Mystery Chameleon

[Jkell01]

Hi all.

This little guy was smuggled back in someone's luggage from parts unknown and was being cruelly kept in a plastic cup and thrown around a party (and, according to some reports, squeezed because he was so soft) when my brother found him and stole him home to our place. Obviously we're not going to go back and ask the guy whose illegal chameleon we just rescued where he found it, so ID is key. He's absolutely tiny, couple of inches, dunno whether juvenile or Pygmy. Health tips also very much appreciated. He's dry, sluggish, and reluctant to raise his head (also have not handled sufficiently to check sex, had him in my hand only as long as required to take a photo since I don't want to stress him even more). Given what I've read about chameleon care my hopes are not super high that we can save him, especially after so much abuse. But he's come a long way and it would be stupid not to try.

 

[Jkell01]

Also he does not appear to change colour, though I read that could just be a sign of last hours. Sorry the picture is upside down.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

It is surely not a pygmy, but a juvenile of some species it appears...

Can you get some better pictures in more light?

We have many members who can likely ID it, but with a not so good picture it makes it tough...

 

[DavidBuchan]

Hello, welcome to the forum I would need a better picture to be sure. Can you get one of the back ankles as well? I really think it's a baby Veiled.......looks dehydrated (sunken eyes) from here too....

 

[Jkell01]

He's taken refuge inside a cardboard hide we put in his box (which is in a cool, dark and humid room, we ran the shower til the room misted then let it cool a little before putting him in) and I don't want to disturb him again before morning unless I have to. But I will get better pictures ASAP. Rear heels; better light; any other requests?

 

[DavidBuchan]

Keeping him warmer (70 -80F) would be better than cooler. Also, if you can get him somewhere with branches and live plants that would be much better than a cardboard box. This is for daytime of course.......
Nighttime no cooler than 60F.

 

[Jkell01]

Noted. This was a 1am development (I'm in the Northern UK) so his situation is limited by what was on hand, but I'll make sure it's warm enough.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Yeah, this isn't exactly scientific but being in Northern UK and looking like that makes me up to 99.9% you have a Veiled there - Here is a great all-round caresheet I always recommend to new people with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
It mentions screen cages but that might be difficult to get hold of straight away. You will need to make sure whatever viv you use has good ventilation and you get a decent temp gradient.
Ages are difficult to estimate....especially when we don't know what sort of 'care' he has had up to now. I am going to give you a rough age of 2 months for it though. The back ankle shots should tell us male or female. A male will have small bumps.

 

[squeekz1992]

I agree with David about a veiled.
I would take the poor baby to a vet asap. That poor little baby..

 

[crocky]

I cannot believe people can be so cruel!!!! Poor thing probably has not had heat in days or more. I shutter at the thought of what that little one was feeling while be abused like that!!!! Hope tomorrow morning will prove to be a new start!

 

[Jkell01]

Apparently the chameleon came from morocco but is believed to have been bought there. There are no spurs/features on the rear ankles. The poor thing can't even stand up and it just felt wrong to take pictures. But it's warmed up (and changed from black to pale green). It threw its tongue but appears to have trouble taking it back; I took the opportunity to drop little droplets of water off a leaf into its throat. It's now under a full-spectrum light I got from a friend and my brother is planning to go bug hunting, but the tongue seems to be a bad sign to me. I have had to leave for a sports competition, so my brother took over.

 

[Jkell01]

As soon as the vet is available we'll go, but they're only a cat/dog vet and there is no animal hospital nearby.

 

[Jkell01]

Unfortunately she (assumed from the lack of spurs) has died. Thank you all for your help. It's so frustrating to see animals treated like this. Some people don't seem to understand what life is.

 

[KatCham]

Oh no, what a shame.

Good on you for trying to give the little one a chance though!!

Sadly, the cruel actions of a few just for laughs, have meant the loss of a life! Sickening!!!

Again, thank you for trying to save that little baby!!

 

[DavidBuchan]

Aahhh, that's just depressing......after all my trying to make out Northern England has a little heart and soul the b******ds do this . Who needs Petco/petsmart?
Thanks to you and your brother for doing what you could........from the sound and look you had very little chance unless you had had everything set up and ready to go........RIP little one.

 

[Trace]

Dang, sorry to hear s/he passed away but even more so that animal smuggling still happens.

That wasn't a Veiled Chameleon but a Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

 

[DavidBuchan]

Dang, sorry to hear s/he passed away but even more so that animal smuggling still happens.

That wasn't a Veiled Chameleon but a Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).

Please can you give some idea how you knew.......or was it just experience + esp?

 

[Trace]

Please can you give some idea how you knew.......or was it just experience + esp?

Taste.

I knew it had to be a Chamaeleo species because of the low elevated casque and relatively smooth scalation. Those white lateral spots (dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes) on the flank are of a distinct pattern. The calyptratus have less of those spots and those appear as more of a stripe on the gracilis and dilepis.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Thanks, I knew those spots were a little funny......I figured maybe uber-stress had something to do with it......

 

[Jkell01]

I had been going to ask if Mediterranean was a possibility, once I'd found out it was taken from Morocco. Yes, it's sad animal smuggling goes on; I think it's symptomatic of a larger lack of awareness and understanding of our relationship with the rest of life on earth. I know this is a thread for ID, not philosophy, but I'll say it anyway... I don't think we are taught the importance of the natural world, or even basic respect for it, any more. School teaches us about "natural resources" as if the world is ours to use and abuse. It's sheer arrogance.
In defense of northern Britain (Scotland, to be specific in this case!) the offender in question was a southern Englishman...