to show a variety of emotions, including stress, fear, and anger. Their hiss is most often intended to warn others to back away.
Read on for more information about why chameleons hiss.
Table of Contents
What Types of Chameleons Hiss?
All types of chameleons have been known to hiss, as their hissing is a defense mechanism to ward off predators.
However, the most common type of chameleon hissing in captivity is the veiled chameleon or aChamaeleo calyptratus.
Owners of this type of chameleon may notice more hissing with their veiled chameleon than with other types.
Chamaeleo Calyptratus
A veiled chameleon, or a Chamaeleo calyptratus, is a common choice for a domesticated pet, as they are slow-moving and generally relaxed.
While their calm nature and beautiful presence make them an ideal pet, they are also known to be one of the more aggressive types of chameleons once they are adults.
In particular, veiled chameleons do not like to be handled, and it is when they are being touched, they will hiss.
They may also puff up their bodies, open their mouths, and bite or threaten to bite when they feel threatened.
Owners of veiled chameleons need to know when their chameleon’s hiss, it is a warning sign, and veiled chameleons should be handled with care.
Why Do Chameleons Hiss?
There are many reasons chameleons hiss.
A chameleon might hiss to express its mood, to ward off a predator, or to signal it is going to bite.
Here are the reasons a chameleon may hiss.
#1 Aggression
Male chameleons have been known to become aggressive with other male chameleons, and hissing is one of the ways they showcase this aggression.
When approached by a rival, a male chameleon will curl their tail, puff themselves up, rock, and hiss.
They will also turn their bodies to the side and flatten themselves while turning colors like red, orange, and yellow.
By doing this, chameleons are sending the message they are ready to fight.
#2 Stress
A chameleon will hiss when it is stressed or frightened.
Chameleons are solitary creatures and do not always like to be handled.
When chameleons are frequently pushed outside their comfort zone, they will show their stress through hissing.
Every chameleon has a different personality, and it is possible to socialize a chameleon to be more comfortable with handling.
Just make sure if your chameleon is hissing, you are noticing and respecting their boundaries.
Subjecting a chameleon to frequent stress is not healthy.
#3 Feeling Threatened
If a chameleon feels cornered or stressed, they will hiss.
This is because when a chameleon wants to ward off a predator in the wild, hissing is one way they can scare bigger animals off.
Chameleons will also use hissing to communicate if they feel cornered, so you may notice this sound if you are trying to handle your chameleon at home, and it is backed into a corner of its cage.
This is important to notice because this is a way chameleons let you know they are going to bite.
#4 Pain and Illness
A chameleon will hiss if it is feeling ill or if it has an injury.
Some common injuries include eye infections, hurt feet and toes, and general illness.
When a chameleon is sick or injured, owners will notice an increase in aggression, which includes hissing.
Chameleons require veterinary intervention if they are sick or injured, so owners need to pay close attention to the health of their chameleons and watch for warning signs of illness like hissing.
How to Prevent Chameleons From Hissing
Happy and healthy chameleons don’t hiss very often, and there are a few easy ways to prevent chameleons from hissing.
#1 Practice Mindful Handling
Most adult chameleons don’t like to be handled frequently.
Make sure you understand your chameleon’s unique personality and do not force an adult chameleon to be handled if it does not like it.
If you begin handling a chameleon at a young age, it is more likely to tolerate being handled as an adult.
#2 Give Chameleons Lot of Sunlight
When chameleons are stressed or cranky, they are more likely to hiss.
One great way to keep a chameleon in high spirits is to give it lots of natural or artificial UV light.
Chameleons need sunlight to stay healthy, and chameleons not getting enough light can develop metabolic bone disease or rickets.
Using artificial UV lights during winter months or less sunny seasons is a great way to ensure chameleons stay healthy.
During warm months, placing a chameleon’s cage outside for several hours also helps maintain the sunlight levels chameleons need.
When chameleons are not getting enough sunlight, they will hiss, so providing light is an excellent way to prevent chameleons from hissing.
#3 Keep Chameleons Safe
Chameleons have very specific needs for their physical environment and keeping their space clean, spacious, and to their liking will decrease their hissing.
A large and decorated cage with branches and vines will keep chameleons calm and give them room to roam.
Chameleons also need plenty of water, and owners should mist their cages 3-4 times a day.
Temperature is also important and should vary depending on the time of day and location in the cage.
Chameleons need cooler spaces to be kept at 75° degrees Fahrenheit (24° C) during the day and 65° degrees Fahrenheit (18° C) at night, while they need their sun-basking spaces to be closer to the high 80s and low 90s.
Conclusion
Chameleons hiss for a variety of reasons, including stress, aggression, feeling threatened, and pain or illness.
It is important for the wellbeing of chameleons for owners to learn why chameleons hiss and take care of chameleons when they are exhibiting signs of stress or illness.
Learning why chameleons hiss is an important part of keeping chameleons happy and healthy.
