How Did You Get Into Chameleons

[blackbetty]

I came across one on a YARDSALE site locally. She said it was 3 years old and had a full setup. Decided to buy it. Glad I did, once I got there she was nutz. Lived in a sideways tank in a closet, no lighting and it was TINY and said to be "male" which was wrong! That was Ben. Id always wanted one but we decided to wait until we were permanent at a duty station so a move wouldnt stress them..and it just kinda happened..

Betty was on Craigslist. the lady said if she didnt get someone to buy it that day, she was leaving it alone for 10 days so she could go to FL for a job interview. I grabbed my kid from school and drove 1.5 hrs each way only to have her die 4 weeks later. She too lived in a closet..

Leo came from Cleanline after Betty passed and I couldnt be happier.

Hubby is getting a Jacksons from Titan next month..

We currently only have 2. Ben got rehomed. Someone came to visit and fell in love with her so we sold her to them.

I know you didnt ask how we obtained our cham, just how we got into it.. One goes with the other In a way..

 

[Miss Lily]

Wow! It's great to read about how everyone got 'into' chameleons. Well, here's how I got 'sucked in' too ....

I've always liked wierd critters, having kept sugar gliders for 8 years. Anyway, I needed a new tub of Nutrabol and saw an advert in the local paper for a new Exotic Pet showroom. Well, I went along and got the tub that I needed, and 'found' chameleons!! The owner had a female veiled that she was holding and handfeeding, and she asked if anyone would like to hold her. Straight away, I said I would, and that was it, I was totally smitten! I left the shop literally shaking with excitement (sad, I know!).

That was over a year ago now. I did tons of research as chameleons fascinated me and I desperately wanted one of my own. I didn't take the plunge until 4 months later as I needed to be sure that I would be able to care for my cham properly. Well, Lily was still in the showroom, having been reserved and not collected. When they said that they were putting her up for sale again I knew I just had to have her! That's it really - how I discovered chams and how I came to have the wonderful Lily!

 

[Travis2008]

I saw them on the discovery channel when i was really young (i'm only 15) and since then dreamed of having one as a pet. One day my dad got a flyer on his truck for a reptile expo and we decided to go. When we got there this guy had a bunch of jacksons so we got a pair. when we got home before the night was over they died so the guy sent us two more healthy ones. the addiction grew from there.

 

[jannb]

My youngest daughter and her boyfriend got into chameleons about 5 years ago. Every summer and Christmas when she came home from college, she'd bring these sweet little animals. They'd go on summer vacations with us and she'd get me to care for them when she was out of town. I fell in love with them. Oct. 2007 I finally got one of my own, Luie a male veiled. Then in Aug. 08 I got my little girl Camille, female veiled. I have always loved animals but I have to say I am more in love with these little guys than any animal I've ever owned.......and I've had about everything. Jann

 

[dodolah]

Got one when I was in elementary school.
My family run a wild animal sanctuary back then (not anymore since it attract burglars and thief).

It was a mini zoo. We usually became a 'temporary' inn for animals that were confiscated from owners who had them illegally before they finally transported back to the wild or to the zoo.


We had couple of American alligators, owl, and eagles..
(Almost got an opportunity to care for a baby bear and a baby tiger).

The animals come and go.. and my passion is actually dogs (even now).
I own 12 of them and took care of them (my parents said ok only if i am the one in charge for food and cleaning their mess).
Until 1 time I saw a pet store that sold chameleons. They just mixed bunch of veiled babies and panthers in 1 big cage.
(I realized now what a horrible condition they are in).

Took one to my home and fell in love with chameleons already.
He lived for 7 years or so.
when he died, I got devastated and never wanted to have chameleon anymore.
Until, just out of the blue, I felt like getting one.
But, since I now live in US with a very different climate, I have to reeducate the way I care for chameleons.
Got one from kammers, and the rest is history.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I like watching nature programs on TV. Chameleons were on one day and I said "Gosh those a kewl, I'd like to have one of those!"
My husband at the time thought that was a hint, so he started looking for one. Bought one (with all the wrong equipment and bad advice) and gave it to me for my birthday.
Several books, many websites, making contact with others who had them, and much cash later, I had a much better set-up and an accition that has outlasted that husband by many years.
New partner is allergic to furry things, so the repitles are a good fit.

 

[Ricardo]

Same thing with the dinosaur-Jacksoni-triceratops feeling at the beginning But at that time there were NO chameleons in Hungary, or at least I didnt know about it, but i wanted. I always loved reptiles, and found a Teratoscincus scincus in the local petshop..he was Alexandros, and lived about 8 years.
Once my father's employee brought her chameleon (WC C. chameleon) and i totally fell in love It was about 12-14 years ago... i kept lots of reptiles, WC Lacerta agilis (had 12 babys) and more....
I worked in the Budapest Zoo for 3 years, so i was always surrounded with animals. (but aint got the wanted chameleon) and i realized in 12.2008 that i havent got a pet for a year, probably first time in my life! I went to my favorite reptile store to look for a veiled. There were 10 young veileds, but the did nothing just sitting on a branch... and then i saw Momo, alone in her little cage on the desk....it was kinda "love at first site" next day i took her home, on 23.12.2008. Christmas present for myself, and also a dream come true!

 

[carm]

I am one of those bad impulse buyers. I was at a reptile show to get a snake to add to my collection. seen a baby veiled and wanted one. went back the next day and got him. Didn't know alot at the time, but within a few days and hours apon hours of research had a better grasp on it. That was almost three years ago and billy bob is still going strong. have recently took on a rescue who has her struggles but is starting to come along.......slowly. I have been doing research (properly this time) over the last 6-9 months and would like to get some pigmy's casue they are just so darn cute.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

We went to a local fish store to get some stuff for the tank and see if they had any seahorses (we like to go watch them but have never bought them). Anyway, they had set up a reptile section, and had a veiled in the glass cage. Everyone was staring at it, and it was at the back of the tank, and dark brown. I went over to have a look, at which point it turned pale green and walked right over to me and tried to climb up the tank. Was love at first sight. My boyfriend kind of dismissed it (I want all animals) but then I handed my notice in at work, and when they asked what I wanted as a leaving present I jokingly said a chameleon, at which point they said "Fine, we have enough for that". So we went out, did some research, bought the set up and then got my cham. Shame she was sick, but I have learnt a lot from her and the people on this forum. We are already debating another addition........

 

[hallenhe]

I always liked lizards (my first was an anole when I was 11). My mother was not overwhelmingly enthused, so didn't get another. Finished college, finished grad school, was finally living in a house again, and realized I could have a pet. Briefly considered a green iguana, but decided I needed to give it a room of its own to keep one properly. Remembered a chameleon I'd seen in a St. Paul pet store in college (kept in a floor-to-ceiling screen cage; they at least knew how to house it properly). Went online, found the Chameleon Condo (now defunct?) and had the revelation that I could keep a chameleon out in the open on hanging plants with a drip system. My fiance (now husband) ordered the Condo, we bought some books at the local petstore, I decided on a Jackson's, found one on Kingsnake, and there you go.