I really enjoyed the podcast episode and find this truly fascinating. It'll be great if you can incorporate the tests for parsons and Mellers, as well! Good luck!
I'm lucky too - both my mom and my mother-in-law like my chams. My mom always wants to watch me feed them and loves when they are out free-ranging on the lanai with her.
You could also contact the vet ahead of time to see if they will email you their questionairre sheets to complete ahead of time. Also, I was just at Dr. Bruce's in late October and at that time they were only allowing 1 person in at a time so make sure that whatever you are bringing you cham...
He's my vet too. I live in Naples so it's a 3 1/2 hour drive each way, but completely worth it. Just be prepared to know that he's no-nonsense but a wealth of information, so have all of the answers to his questions available (temps, lighting, food, humidity %, etc.). I just take pics of...
It's not a big deal to me at all. I've been on here for over a decade so don't want to change it now (my profile pic is of the first veiled I ever owned, and that was 3 generations ago, at least). I don't post nearly enough for it to matter. ;)
When I was in college (late 90s) I went to a pet store that had a free-ranging iguana. I was entranced, but knew I couldn't and shouldn't get one while in school. I started doing research (again, the EARLY days of the internet), and slowly realized how big these guys get. So, I thought, well...
I have to second the opinion to not do this. It's an unfair level of stress on the chameleon that is not needed. Also, you mention it's a clinic - is it a medical clinic? Are you planning on putting live plants in with it, if you do go through with this? I work in a hospital and we cannot...
I'm not a parent, but thanks for adding the part about college. Nothing frustrates me more than seeing a year old chameleon re-homed, due to college, or even worse, plans trying to be made to take one to college.
I'm curious to see what your vet thinks it is. I've found these every once in awhile in my male veiled's cage, but just clean them out. He's gotten a clean bill of health, so I'm fairly certain they weren't internal in him at any time. Keep us posted and try not to freak out! :)