Kiwi is FINALLY green!! Totally made my day!

[JaxKiwiTiger]

I got Kiwi back in mid-August, but had no idea what I was getting into. After a few weeks, I realized she was always dark colors in her cage(which was not normal) but lightened up if I let her run around outside of it. I started a couple threads on here trying to figure out why, but to no avail. I concluded that she was just a smart wc cham that realized she was now captive -- which caused her some stress -- and hoped she'd eventually grow out of it, especially after realizing that she's in good hands

In the meantime, I learned everything and anything I could about Jacksons. I made it a personal mission to spoil my 3 chams, especially KIWI, rotten! I've since invested a lot of time and money on them, with special attention to this special girlie. I've noticed over the past couple days, her cage color was starting to get lighter. Then today, she practically looked her natural green and it totally made my day. Nice to know my hard work and dedication paid off, and on top of that, I have a happy and thriving cham! Check her out!!

Note: If you notice in the pics, she still has her "red-phase" going on. I'm not sure, but I think I'm hoping she grows out of it -- I don't really like it!

 

[CauseNAffect]

Free ranging full time is the way to, I feel strange caging an animal that isn't meant to have one.

Not only do they live longer, but they are much happier. Seems strange more people haven't done away with their cages.

I have 2 panther and a mellers on a free range now an they are loving life

Get rid of your cages people

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Good to hear man. And caging is all personal opinion. I would free range mine if i had the time to sit there and babysit, but with my job its just not plausable. Is my chameleon as happy as he could possibly be? Maybe not, but i know he is safe from my two 100lb dogs that roam my house. I do the very best i can to make sure he is happy, healthy, and safe where he is. I think thats what really matters.jmo.

 

[laurie]

Good to hear man. And caging is all personal opinion. I would free range mine if i had the time to sit there and babysit, but with my job its just not plausable. Is my chameleon as happy as he could possibly be? Maybe not, but i know he is safe from my two 100lb dogs that roam my house. I do the very best i can to make sure he is happy, healthy, and safe where he is. I think thats what really matters.jmo.

You are a very smart person! I feel a caged chameleon is much preferred to one that is allowed in harms way. Free ranging has it's advantages, but not all of us can or should free range. However some people think we should all free range, and I am also sure chams have suffered from that advice too. jmo

I have a male panther who will be 8 years old on 2/5/2012. He has been caged all his life. I wonder how many people have panthers older than Arnold, either free ranged or caged? I am not sure one can say free ranging extends the life of a chameleon. I have never seen any research to support that statement. again jmo

 

[laurie]

Kiwi looks wonderful, she is a smoking girlie cham. Whatever you are doing sure seems to be working.

 

[alexyboo909]

awheeeee kiwi's a cutie

 

[coldbloodedAL]

You are a very smart person! I feel a caged chameleon is much preferred to one that is allowed in harms way. Free ranging has it's advantages, but not all of us can or should free range. However some people think we should all free range, and I am also sure chams have suffered from that advice too. jmo

I have a male panther who will be 8 years old on 2/5/2012. He has been caged all his life. I wonder how many people have panthers older than Arnold, either free ranged or caged? I am not sure one can say free ranging extends the life of a chameleon. I have never seen any research to support that statement. again jmo

Thank you very much Laurie!

 

[Miss Lily]

Kiwi is looking great! It's wonderful when all the time and money you invest in them starts paying off, isn't it? My baby Monty has really taken off with his feeding at is gaining weight consistently now, plus his horns have started growing, so I know EXACTLY how pleased and excited you are!

 

[CauseNAffect]

I think that if u have two huge dogs it's fairly common sense to not let your Cham wander, I was more suggesting for people that do have the opportunity to fr.

Btw I work 7am till 7pm out of the house, so thats not much of an excuse, chameleons don't need babysitting in the wild nor do they even need much attention f u set up their habitat properly.

Didn't really see where the brilliance came from in what u said but sure... They are obviously better off without being exposed to your dogs

 

[K9Luvn]

Kiwi looks beautiful and healthy Obviously what you are doing for her is working. Sounds like spoiling is the key!!!

I am home so I have the ability to use a cage and a FR area. They have varied amount of FR time but when I am away were I can not watch them... the dogs are running about.... cats in the area.... Well they go up in their cage. That's just what works for me.

 

[Olimpia]

Kiwi is adorable! Super cute little face!

I free ranged all my panthers and the only difference I noticed was that they were more active. But now my last male is in a 5' x 4' x 2.5' cage and does just as well. I liked free ranging but it was more hassle than having a cage, especially when it came to providing water. I don't want to have to give my guys water through a dropper, and in a cage I can have the mistking running for nearly 45 minutes a day. I may do free ranging again at a future date, but at this time I'm more comfortable with them being caged most of the time.

Besides, I rent. I wouldn't want my landlord/maintenance team coming in one day and finding that chameleons are roaming the house freely. Especially when they weren't told of the extra pets!

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Thanks guys, I'm totally lovin all the comments so far...this thread has been a real blessing to me and my chams, and it's great to get this kind of support.

I've considered free-ranging in the past, I mean I love the concept and I really want to give my chams that kind of freedom. But in the best interest of my chams, I'd be better off just letting them go. I have more room in my house than I need, and a ton of clutter. I have a 5 year old that runs around without thought or consequence. My wife leaves things everywhere and forgets about them. You get the idea.

I'd actually love to turn our guest room into a free ranging cham room, but it looks to be quite an expensive and time consuming project. Not to mention, how do you free range 3 chams in one room? The last time I let the boys run loose in our sizeable backyard, one ended up biting the other. Just lucky I was around to break it up I work a lot, sometimes 50+ hours a week, and my wife doesn't have the time the babysit.

So while I do see the benefits of free ranging, for now, based on my knowledge, equipment, and situation, caging is definitely the way to go! I still feel bad about it a lot of times, but that's also probably why I totally spoil them

 

[coldbloodedAL]

I think that if u have two huge dogs it's fairly common sense to not let your Cham wander, I was more suggesting for people that do have the opportunity to fr.

Btw I work 7am till 7pm out of the house, so thats not much of an excuse, chameleons don't need babysitting in the wild nor do they even need much attention f u set up their habitat properly.

Didn't really see where the brilliance came from in what u said but sure... They are obviously better off without being exposed to your dogs

It wasnt really brilliance, more common sense like you said. Not to many ppl really think before they do things nowadays. But i still dont think its for everyone, even if they dont have dogs and cats. Things can still happen to your cham whether you fr or not. Like i said its more personal preference and opinion. This topic has been discussed many times so i wont go any further.

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Kiwi looks wonderful, she is a smoking girlie cham. Whatever you are doing sure seems to be working.

Thanks Laurie, this means a lot to me! Yet I can only aspire to do as an amazing job as you with your (soon to be) 8 year old panther! I really do believe that if people know what they're doing and how to keep their cham happy, then there are few to none negative effects on their lifespan. However, I do also know that female Xanth's will live shorter once they start having clutches...so I don't feel bad spoiling her the most out of all 3 of 'em, I mean I really expect my 2 boys to live 6-8 years+!

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

It wasnt really brilliance, more common sense like you said. Not to many ppl really think before they do things nowadays. But i still dont think its for everyone, even if they dont have dogs and cats. Things can still happen to your cham whether you fr or not. Like i said its more personal preference and opinion. This topic has been discussed many times so i wont go any further.

Cages are a controlled and safe environment!! I find great comfort in the fact that while I'm away at work, I can be sure that barring some kind of natural disaster (like a hurricane, or an earthquake) that my chams are 100% safe! If not, it's more stress on me and MY lifespan! lol...

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Kiwi is looking great! It's wonderful when all the time and money you invest in them starts paying off, isn't it? My baby Monty has really taken off with his feeding at is gaining weight consistently now, plus his horns have started growing, so I know EXACTLY how pleased and excited you are!

Ahh yes, the horns...another thing I tend to obsess about w/my 2 boys! I swear I've never been so OCD in my life, yet when it comes to these 2 I couldn't be more obsessive! But yes, the time and money really is the key...glad to hear Monty's thriving along! He's a fine lookin' cham, and a Jackson nonetheless! They truly are the best