Apartments and Chameleons...

So here is the "problem" if you will...im leaving for college and have a nearaly full grown Male Veiled, and all of the apartments i have looked at have some type of insane pet policy, some range from a $150 non refundable pet deposit and then an extra $10 a month for having a pet and another place has a $400 non refundable deposit and $20 a month.

All of the places consider a pet to be anything that live in a cage bigger than 15 gallons (my guys cage is 4x3x3 which is just a little over 15 gallons) and the normal dogs and cats...if something lives in a cage who do i have to pay a fee if he isn't going to wander the house and destroy the place?

I'm not going to havee a roommate and was thinking of having a sort of free range enclosure going on...like a big hibiscus with some kind of barrier around it so he cant wander off and the lighting over it...

Basically what im trying to get at is does anyone know how strict apartments are on chameleons and the crazy deposits they require. I mean if i don't tell them and just have him in the place what are the chances of a staff member possibly seeing it and flipping out? I am willing to pay the pet fees but if there is a way around it id like to do that.

On that note i did mention the idea of having a chameleon to one place and the said "No" because the consider chameleons to be an "exotic" reptile and all exotic reptile are a danger to humans and they all are capable of killing people...are you kidding me! 95% of all chameleons i know basically have panic attacks when someone or something even thinks about getting in his or her personal space!!!

It all depends on the apartment (yeah, I know - big help I am). I've known people who have successfully hidden a cat indefinitely. At the last apartment I lived in, staff would occasionally enter (while I was at work) without warning, and I don't think a pet could have been readily hidden. My own inclination would be to treat the "evil scary exotic lizard" people as an anomaly and try asking another apartment. Or try passing off your veiled as a clever animatronic device (or a sculpture, depending on how lively he is...)

Where are you going to college at? My daughter just completed 5 years of college in Tampa, FL and we had the same problem with her chams. NEVER refer to your cham as an exotic animal....no one allows those. We said something like a couple of small lizards that weighs under a pound that stay in a cage......kinda like a bird. Most places do charge a pet deposit and sometimes extra each month. That's normal. Now that she's graduated and moved and working she found a cute duplex, by a private owner and he doesn't mind at all. Jann

when i lived in my last apt with a few roommates, our apt complex had this policy and we kept all the reptiles in there anyway. We had maintenance men come in on more than one occasion and they never seemed to care.

My apartment complex essentially treats things on a case by case basis. Dogs and Cats get deposits, but anything caged is fine unless its causing a problem with odors, etc. There is a 55 gallon cap on fish tanks, and a ban on exotics. That said they define an exotic as an animal requiring a permit.

I think they may have a problem with large snakes, caimens, etc. but when I showed them what is essentially a tiny lizard, that eats crickets, and is considered by most to be on the cute side for a lizard, there were no problems.

It really is all in how you present it to them. If you start talking about your exotic lizard they are going to see a water monitor in their head. Your light weight, fragile creature that eats crickets (don't mention roaches) shouldn't be a problem.

I probably wouldn't even bring it up, unless you're doing the free range thing which I don't think they'll like.

jannb said:

Where are you going to college at? My daughter just completed 5 years of college in Tampa, FL and we had the same problem with her chams. NEVER refer to your cham as an exotic animal....no one allows those. We said something like a couple of small lizards that weighs under a pound that stay in a cage......kinda like a bird. Most places do charge a pet deposit and sometimes extra each month. That's normal. Now that she's graduated and moved and working she found a cute duplex, by a private owner and he doesn't mind at all. Jann

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Im going to school in Orlando Fl.

I didn't say it was an exotic animal i think they assumed when i said chameleon...i think im just going to keep my mouth shut about the whole thing and if someone does say something about it i will just pay the fees. Even if my guy will not dammage the place!

Speaking of Orlando does anyone know of a good place to buy a wide range of feeders? I dont really want to do the whole mail order thing and am currently buying feeders from a local breeder guy that is awesome!

at our apt there is a no pets, but the reptiles dont count...and in our eyes the dog dosent eaither...hahaha

chequepoint said:

My apartment complex essentially treats things on a case by case basis. Dogs and Cats get deposits, but anything caged is fine unless its causing a problem with odors, etc. There is a 55 gallon cap on fish tanks, and a ban on exotics. That said they define an exotic as an animal requiring a permit.

I think they may have a problem with large snakes, caimens, etc. but when I showed them what is essentially a tiny lizard, that eats crickets, and is considered by most to be on the cute side for a lizard, there were no problems.

It really is all in how you present it to them. If you start talking about your exotic lizard they are going to see a water monitor in their head. Your light weight, fragile creature that eats crickets (don't mention roaches) shouldn't be a problem.

I probably wouldn't even bring it up, unless you're doing the free range thing which I don't think they'll like.

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Im going to try the "positive presentation" thing.

and on the whole roach thing, I cant stand them so that wont be a problem

My apartment in SoCal charges a pet deposit for cats only ($300!). My manager was more fascinated with my juvenile iguana than worried about it when I moved in. Now, I have added my juvenile male veiled to my collection and the fascination just grows. My 2'x2'x5' cage is setup in my tiny living room in a corner across from the front door. It drives me crazy how EVERYONE looks into our apartment just to see what the heck is in that huge cage. We are the only apartment with painted walls (can't stand hospital-like white walls) and giant reptile filled cages. Guess that I can't blame people for their curiosity .

I live in an apartment in SF and I wasnt allowed any pets at all whatsoever. But I just hide my cages and what not whenever the landlord comes over. They need to give you at least a 24hr notice. Infact, mine is commin by sunday, haha.

i live in a complex in phoenix that requires a pet deposit. have had my cham for about a year now and lived there for about a year now. had maintence come in to fix my fire alarm in the same room, and they didnt say a thing. i even have the cage in the window on the first floor and nothing. to be honest, i dont think maintainence has any idea as to what your policy or deposits are. i have 1.5 dogs(girlfriends comes over 3 or 4 days a week) and havent put down a deposit. my carpets are going to need to be cleaned since i got a puppy so id rather spend the money i would put down on a deposit on that. anyway, id look at the lease, if it says anything about reptiles, ask, if not, like mine doesnt, enjoy it and dont say a word about it. better to play dumb

PetLand

Dunnigan said:

Im going to school in Orlando Fl.

I didn't say it was an exotic animal i think they assumed when i said chameleon...i think im just going to keep my mouth shut about the whole thing and if someone does say something about it i will just pay the fees. Even if my guy will not dammage the place!

Speaking of Orlando does anyone know of a good place to buy a wide range of feeders? I dont really want to do the whole mail order thing and am currently buying feeders from a local breeder guy that is awesome!

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They have crickets, mealworms and roaches

My apartment has a pet policy as well. I just moved him in and never mentioned it. How are they gonna know he's there? it's not like a dog or cat that they may one day hear. I'm not paying extra for something that has no ability to damage the apartment.

I've lived in this place for 6 months and never had a problem.

Certainly it depends on the apartment.
As a former landlord myself, I know that I too charged extra to allow pets. Even your chameleon could potentially cause damage - such as the need for an exterminator due to roaches or crickets escaping, water damage, etc. I accepted pets on a case by case basis. I also did maintenance inspections twice a year. I felt it was my right to ensure my property was not being destroyed beyond normal wear and tear. Not all pet owners are responsible ones. I recommend telling potential landlords you have a very small, totally harmless lizard. Show a picture. Tell them its name. Dress yourself like you are a responsible professional adult, rather than a college kid who might party, etc. Basically make a great first impression. And be willing to pay a little more to not stress out every time maintenance is needed on your place! dont risk getting kicked out in the middle of January for being a liar.

Clifford said:

Dress yourself like you are a responsible professional adult, rather than a college kid who might party, etc. Basically make a great first impression. And be willing to pay a little more to not stress out every time maintenance is needed on your place! dont risk getting kicked out in the middle of January for being a liar.

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Im currently going to school to be a music teacher and currently work in the school system and when i go to look at places its generally after i get out of the classroom so i am dressed in business professional attire.

I am willing to pay the extra, but if it is at all possible to avoid, id rather go that way!

my apartment has a pet policy and deposit and all that crap, but i mentioned i had a small lizard that doesnt bother anything and they didnt seem to mind much. and i second, that maintenance guys dont know you policy agreements and deposits, they are just there to do their job and get out, they dont wanna rustle and feathers.

IMO fish tanks are way more risk to landlords for damage than chameleons and ive never heard of a fish tank deposit. fish tanks can be huge and contain over 100's of gallons, imagine that kinda mess if it breaks or spills compared to my 5gallon mister resevoir....please.

i wouldnt mention it and if you do, compare it to a hermit crab.lol

JoshCrane1 said:

IMO fish tanks are way more risk to landlords for damage than chameleons and ive never heard of a fish tank deposit. fish tanks can be huge and contain over 100's of gallons, imagine that kinda mess if it breaks or spills compared to my 5gallon mister resevoir....please.

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Agreed, fish tanks are definately a potential risk and trust me, plenty of landlords DO rightly charge a deposit for them too.

Nicodemayo said:

when i lived in my last apt with a few roommates, our apt complex had this policy and we kept all the reptiles in there anyway. We had maintenance men come in on more than one occasion and they never seemed to care.

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thats what i do right now i wouldn't even ask them, and if anyone says anything, explain to them that because its its in a cage you didn't think it would matter, my neighbors pay a fortune for there dog(5lbs) and rats... but no one even cares, its none of their business IMO, and they are not allowed to come into the apartment without your permission. I have a 4'x2'x6' cham cage and a 32 "gallon" snake terrarium in a one bedroom apartment. I think their main concern is with fish and dogs, water damage and poo...

wheresstimpy said:

thats what i do right now i wouldn't even ask them, and if anyone says anything, explain to them that because its its in a cage you didn't think it would matter, my neighbors pay a fortune for there dog(5lbs) and rats... but no one even cares, its none of their business IMO, and they are not allowed to come into the apartment without your permission. I have a 4'x2'x6' cham cage and a 32 "gallon" snake terrarium in a one bedroom apartment. I think their main concern is with fish and dogs, water damage and poo...

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If the rental market is good from a tenant perspective, meaning lots of vacancies, its likely worth the risk of not mentioning it. Because if the landlord gets upset, you'll find another place quickly.
If you lived where I live, with a close to .5% vacancy rate, you'd pay the extra and not risk getting kicked out - too hard to find a decent place to live. That said, I pretended my first chameleon didnt exist too, back in the day of being a renter.

Everytime my GF and I look at apartments the coversation goes like this:

Apt. person: 'do you have any pets?'
Me: "what kind of pets?"
Apt. person: 'cats or dogs?"
Me: 'no, but do you count chameleons?'
Apt. person: 'What is that?'
Me: 'its a lizard....'
Apt. person: 'oh.. no we don't charge or them'

The apartment we're in now went the same as above but a little shorter....

Apt. person: 'do you have any pets?'
Me: "what kind of pets?"
Apt. person: 'cats or dogs?"
Me: 'nope'