BASIC: Chameleon Cycle of Care

[ataraxia]

Ive noticed we get many questions on here concerning issues that could be resolved or could have been avoided with basic care. Chameleons do require a little more attention than lets say a leopard gecko. Many chameleon purchases are a spur of the moment with no research at all. Buying from a source that sometimes has no idea themselves how to take care of a chameleon. Days, weeks, months later we start having issues then come to these forums for answers. Im not sure if it is some dont have time to research or maybe a lack of attention span to read all the way through a detailed care sheet. I am one also to have a very short attention span and retain very little. So i understand that sometimes a visual is better than a complete write up. My wife and i went through a made a basic care guide visually. In hopes that it will spark interest to read a little further.

 

[pssh]

That's cute!

I think a lot of the problem is just that the owners put too much trust in the "reptile specialist" at the pet store. Plus there are a lot of care sheets that recommend husbandry that may cause problems down the road. Of course the owners dont know that, so they keep on doing what they are doing and then the animal gets sick/injured.

If you think about it, most animals aren't really treated the way that they should to get optimal care. Most people dont walk their dogs once a day and they feed them that crap food with all kinds of crazy fillers. People with cats dont always feed them wet food and some people make them be outdoor only cats. Goldfish are rarely ever given enough room to grow and be healthy (that's 50 gallons by the way.) Small animals (the furry guys) almost never get the exercise they need or the space they need. They also dont usually get the interaction that they should have with their owner. Reptiles are given husbandry that make some of us think, "What on earth are you doing? Why would you think that's the way to treat it?"

It's a cycle of ignorance. Help spread awareness whenever you can.

 

[lisa h]

I love the visual you've done! It's true that everyone learns in a different way. I would rather read loads and loads of material, while videos are definitely not for me. I think one of the problems is that sometimes the forums are a last resort. It would be nice if people looked here *before* getting a chameleon, rather than waiting until it's 90% dead at the bottom of it's aquarium. It would be nice if pet stores had something like you made to give out to customers, but they're not in the business of education; they're in the business of selling -- the same as shoes or clothes. Even some of the rescues and humane societies fall short sometimes. The more animals they get out, the more they can save.

Kara is correct in saying that most animals aren't given the optimal care they need. I don't know that that's ever going to change

 

[kinyonga]

I think the visual has some good basics...if you could then click on each of the areas to find out more information it would be even better.

 

[Sticktongue]

That is a nice post. I use to not be able to pay attention and read a big care sheet because in the middle of reading i would all of a sudden notice i was "reading" but not "listening". Meaning, although my eyes were reading the words, my mind was wondering and thinking about something else and i'd have to re read and re read it again to finally get it all in my head! so the picture is definitely a good idea for those types of people.

I think the visual has some good basics...if you could then click on each of the areas to find out more information it would be even better.

Great addition in my mind

 

[jannb]

Excellent thread! You should turn this into a blog so you can post it to new keepers.

 

[carol5208]

Very nice work!!!!! Although I use a regular housebulb for basking and not a powersun as I think many of the other members do also. That would be the only thing I see that I do differently. I am sure it took you alot of time and energy to make that and it is a great tool to be used in the future.

 

[pssh]

Powersun is a mercury vapor I believe.

 

[ataraxia]

any suggestions on making this better are definitely welcome. thanks all for the kind words!!

kinyonga thats a great idea. im going to work on that.

btw-how do you blog this?