{"id":1125,"date":"2021-12-09T21:14:01","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T21:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/?p=1125"},"modified":"2023-01-12T13:41:12","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T13:41:12","slug":"do-chameleons-smell-bad-smell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/do-chameleons-smell-bad-smell\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Chameleons Smell Bad? [Smell Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many small animals can smell when they\u2019re being kept inside a cage over time. However, is that the case for reptiles? Do Chameleons smell bad? In this article, we\u2019ll answer that question and more. For example, we\u2019ll share the few different ways that Chameleons can smell bad. Also, we\u2019ll throw in some tips on preventing your reptile friend from smelling.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/veiled-chameleon-aquarium.jpg\" alt=\"Do Chameleons Smell Bad\" class=\"wp-image-1785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/veiled-chameleon-aquarium.jpg 800w, https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/veiled-chameleon-aquarium-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/veiled-chameleon-aquarium-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veiled Chameleon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li ><a href=\"#strong-do-chameleons-smell-bad-strong\">Do Chameleons Smell Bad?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#strong-does-chameleon-poop-smell-strong\">Does Chameleon Poop Smell?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#strong-do-chameleon-cages-smell-strong\">Do Chameleon Cages Smell?<\/a><ul><li ><a href=\"#the-substrate-or-flooring-of-the-enclosure\">The Substrate Or Flooring Of The Enclosure<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#water-inside-your-chameleons-enclosure\">Water Inside Your Chameleon\u2019s Enclosure<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#there-may-be-root-rot-in-your-chameleons-enclosure\">There May Be Root Rot In Your Chameleon\u2019s Enclosure<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li ><a href=\"#strong-why-do-chameleons-smell-strong\">Why Do Chameleons Smell?<\/a><ul><li ><a href=\"#chameleons-can-store-food-in-their-mouths\">Chameleons Can Store Food In Their Mouths<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#your-chameleon-may-be-in-poor-health\">Your Chameleon May Be In Poor Health<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li ><a href=\"#strong-how-to-prevent-chameleons-from-smelling-strong\">How To Prevent Chameleons From Smelling?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#strong-conclusion-strong\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-do-chameleons-smell-bad-strong\"><strong>Do Chameleons Smell Bad?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The short answer is no. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chameleon\" data-lasso-id=\"5613\" rel=\"noopener\">Chameleons<\/a> do not smell bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, other things can smell bad, making it seem like your Chameleon has an odor to them. These causes can come from the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Your Chameleon\u2019s Environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your Chameleon\u2019s Excrement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your Chameleon\u2019s Natural Behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your Chameleon\u2019s Poor Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of these ways are preventable, and others are not. For the most part, though, you\u2019ll be able to control whether your Chameleon smells up the room or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, since we know that Chameleons themselves don\u2019t necessarily smell, let\u2019s talk about the causes that actually create an odor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-does-chameleon-poop-smell-strong\"><strong>Does Chameleon Poop Smell?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, Chameleon poop does smell. The smell may get worse if it builds up over time and isn\u2019t cleaned out of the cage right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if poop builds up inside the enclosure, then your Chameleon is more than likely to walk all over it. Thus, they get poop all over themselves and all over the rest of their habitat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, as stated above, their enclosure should be misted often every day. If poop is left out, then the water from the misting will turn it into a messy puddle, making it smell worse. Then, it\u2019ll also be that much harder to clean it up later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LmUqpGQhmig\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the smell, this will make your Chameleon extremely unhappy and stressed. If they begin to get stressed, your Chameleon could become aggressive toward you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t get upset that your Chameleon is aggressive if this should happen. Instead, take note of it and recognize what the problem is. For example, if the cage is too dirty, clean it and see how it affects your Chameleon\u2019s mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can spot-clean your Chameleon\u2019s tank at least once a day. Then, make sure their waste is cleaned up as best as possible and as soon as you can when your Chameleon goes to the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-do-chameleon-cages-smell-strong\"><strong>Do Chameleon Cages Smell?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few things within your Chameleon\u2019s cage that might make it smell. Since you want to mimic their habitat as best as possible, there are a few things inside their enclosure that might make it smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, of course, since their enclosure is small and they\u2019re within a smaller room, rather than the open wild, the smell may seem stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the first cause is the floor or substrate you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-substrate-or-flooring-of-the-enclosure\">The Substrate Or Flooring Of The Enclosure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need to use flooring inside your Chameleon\u2019s cage, but if you want to make it look as natural as possible to them, you might use substrate. Depending on the type of soil or substrate you use, this can cause an odor over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, some substrate has manure or chicken excrement within it. So when your Chameleon walks on it or rolls in the substrate, then they get the smell on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"water-inside-your-chameleons-enclosure\">Water Inside Your Chameleon\u2019s Enclosure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, another cause of odor within your Chameleon\u2019s enclosure is standing water. Your reptile needs water at all times for them to stay hydrated. However, they don\u2019t drink water as we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you\u2019ll need a drip system or to mist their enclosure a few times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/drip-system-for-chameleon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5614\">Learn more about what a drip system is for Chameleons here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Standing water can create a musty smell if it\u2019s in there for too long. It might also absorb into your Chameleon\u2019s skin, thus giving them a musty smell as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid this, make sure the enclosure is completely dried out before the next misting. Otherwise, some spots inside the cage will never be dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"there-may-be-root-rot-in-your-chameleons-enclosure\">There May Be Root Rot In Your Chameleon\u2019s Enclosure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another cause of smelling within their cage might be root rot. Similar to the cage being moist all of the time, water can cause the decor to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you have live plants inside their cage, they might get overwatered from the misting and from watering them to keep them alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Too much water can cause root rot, which makes the plant smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having live plants is a good idea for your Chameleon since it will well mimic their natural habitat. However, artificial vines and fake plants work just as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-why-do-chameleons-smell-strong\"><strong>Why Do Chameleons Smell?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chameleons don\u2019t technically smell on their own. It\u2019s the things around them that smell. However, there is a couple of ways that Chameleons can cause an odor themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chameleons-can-store-food-in-their-mouths\">Chameleons Can Store Food In Their Mouths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chameleons have pockets inside their mouths that allow them to store food. In the wild, they\u2019re able to store uneaten meat and smear it on tree branches and other spots to attract prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, when the prey comes to have a snack, the Chameleon will strike with their tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no reason for Chameleons to store meat within their mouths when in captivity. There&#8217;s no prey for them to catch since you\u2019re the one feeding them on a schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, even though your Chameleon knows this, it\u2019s a natural instinct for them to store food in their mouths, so they\u2019ll do it anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem is that they won\u2019t smear it on anything in their enclosure because they know there\u2019s no prey to catch. That\u2019s nice for you since you don\u2019t need to clean it, but it will cause your Chameleon to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, you can do nothing about this because it\u2019s a simple natural behavior for your reptile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"your-chameleon-may-be-in-poor-health\">Your Chameleon May Be In Poor Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One sign that your Chameleon isn\u2019t feeling well isn\u2019t getting the nutrition they need or doesn\u2019t have the proper living conditions within their habitat is that they\u2019ll begin to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, they begin to die if they\u2019re malnourished or don\u2019t have the proper lighting. Sometimes, they\u2019ll smell as though they\u2019re decomposing while they\u2019re still alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this happens to your Chameleon, you\u2019ll want to bring them to the vet right away and find the cause of it as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if your Chameleon has parasites or they\u2019re dehydrated, that can cause an odor as well. There are other signs, too. So, if your reptile is feeling lethargic or has dry, flaky skin, then that\u2019s a sign something is off. You should be able to catch that they\u2019re not feeling well before they begin to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-how-to-prevent-chameleons-from-smelling-strong\"><strong>How To Prevent Chameleons From Smelling?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple ways to prevent Chameleons from smelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, make sure that the enclosure is clean at all times. You\u2019ll want to spot-clean it at least once a day to ensure the water isn\u2019t damaging anything inside the cage and also to clean up any poop that\u2019s lying around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to your Chameleon storing food, there\u2019s nothing you can do about that, unfortunately. However, you can make sure that everything inside their enclosure is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, make sure the day, night, and basking area temperatures are correct. Also, make sure your Chameleon is eating and that they\u2019re eating their food within a timely manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are ways to ensure that your Chameleon is doing well and in good health, so they don\u2019t begin to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, the best way to prevent them from smelling is to keep their enclosure clean and to make sure they\u2019re properly cared for.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1673530844361\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Can Chameleons Smell Themselves?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Chameleons have a sense of smell, but it\u2019s not very good. In addition, this reptile cannot sweat, so they release excess salt from their body through their nostrils. It\u2019s not known whether Chameleons can smell each other or not or whether they can even smell themselves.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strong-conclusion-strong\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, Chameleons themselves are a pretty clean pet to have. They don\u2019t have an odor that comes from them, but there are other ways they can smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to prevent such odors is to keep their enclosure as clean as possible at all times. Otherwise, if you smell rotting meat, then chances are your Chameleon is hoarding food, and there\u2019s nothing you can do about that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/chameleons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5615\"><em>Learn more about Chameleons in all our guides here<\/em><\/a> <em>or <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/what-do-chameleons-eat-in-the-wild\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1078\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5616\">click here to find out what Chameleons eat<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/are-chameleons-dangerous\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1119\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5617\">here to <\/a>find out if they are dangerous. You can also find out if <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/do-chameleons-have-teeth\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1225\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5618\">Chameleons have teeth here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/are-chameleons-hard-to-take-care-of\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1251\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5619\">whether they are easy to care for here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to know if chameleons smell? Read this full guide to whether chameleons smell bad and what to do to keep them smelling as good as possible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":9,"label":"Chameleons"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/veiled-chameleon-aquarium.jpg",800,534,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Frank Kane","author_link":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/author\/frank-kane\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":9,"name":"Chameleons","slug":"chameleons","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Chameleon Care and Health: Tips and advice on how to keep your chameleons healthy, including information on diet, habitat setup, humidity, and common health concerns.","parent":0,"count":20,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":9,"category_count":20,"category_description":"Chameleon Care and Health: Tips and advice on how to keep your chameleons healthy, including information on diet, habitat setup, humidity, and common health concerns.","cat_name":"Chameleons","category_nicename":"chameleons","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1125"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2460,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1125\/revisions\/2460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}