RoscoRescuer
Member
So, when I was younger in high school, I took care of a chameleon that was my science teacher's. The chameleon (named Chameleo) was very friendly and I truly enjoyed caring for him over long breaks in school. I've always wanted another one but just kind of brushed it off since I have kiddos now. This is going to sound bad and some of you may be turned off by it but during this Covid stuff, I had commented on a friend's post and she informed me that there was a male veiled chameleon in the juvenile/adult stage that had just been surrendered. After contacting the place, I decided this might just be the right time so I started building an enclosure and brushing up on all of my chameleon knowledge. I had to wait a month to get him anyways before his quarantine time was up. Now, that I have him, I love him. Although, I felt like the one I cared for in high school was easier. His enclosure was already together and he was very social. My little Rosco (who I have had for coming up on 3 weeks now) is a cranky little thing. Lol. Being an animal lover, I know that not all animals are the same and they come with all different kinds of personalities. I also know that it takes time for chameleons to trust since we humans look like a predator. I'm wondering if it will take longer for him since he has been shuffled around? He eats great. He eats about 6 to 7 large crickets a day and he loves horn worms (though I am currently out of those right now. I have ordered more). I have a fogger (that collects water on the screen and drips down) and a dripper in his enclosure and I mist his enclosure twice a day. When I mist, he freaks out like crazy. I do not spray him directly. I have the knob turned to a fine mist and most of the time spray on the screen above so water will drip down in case he doesn't get to the water in time. I even use spring water in his fogger and the a gallon of water that sits out, open, all day and night before I use it (so the chemicals with dissipate from the water, so I've read). I find that he sits on this one branch constantly. He very rarely moves around and he is very protective of his branch which I fully respect. I just want to make sure he isn't getting dehydrated. The lady who took him said that he ran from her when she misted and she was always worried that he wasn't getting enough to eat and was also in 1 of 2 places in his enclosure there just like he is here. He seems to really like his enclosure. I built it tall because I know that they like feeling high up. I just want to make sure I am doing right by him even though he is a little mister cranky pants. Lol. Any suggestions for me? Last time I gave him a shower, it did NOT go well. He has his own hibiscus bush that we brought inside and put in our bathtub and put him in the bush. I had already had the shower going and water temp good, when I put him in and after about 15 minutes, he tried to escape and almost fell out of the pot. Thank goodness I was right there watching the whole time. I'm not sure if I should do that with him now or not. I honestly am nervous to because it was such a traumatic event the first time, I would hate for either one of us to have to go through that again, as stupid as that sounds. He is pooping well, with his urates not super white but not even close to orange and a pellet at the end. I'm wondering if I may be stressing him out by wanting to make sure everything is perfect and I need to just give him several weeks to adjust. I have only had him out 3 times and the longer he seems to be here, the more cranky and aggressive he becomes. I can only imagine what he has been through and I am sure is not very trusting as it sounds like the gentleman who had him in the first place, did not work with him and then ended up giving him up. That is all I know about his past.