Otto memorial

[royden]

I haven't been on the forums in so long. My life has gone through some drastic changes lately involving my time, my job, my commute. It's almost like moving to a new city. So I haven't much time to post or read anything on here. I hope I'm not a total stranger anymore.

This forum was extremely instrumental in helping me succeed in this hobby. I've met some really great friends on here. This is one of the best hobbies.

One thing this board did was help me raise Otto from a baby chameleon. Anyone who's been on this board for a few years has seen or heard of Otto. He died this month at three years old, a super healthy, super mean veiled that loved to hate my camera. It was that hate that got me some of the award winning photography I have of him. He taught me how to photograph a chameleon, and I've used the skill over and over since.

Many of these photos have been posted before but I thought I'd post them one last time in my last "Ode to Otto". Catherine was actually his new owner for the last year, and gave him the best year of his lizard life. Thank you Catherine! He couldn't have wished for a better keeper! It was Catherine who found him dead and had to break the news to me. Luckily it was nothing that could've been prevented.

However! - He's got a clutch incubating, and if you're interested in his outstanding bloodlines contact Catherine (pardalisgirl).

Thanks for all the head butts and the avatar, Otto!

 

[KShook]

wow thats a nice looking guy you have there!!! Awesome Pics!

 

[SoCaliSon]

It is great that we have so many awesome shots to remember him by. He was one gorgeous veiled. Thanks for posting this Royden.

~Joe

 

[panthercham]

So sorry to you and Catherine for the loss of Otto.....he was truly magnificent.
Best wishes for the clutch that is cooking and that his legend lives on

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Otto and Kitty grew up on the forums together.
I'm a little sad now.

-Brad

 

[VerteX]

Sorry to hear the unfortunate. He was a good looking guy.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Elliot and I were so sad to hear of Otto's passing. The photos are exquisite, but He was beautiful in person, too. We really felt pain and sorrow for you and Catherine. For the awful shock she experienced, and for the loss to both of you.

We would consider it an honor to be blessed with one of Otto's offspring.

 

[ronnie]

Sorry to hear about you and pardalisgirl's loss........he was a stunning looking Cham....you are lucky you have so many wonderful pictures of him to remember him by

 

[Chamgirl]

He certainly was a very stunning Veiled. May he rest in peace

 

[jannb]

Otto was one handsome boy! I know he will be missed. He will live on it your hearts and photo's. Jann

 

[haleybobl]

He took the best pictures, and was just stunning. Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[beeze]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Otto was one great lookin chameleon. You have some very nice photos to remember him by.

 

[laurie]

Otto was just so beautiful, yes he had "veiled" attitude but as lovely as the pictures are he will remain in your heart and the eggs will ensure he lives on. I am very sorry to hear you lost him.

 

[bigcappa]

I'm sorry for your loss royden, otto was a great looking cham

 

[Pure]

He was an excellent specimen. I'm sorry for your and Catherine's loss.

If I can ask..What was the cause of his death?

 

[reptilemancan]

He was an excellent specimen. I'm sorry for your and Catherine's loss.

If I can ask..What was the cause of his death?

wow he is great looing! nice!

 

[PardalisGirl]

Thank you Royden....

It's so hard to see those pictures....they bring a fresh crop of tears to my eyes. I can't believe he was ever that small or that skinny. I was pretty devastated by his sudden passing. I'm not sure what exactly happened because I was not there to see it. I found him with his tongue wrapped around a branch almost like a knot. The more he pulled the tighter it would have gotten. I think he fell while zapping a cricket on the branch. He would have had to have gotten the tongue stuck and then climbed or fell below the branch and then got back up on the other side to wrap it around like that. I'm not sure if I'm describing it well enough for others to visualize it. I think he then freaked out so much that he had a stroke or heart attack. The tongue thing itself was not something that could have killed him on it's own. I could have unwrapped it if I had found him alive. I had to look at the scene for a long time to figure out what I think happened.

Otto was a beautiful animal. He could look pretty nasty and mean at times but his personality changed a bit with me because he got to be with females quite a bit. He was a bit more settled. He was more interested in the females than in biting me. He would spend hours or days watching them in his cage before he did anything. For such a fiesty guy he was actually a total gentleman with the ladies. He never lunged at them or chased them. They would sit side by side with him on the branch because he was so non-threatening to them. And then he would carefully make his move. I've actually got three clutches of eggs from three different females. The first should hatch in August. I just wish he had lived long enough to see his babies (although he would have liked to munch on them for sure).

It broke my heart to lose him and broke my heart a second time to break the news to Royden. Thanks for all the kind posts. And thanks for the pictures Royden. What a sweet little boy he was when you first got him!