pssh
Avid Member
I didn't see the video, but it doesn't seem like you were doing anything THAT bad from the responses... Unless you were smacking him with the skull or whatever it was(and maybe I'm wrong, so if I am, what I am going to say won't have anything to do with anything. I apologize if that's the case.)
I don't see the difference between people using other males and mirrors to get their chameleons to fire up and using something like a skull decoration. They are all stressful, but if you only do it once in a blue moon, it shouldn't be an issue for the chameleon. 3 minutes is a little longer than I personally would do it, but I've seen other people (in person and online,) some of whom are very experienced and respectable, show a male something to get it to flare up for a quick photo shoot (example: to show what the male looks like for prospective buyers of the offspring.) Then the animal is fine and doesn't have to do it again for a long time, if they do it again at all. And I know many people on the forums do the very same thing. (Hey, look! He hates my camera/shirt/phone and turns cool colors! Watch!) Can it really be anymore stressful than having chameleons on display at shows for 2+ days? People on the forums don't get all huffy and upset over that, or at least from what I've seen anyways.
Anyways, your male will probably change at least a little, but you won't know for sure, or in what ways, until it actually happens. Most panthers have their final adult colors by 18-24 months old. Occasionally some will have a "mid-life crisis color change" and turn very different colors (either temporarily or permanently.) It just depends.
EDIT: I was informed of what was actually happening in the video, and I was wrong. Showing an animal to a mirror or another male, when done carefully and from a distance, is much less stressful than what was happening in the video.
If anyone saw the video and then reads my post, please do not take what I have said as an excuse for forcing great amounts of stress on a chameleon (or any animal) unnecessarily. As captive animals who cannot speak for themselves, it is our job to ensure they have as good a life as then can with us, and that includes not forcing terrifying situations on them.
I don't see the difference between people using other males and mirrors to get their chameleons to fire up and using something like a skull decoration. They are all stressful, but if you only do it once in a blue moon, it shouldn't be an issue for the chameleon. 3 minutes is a little longer than I personally would do it, but I've seen other people (in person and online,) some of whom are very experienced and respectable, show a male something to get it to flare up for a quick photo shoot (example: to show what the male looks like for prospective buyers of the offspring.) Then the animal is fine and doesn't have to do it again for a long time, if they do it again at all. And I know many people on the forums do the very same thing. (Hey, look! He hates my camera/shirt/phone and turns cool colors! Watch!) Can it really be anymore stressful than having chameleons on display at shows for 2+ days? People on the forums don't get all huffy and upset over that, or at least from what I've seen anyways.
Anyways, your male will probably change at least a little, but you won't know for sure, or in what ways, until it actually happens. Most panthers have their final adult colors by 18-24 months old. Occasionally some will have a "mid-life crisis color change" and turn very different colors (either temporarily or permanently.) It just depends.
EDIT: I was informed of what was actually happening in the video, and I was wrong. Showing an animal to a mirror or another male, when done carefully and from a distance, is much less stressful than what was happening in the video.
If anyone saw the video and then reads my post, please do not take what I have said as an excuse for forcing great amounts of stress on a chameleon (or any animal) unnecessarily. As captive animals who cannot speak for themselves, it is our job to ensure they have as good a life as then can with us, and that includes not forcing terrifying situations on them.
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