No outside???

[nhoj6465]

I have a quick question my Vet said to absolutley not 2 take my chams outside ever because of parasites and the temp changes that could lead to sick chams. Has anyone ever had any problems with there chams outside?? I have some fake vines that wrap around a rod iron heart that I let them hang out on one at a time on it. I so enjoy takin them out sometimes but now I am second guessing it. What do u think?

 

[ghettomike]

I say go for it, I frequently take my f veiled out when the temperatures permit. i have never had any problems and can't see any as long as you keep a close eye on them and make sure you provide some shade/water. In my opinion it is healthy for them to get some real sun and a change of scenery.

 

[FFSTRescue]

I think that is absolutely ridiculous for him to say that. Does your vet live in a plastic bubble to prevent from getting sick? Of course there is a chance of it, but there is also a chance of getting struck by lightening as well. Look how many people on here keep their chams outside and they live long, healthy lives. In fact, when I have a sick cham, I put it outside and he does much better than indoors... the natural sunlight and fresh air far outweighs the possibility that he could potentially get an parasite or pathogen.
Now if the temperature where to get extreme, I bring my chameleons inside to an environment in which I can control so that issues like your vet mentioned do not arise. I think you are safe to take your cham outside on appropriate days, in fact, I think that will contribute to his health and longevity.

 

[Carlton]

I have a quick question my Vet said to absolutley not 2 take my chams outside ever because of parasites and the temp changes that could lead to sick chams. Has anyone ever had any problems with there chams outside?? I have some fake vines that wrap around a rod iron heart that I let them hang out on one at a time on it. I so enjoy takin them out sometimes but now I am second guessing it. What do u think?

I think your vet is being overly dramatic here. Many of us take our chams outdoors for limited basking sessions and some people live in climates where their chams can stay in outdoor cages most if not all year.

Parasites can be picked up from any feeder indoors or out. No commercial feeders are free of parasites. A healthy cham can tolerate some parasite load. They are easy to check for with a periodic fecal. If the cham is losing weight and eating well or has any signs of mature parasitic infections (a worm under the skin or on the eye for example) a vet visit is always a good idea. You aren't going to avoid parasites by keeping a cham indoors. Even if the parasites your cham could pick up in this "alien" environment of N. America are more dangerous because the cham might not have as much resistance to them, you are not going to avoid them completely.

As for a cham getting sick because of weather...if you know the climate needs of your cham and you only put it outside in the right conditions and are right there to watch out for change, and you provide shelter in the cage, you can avoid accidents.

Being careful means using a proper basking cage that is safe, secure, provides shelter, and possibly keeps dangerous insects out (wasps or ants). I don't think I'd trust a decoration like your heart unless I was sitting directly in view the whole time.

 

[ShaunaLynnA]

I take my chams outside weather permiting all the time in the FL sun. I have never had any issues or anything. I say go for it and take them outside. Make sure you have safe and proper enclosures though outside to do so when taking them out.

 

[Jonah S]

I was actually just at a vet who specializes in exotics getting my baby veiled a checkup and she strongly recommended taking them outside. Nothin beats natural sunlight, that's all they would get in nature.

 

[draetish]

I agree with taking them outside weather permitting. Be especially careful if it's summer, that's when they over-heat. Maybe your vet meant going from one temp like being cooler in the house to 90 outside and the cham not having a chance to acclimate to the temp change. It shouldn't be that drastic or I agree, you could end up with a sick cham going for cool to hot to cool within minutes.

 

[lisagr07]

Maybe your vet meant going from one temp like being cooler in the house to 90 outside and the cham not having a chance to acclimate to the temp change. It shouldn't be that drastic or I agree, you could end up with a sick cham going for cool to hot to cool within minutes.

when taking Stanley outside in the morning, i've often wondered if the temp and humidity difference was stressful to him.. inside is about 75 and i try to get him outside in the morning if it's 83 or less..

is it necessary to do some type of acclimation and how would you go about doing it?

thanks,, lisa

 

[chams1]

I think it's time to find a new vet. I cherish our very little amount of time here that I can get the chams outside and I make use of it as much as I can.

 

[nhoj6465]

Thank you all for your input it helped out alot!I am gonna get a cage started 4 outside so I can take them out. I enjoyed it so much when I did and it crushed me when the Vet told me I couldn't. And 4 the heart that I have outside I only let them hang out on it if I am around I always keep a close eye on them and I would never take them from 75 degrees which that is the temp in my house to a 90 degree temp!! I will probably do the early morning sun since it isn't as hot early n the morning!! Just to let u know I do always keep my pair seprate at all times. Thanks alot!!