unplanned but excited new parents!

[alexnicole425]

my boyfriend found this lil guy (well, he's about 12''-14'' in length) in the middle of the road on his way to work this am. i checked the classifieds to see if anyone was missing their pet, but so far nothing has shown up. we're both reptile lovers - i've had snakes, he's had snakes and other reptiles - so we've decided to adopt him! i'm doing some research and watching him till Stewart gets home from work at 5, then we are going to go get him a proper set up. after looking through pictures, it appears to me that he is a veiled chameleon (open for advice or other opinions, & don't worry, we are aware of their special needs and are financially secure enough to provide for him!)
right now we have him in a blue circular kiddie pool, with a heat lamp shining down on one side. we also poured a little over half a bottle of clean water into it so there are some dry and wet areas. he's just basking in the light from the lamp right now, kind of resting on one side. my boyfriend says he should be fine for the next 5 hours, and that he needs time to rest and de-stress before he can eat. he's pretty skinny and he sure is a trooper to have made it outside as long as he did in this 96 degree heat. if anyone has advice on if there's anything i could do for him in the mean time i'd appreciate it! thanks
-nikki

 

[laurie]

Here is some info now keeping him.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[Hoj]

wow, what a find!! definatly do your reaserch, best of luck and let us know how he does
i would suggest givin him a good misting witha spray bottle and maybe offer food, if hes really hungry he will eat.
jmo
hoj

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Hi and welcome to the forums! Crazy that you found him crossing a road! He is a male veiled chameleon, and looks like a handsome one at that. Here is a blog by one of our very helpful forum members to give you a starting point for research: http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/veiled-chameleon.html

It sounds like you have plans to get him properly situated later but in the meantime you should get him out of that kiddy pool. They are almost strictly arboreal (tree dwelling) so putting him in a totally exposed area on the ground is only going to freak him out! And he won't drink any of the water you put in there because they will only drink moving water falling onto leaves like rain or dew. For the time being do you have a ficus tree or some other kind of small tree or large houseplant, even a fake one, that he could sit on instead? Being in a plant is much more natural and will make him feel more protected. Right now he is probably feeling extremely vulnerable and stressed in that little pool.

A taller than wide screen cage will be best for him. I order mine from diycages.com and love their design. I've also made my own cages so that's an option. It should be at least 3 feet tall for him. If you have a squirt bottle with water (and not any chemicals in it previously) you can gently mist him and the plant that you will hopefully be able to move him to and he may drink. He's probably thirsty having been outside during the heat but don't be alarmed if you don't see him eat or drink for a few days while he gets settled in.

As you do your research feel free to ask questions about anything!

 

[allencg101]

that must be awesome living in florida you got so many awesome out of country in your backyard. best of luck with him he is awesome looking. best of luck with him and keep us informed on his progress and be careful letting him free range my experience with veileds is if they get the chance they make a run for it and fast!!!

 

[Hoj]

sorry to disagree but i hear it alot on here, chams def, perfer moving water or drop but i have seem more than a few that will drink from dishes, i still do not use a water dish but it is not correct to say that they WONT drink from standing water.
jmo
hoj

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

sorry to disagree but i hear it alot on here, chams def, perfer moving water or drop but i have seem more than a few that will drink from dishes, i still do not use a water dish but it is not correct to say that they WONT drink from standing water.
jmo
hoj

Okay the overwhelming majority will not drink from standing water. Even if this one does I can almost guarantee you that he won't while he's on the ground in an unfamiliar blue naked environment.

 

[Hoj]

lol agreed it is funny to watch one drink from a bowl, doenst even look natural..
i would maybe just put a big plant in the middle of the pool, as suggested he will feel alot safer there.

 

[Melina]

He's a handsome chap! Good luck everything - i wish i could find a cham just crossing the road.......

 

[VeiledChams]

Awesome find! I'm looking into getting a permit so my friends and I can go and try and get some in Fort Meyers..

 

[hbskeet]

that must be awesome living in florida you got so many awesome out of country in your backyard.

You'll never find something that cool wondering around in Cali. Especially in Southern Cali. He's lucky someone found him. I hope all goes well with him. Keep us posted.

 

[allencg101]

You'll never find something that cool wondering around in Cali. Especially in Southern Cali. He's lucky someone found him. I hope all goes well with him. Keep us posted.

i don't believe that you guys do have aliens that pass by time to time!!! they seem like birds and migrate south to north

 

[alexnicole425]

wow, thanks for all of the advice everyone! i really appreciate it. i know, it's such a random circumstance! but we are so fortunate - he is such a beautiful find - i was just hanging out back about ten minutes after my bf had left for work, and all of the sudden the front door swings open and he's calling my name, pacing around shirtless, holding this lil guy, & smiling like kid in a candy store. apparently he saw him trying to cross a street, immediately stopped and parked the car, got out and took his shirt off to scoop him up (with other cars swerving around him haha) i wish i had been there to witness this.
& i know :| as for his current housing situation, after looking at the highly perched cages suited for his type i can't imagine how freaked out the poor guy is feeling, being in such a boring, spacious, plastic, blue environment. i 've currently moved the kiddie pool to the highest place it will fit (the bed lol) and i actually think i just saw him drinking some water! however, when he noticed i was looking he got a little sketched out and tensed up. he's just laying out, chillin in a puddle right now. can't wait to get him all situated in a couple hours! Stewart is a lot more experienced and informed on chameleons and is extremely excited about his new buddy! i'll keep everyone posted!

-nikki

 

[mons00n]

crazy he was crossing the road! glad he landed somewhere safe though~

 

[krknieriem]

You may want to treat him as a Wild Caught and get him checked for parasites, I dont know for sure but Florida may have a wild population of veileds as they are common in pet stores and Im sure some have been released and the weather should support them down there,

Does anyone out there know anything about this?

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

Awesome find! There is indeed a great chance that he is a wild chameleon instead of someones pet! We have wild chameleons somewhere up north from me in FL and you may have just found one Good Luck with it

 

[DavidBuchan]

wow, thanks for all of the advice everyone! i really appreciate it. i know, it's such a random circumstance! but we are so fortunate - he is such a beautiful find - i was just hanging out back about ten minutes after my bf had left for work, and all of the sudden the front door swings open and he's calling my name, pacing around shirtless, holding this lil guy, & smiling like kid in a candy store. apparently he saw him trying to cross a street, immediately stopped and parked the car, got out and took his shirt off to scoop him up (with other cars swerving around him haha) i wish i had been there to witness this.
& i know :| as for his current housing situation, after looking at the highly perched cages suited for his type i can't imagine how freaked out the poor guy is feeling, being in such a boring, spacious, plastic, blue environment. i 've currently moved the kiddie pool to the highest place it will fit (the bed lol) and i actually think i just saw him drinking some water! however, when he noticed i was looking he got a little sketched out and tensed up. he's just laying out, chillin in a puddle right now. can't wait to get him all situated in a couple hours! Stewart is a lot more experienced and informed on chameleons and is extremely excited about his new buddy! i'll keep everyone posted!

-nikki

Nikki, may I be the second to say welcome to the forum. If you found these guys today as well it might just be fate - you can get everything you need from here to make you an expert just as fast as you can read........
He is so impressive! Lucky you two......I had to pay for mine . Word of warning though - someone is possibly totally sick that they've lost him. He looks well cared for from here, so it would be remiss of me not to say you should keep looking for the lost keeper........for your sake I hope you don't find them! Good luck......