What's the fun part of keeping pygmys?

[ssapssaebi]

Hi Everybody! I'm still new here even though I've got a lot from this forums.

Anyway, I purchased my 1.2 sepcetral pygmys 2 weeks ago.
Unfortunately, my male died because of tongue problem that I posted on disease part.

Now I have two females(still not sure one of my females is really spectral pygmy or not.) and that's it!!
They are sitting there whole day and that's it!
I feed 1/4" of crickets every other day and that's it!

They never showed any color changes or interesting behavior that I expect to see from bigger chams.

So I have a general question.
When you guys feel so happy or fun with your pygmys?
I'm not talking about breeding by the way,
Have a wonderful day guys!!

 

[renzo0684]

All chams are more of a watch and dont touch animal. They dont do tricks they dont make noise (well unless you piss them off they will hiss) Both of my chams are my place of zen. If I have a rough day or am feeling down I will sit in front of my chams cage and just watch them, even if they are just sitting in their basking spots.


I dont know what you thought you were getting into when you decided to purchase chameleons of any species.


I feed and water both my chams each day (THATS IT)

 

[ssapssaebi]

Hi renzo0684. Thank you for your quick reply.
This is not my first chams, I've been keeping beiled, jacksons, senegal and honelli.
But, I'm just curious whyor what pygmys owners thiank of their animals.
Maybe I'm missing some parts of fun, but I like them a lot!!
Feeding and misting is my favourite ritual of my day!
If I can find more funs, I'll keep posting it!

 

[Texas Panther Man]

From the research ive been doing some pygmys move around more in their enclosures than others. Ive seen other keepers comment on the lack of movement by some of heir pygs. Is that what you are refering too?

 

[Carlton]

Hi renzo0684. Thank you for your quick reply.
This is not my first chams, I've been keeping beiled, jacksons, senegal and honelli.
But, I'm just curious whyor what pygmys owners thiank of their animals.
Maybe I'm missing some parts of fun, but I like them a lot!!
Feeding and misting is my favourite ritual of my day!
If I can find more funs, I'll keep posting it!

First, your chams are still "new" to their space. It takes a while before they relax and start using all of their new habitat and showing you some natural behaviors. Two weeks is hardly enough time to get settled.

A lot of what makes cham keeping entertaining and challenging is trying to create a tiny rainforest habitat for them. Look at the world from a cham's perspective...that is what is interesting about them. Thinking about how well they almost disappear from your view, how they live a quiet secretive life in a huge dangerous world is interesting. Watching their subtle motions, their eyes, the slight and subtle color changes even pygmies show (you just have to learn what they are), how they detect and react to the world is interesting. I don't know what you expect "fun" to be. I think chams entertain us because we have to think about how to create a tiny rainforest world for them, how to keep them healthy, how to provide food, sun, rain, and habitat for them in an artificial situation.

If these things don't entertain you then possibly cham keeping isn't the right fit for you. There are a lot of more "active" and dramatic species you could keep instead.

 

[ssapssaebi]

First, your chams are still "new" to their space. It takes a while before they relax and start using all of their new habitat and showing you some natural behaviors. Two weeks is hardly enough time to get settled.

A lot of what makes cham keeping entertaining and challenging is trying to create a tiny rainforest habitat for them. Look at the world from a cham's perspective...that is what is interesting about them. Thinking about how well they almost disappear from your view, how they live a quiet secretive life in a huge dangerous world is interesting. Watching their subtle motions, their eyes, the slight and subtle color changes even pygmies show (you just have to learn what they are), how they detect and react to the world is interesting. I don't know what you expect "fun" to be. I think chams entertain us because we have to think about how to create a tiny rainforest world for them, how to keep them healthy, how to provide food, sun, rain, and habitat for them in an artificial situation.

If these things don't entertain you then possibly cham keeping isn't the right fit for you. There are a lot of more "active" and dramatic species you could keep instead.

Thanks a lot Carlton! I'm really appreciated about your suggestion.
You are absolutely right. I know it's too short for them to be settled and show their real behaviour.
And, also I didn't think that much about how to recreat their own rainforrest habitats in my small exoterra cage. I'm so glad you pointed out this.
In fact, they do cahnge their colors. From dark gray to bright brown or even yellow when I sprayed mists or open glass cage door. Maybe I didn't pay that much attention on their subtle change.
I'm not trying to offend others feeling, but I'm just curious what other pygmy owners thoughts.
Thanks again.

 

[hallenhe]

My pygmies don't have quite the "excitement" factor (if you can use that term for a chameleon) of my panther (or the Jackson's before him). I rarely see mine move, but they're in different places every time I look. When I look, they're motionless, but I always have the feeling I've interrupted something. I am reasonably convinced that they can slip into other dimensions at will; how else am I to explain the fact of my complete inability to find somebody or other at one time, and their reappearance right in front of me two minutes later?

For me, I guess the other fun part is trying to have as nice a terrarium as I can, so it's an attractive display of plants whether or not the chameleons are in evidence or doing anything at the moment.

 

[ssapssaebi]

My pygmies don't have quite the "excitement" factor (if you can use that term for a chameleon) of my panther (or the Jackson's before him). I rarely see mine move, but they're in different places every time I look. When I look, they're motionless, but I always have the feeling I've interrupted something. I am reasonably convinced that they can slip into other dimensions at will; how else am I to explain the fact of my complete inability to find somebody or other at one time, and their reappearance right in front of me two minutes later?

For me, I guess the other fun part is trying to have as nice a terrarium as I can, so it's an attractive display of plants whether or not the chameleons are in evidence or doing anything at the moment.

Thanks a lot hallenhe (still I don't know how to prounce your id)!!
In fact, I feel the same way, whenever I stop by or com accross they are in differnt place or different posture. And I'm feeling that I somehow interupt their something. ^^

And, you also pointed out that the nice thing of keeping pygmys not only to watch their behavior or colors, but also recreating their natural environment as close as possbile. That's awsome idea.

thanks again! I'm so happy right now that I missed so much already!!

 

[gary1621]

When I look, they're motionless, but I always have the feeling I've interrupted something. I am reasonably convinced that they can slip into other dimensions at will; how else am I to explain the fact of my complete inability to find somebody or other at one time, and their reappearance right in front of me two minutes later?

That is so funny! I love it! It really does explain a lot.

I love the proud way my male sits on the highest branch looking down on the female and the rest of his mini kingdom

The crafty little face Mini is pulling when i finally spot her, its like 'well done, it only took you 5 minutes this time!'

 

[hart8000]

That is so cool they are you place of Zen. I am currently taking some meditation and mindfulness classes and my chams and other reptiles have been a huge help in that department. I can forget about everything when hanging with these guys. Just that though, I like to watch them in as much natural habitat as possible. I live in Utah and don't see many reptiles but love them. I haven't had Chams for to long but the two I have are doing awesome and I think I am going to mate them and see how that goes. I don't post to much on this site cause I hate being judged, but I learn and take in everything I learn here. Thanks.

All chams are more of a watch and dont touch animal. They dont do tricks they dont make noise (well unless you piss them off they will hiss) Both of my chams are my place of zen. If I have a rough day or am feeling down I will sit in front of my chams cage and just watch them, even if they are just sitting in their basking spots.


I dont know what you thought you were getting into when you decided to purchase chameleons of any species.


I feed and water both my chams each day (THATS IT)

 

[Carlton]

I am reasonably convinced that they can slip into other dimensions at will; how else am I to explain the fact of my complete inability to find somebody or other at one time, and their reappearance right in front of me two minutes later?

I know exactly what you mean. Well, don't feel bad when you can't find them. I had free ranging melleri. Try explaining to guests why you can't locate two 24", 1 lb., yellow and green-striped lizards in a small bedroom. Now THAT'S embarrassing! But I absolutely loved them for it. I also keep Malaysian leaf frogs. Being unable to find them in their sweater boxes is a regular occurence even though my largest female fills the palm of my hand. Why do I choose to keep animals who phase in and out of reality anyway? Maybe its wishful thinking.