Lost my first Cham

L

lojack13

New Member
I'm in still new to Chameleons, but I learned so much from all the nice people on here. I'm sorry to say that I lost my first Cham only about an hour ago. She was a female senegal we named Phoebe. I bought her from a local pet store ( probably my first mistake ) about 22 days ago. She was alert and healthy the first 7 days and then slowly went downhill. She started sleeping during the day and not moving. Took her to the vet, no parasites or visible signs of infections, but she was put on antibiotics just in case. Vet tube fed her this morning and I was tube feeding her for her evening meal and she passed away in my arms while I was trying to feed her. God this hurts! I'm a grown man balling my eyes out over a tiny lizard, I can barely see my computer screen through my tears. I only had her 22 days but I loved her so much. She was my first Cham, not sure yet whether I want to try and care for another, this has left such a bad taste in my mouth. I did everything I was supposed to do, lighting, temps, gutloading, nutrition, ....but I still failed her.:( I'll never really know what went wrong I guess. She brightened up my life if only for a short period of time. I should have read up better before buying a Cham, I probably would have been steered away from a petstore bought one. A hard lesson learned I guess, not to say that some on here might have had success with pet store wild-caught Chams, but I just don't think I will go down that road again. Anyway, I thank anyone who took time out of their day to read this. I wish long life and health to everyones Chams. And thank you to everyone who gave me advice on here. Don't know if I will be sticking around the world of Chams or not....
Rest in Peace Little Phoebe, I love you.
 
I am so sorry to hear she is gone. My guess would be you got her too late to save her even with all the care you gave her. Don't give up on us. You have that empty cage and another cham would love to come live with you. This time you should get a small captive breed one that is in good health and you can have a long happy time with it. Losing one is so devastating, even now as long and as many as I have had, I am in tears when i lose one. i have a panther who will be 8 years old on Feb the 5th. I am afraid to look in his cage every day. But I wouldn't trade all the time with him for anything.
 
Heres a pic of Phoebe on her favorite plant when she was healthy.
 

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laurie said:
I am so sorry to hear she is gone. My guess would be you got her too late to save her even with all the care you gave her. Don't give up on us. You have that empty cage and another cham would love to come live with you. This time you should get a small captive breed one that is in good health and you can have a long happy time with it. Losing one is so devastating, even now as long and as many as I have had, I am in tears when i lose one. i have a panther who will be 8 years old on Feb the 5th. I am afraid to look in his cage every day. But I wouldn't trade all the time with him for anything.
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Thanks you Laurie, you are so sweet. Your Panther is 8 years old? That is so cool he is still with you. I'm thinking I may get a captive bred Panther next if I decide to stay. I just don't know where to look here in Central Ohio for one. I have all this nice stuff, and it just seems a waste not to try again.
 
lojack13 said:
Thanks you Laurie, you are so sweet. Your Panther is 8 years old? That is so cool he is still with you. I'm thinking I may get a captive bred Panther next if I decide to stay. I just don't know where to look here in Central Ohio for one. I have all this nice stuff, and it just seems a waste not to try again.
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Sorry to hear about your chameleon.

Talk to Tom Tkilgour on the forums see if he has anything when you are ready to get another, he breeds some good looking chameleons and is in Ohio, also Todnedo has some great looking animals as well and he is from Ohio. I know he listed some nice ambanjas I really want.
 
JackP308 said:
Sorry to hear about your chameleon.

Talk to Tom Tkilgour on the forums see if he has anything when you are ready to get another, he breeds some good looking chameleons and is in Ohio, also Todnedo has some great looking animals as well and he is from Ohio. I know he listed some nice ambanjas I really want.
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Jack, thanks for the info. Strangely enough, I was just on Tom's website. Found it while searching for Panther's in Ohio. I'll be sure to contact them both when I'm ready.
 
So sorry to hear that you lost your chameleon, especially after such a short time. You did do everything, so get it out of your head that you failed her! It is amazing how attached we can become to these little lizards! I hope you will give it another try and you know we are all here to help you if you decide on getting another one. Rip little Phoebe....:(
 
carol5208 said:
So sorry to hear that you lost your chameleon, especially after such a short time. You did do everything, so get it out of your head that you failed her! It is amazing how attached we can become to these little lizards! I hope you will give it another try and you know we are all here to help you if you decide on getting another one. Rip little Phoebe....:(
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Carol, thank you so much. It broke my heart. Made her up a little coffin and put an orchid in there with her.
 
im so sorry you lost your darling but please dont give up on chams. theres definitly another little boy or girl that could really use the love and care you can and obviosly do provide. R.I.P. Phoebe
 
Thanks everyone for all your condolences so far. You are so kind and your words give me solace in this dark time. I'm still debating on keeping Chams. I keep staring at her empty cage and it is hurting me so bad. I just can't believe how upset I am, I really thought I could nurse her back to health. I contacted a local Ohio Panther breeder and he has a Nosy be for sale, 3 month old female. I'm thinking about getting her tomorrow....I don't know.
 
I am so sorry for the loss of your little girl Phoebe. But Like Laurie said, the damage was probably done prior to you even getting her. Even though you did all you could, it seems it was just to little too late. You shouldnt give up on these magnificent creatures, we are all here to help eachother learn. I say, when your ready give it another shot.
 
I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of you sweet lil Phoebe. My heart is with you and I understand the pain you are feeling. Please don't feel that you failed her. She had love from you and that means more then time. When and if you feel you can open your heart up again (which I hope you do)... please give Tom a call. I have one of his Sambava babies and it is very healthy. Until then please know you are in my heart and prayers during this difficult time.
 
lojack13 said:
Thanks you Laurie, you are so sweet. Your Panther is 8 years old? That is so cool he is still with you. I'm thinking I may get a captive bred Panther next if I decide to stay. I just don't know where to look here in Central Ohio for one. I have all this nice stuff, and it just seems a waste not to try again.
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Don't give up! Location does not matter. I am in PA and I ordered two from the Kammers in California and they both made it safe and sound. I think most people on here have ordered their chams from quite a distance. Personally, I think you are probably better off ordering from here than a local breeder. Good luck, no matter what your decision!
 
Thanks again everyone. I think we are going tomorrow to pick up a baby female nosy be Panther from Kilgour's Chameleons down near Cincinnati. They came recommended from several people they are a 2 hour drive away.
 
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