The amazing personalities rehabilitated chams show

[Andee]

So in the first... 6 months I had Hope she had pretty much as much personality as you'd expect from an animal on death's door. She was listless at best and hand feeding her became a daily routine which caused her to be shy and anxious when I came in the room and generally shut down. I can't technically blame her, I stressed her out from the moment I got her. With her there was no taking it slow for a week and letting her adjust and then getting her the vet care. She was falling down the slippery slope of mbd from poor feeders and vitamin supplementation along with very likely an older than god uvb light. However, since that six month mark and she started to eat regularly on her own, show extreme improvements in mobility and health all around, I was able to back off on the constant hovering and care and just let her destress. Of course three times a week she was still getting .1 cc of liquid calcium but that was quick and everything else I did was extremely hands off. I fed her, let the misting system do its work, gave her the meds, and went in the room as little as I could so she could just relax and finally be able to become what she was supposed to be, what she started out as, and let her personality shine. I have noticed, she is extremely intelligent, she is also not picky about feeders though she does have her favorites. One is silkworms and the other is isopods. She is relatively anti social, not in the fact that she doesn't notice me or that she will attack me, no, she has never even once tried to bite me or even hissed. She is extremely stoic, smart, and reclusive. Though lately in the last month or so she is much better about me being in the vicinity of her and not running away. She will hand feed readily with three feeders. She loves outside time though she doesn't like going through the house to get there. She is absolutely the most amazing, tiniest full grown female Jackson I have ever met. I have learned she will eat as many feeders as I put in, and I try to keep her a little thin, because it puts less stress on her bones but also I don't want to deal with the small possibility of slugs, I am almost positive if she were to become gravid she would not survive the birthing process.

 

[Carlton]

IMHO, individuals who survive poor care and other traumatic things tend to be more determined...and this would also mean they have unique or highly developed personalities. But, you could also simply KNOW this cham better because you have had to handle and focus on them so much more. The subtler aspects of their personality would be clearer in your mind.

 

[Andee]

I do agree Carlton, that I think I know her rather well because her care was so intensive. She became way more than a rehabilitation case for me. With most of my rescues I end up helping them heal both physically and mentally, and then I rehome them. However with the severity of her condition and with ease she over doses on multi vitamins (even for a montane), I did not feel safe handing her off to someone I didn't know would be able to handle her care correctly and still give her a full life. Like I once considered in the beginning to changing her to a 2x2x4 ft cage when she got better, however I honestly it would be more detrimental than beneficial. The 18x18x36in cage she's in now looks gigantic. Though then again she can't be more than six inches with her tail. And she is a xanth, the reason I feel she is so small is because was so undernourished during her growing years. Supposedly when she came to the pet store she was a juvenile, and she spent a year there.

 

[Carlton]

I do agree Carlton, that I think I know her rather well because her care was so intensive. She became way more than a rehabilitation case for me. With most of my rescues I end up helping them heal both physically and mentally, and then I rehome them. However with the severity of her condition and with ease she over doses on multi vitamins (even for a montane), I did not feel safe handing her off to someone I didn't know would be able to handle her care correctly and still give her a full life. Like I once considered in the beginning to changing her to a 2x2x4 ft cage when she got better, however I honestly it would be more detrimental than beneficial. The 18x18x36in cage she's in now looks gigantic. Though then again she can't be more than six inches with her tail. And she is a xanth, the reason I feel she is so small is because was so undernourished during her growing years. Supposedly when she came to the pet store she was a juvenile, and she spent a year there.

Aw, poor little thing. Sounds like she has the best home possible! Good job.