Archimedes slept with me under the blankets this morning ^^

[szpond]

This is the truth of it 100%.

While we love our chameleons and other reptiles as much as we may love our mammalian pets we have to remember that they are not the same. Reptiles do not snuggle because they do not generate their own body heat, so this is a completely foreign concept to them. They do not bond to each other or have family or relationships with each other (with rare exceptions, like prehensile tailed skinks) so they do not enjoy snuggling under the covers in the slightest. You put your chameleon into a dark environment, which triggers the stress response - go to sleep because moving around when you can't see is going to attract predators that can see. Chameleons are prey animals so you have to see it from their perspective, which is quite different from ours as a dominant mammal. You took him away from his UVB and normal environment during the day when he should have been active, basking, and hunting. And it is true that it was dangerous for him because you could have rolled over on him. I know this was a special bonding moment for you, but it was not for him. He was scared and responded the only way he knew how. Sometimes we forget how differently animals think and respond to different situations. So this is not an activity I would recommend at all for those reasons purely for the sake of your chameleon.

Wonderfully put. I know I can't form such poetic posts, so I'm always so happy to see you beat me to the post.

 

[imcurt]

While I can see why you would think this is sweet, I don't want new owners to get the idea that this is even remotely a good idea. Chameleons are cold-blooded, they don't need or even want a blanket. They live in trees, not caves, it was probably not a pleasant experience for him. They don't snuggle, as much as we want to believe that they do. And having him eat and putting him to sleep is not a good idea either. Sorry to be a downer, but I think you should think things through a little more thoroughly.

Well said!

 

[Takani1]

Hello, that is so sweet, my chameleon will lay on my chest and rest her head but she has never slept with me! I think that is sweet, and I also think people underestimate the connection and bond you can have with a chameleon... I have a female veiled cham that is EXTREAMLY friendly, she walks on my hand, relaxes on my chest, and also loves my bf just as much!!!!

My story, and I know I will be critisized too,
but I am a dog and cat trainer, and in a cham book I read that chameleons can retain information, now I'm not saying that dogs or cats are even close to chameleons but when I got her I hand fed until she was comfortable with my hands and then I required her to walk on my hand before she ate, I did not force her I simply held my hand in front of her and let her crawl onto it herself by choice and then eat, then I allowed her to free range above her enclosure in vines etc.. I know that all chameleons aren't the same and iv heard of pretty aggressive veiled chameleons, and I didn't expect to "train" my goal was simply to get her comfortable with handling etc.. So she wouldn't be as stressed when it was nessisary to. I also have a 4 month old male veiled that I have used the same process and he is now walking on to me with no hessitation, I did not want to post this because I knew that people would comment neggativly but now I know I'm not the only one who sees things like this with their cham!!! thank you for posting your story

I think your expirience is amazing

 

[PattyCake]

Wow that is amazing! Finally found another person who named their cham Archimedes! Yes, I'm not the only one!

 

[PhoenixFeather]

Hello, that is so sweet, my chameleon will lay on my chest and rest her head but she has never slept with me! I think that is sweet, and I also think people underestimate the connection and bond you can have with a chameleon... I have a female veiled cham that is EXTREAMLY friendly, she walks on my hand, relaxes on my chest, and also loves my bf just as much!!!!

My story, and I know I will be critisized too,
but I am a dog and cat trainer, and in a cham book I read that chameleons can retain information, now I'm not saying that dogs or cats are even close to chameleons but when I got her I hand fed until she was comfortable with my hands and then I required her to walk on my hand before she ate, I did not force her I simply held my hand in front of her and let her crawl onto it herself by choice and then eat, then I allowed her to free range above her enclosure in vines etc.. I know that all chameleons aren't the same and iv heard of pretty aggressive veiled chameleons, and I didn't expect to "train" my goal was simply to get her comfortable with handling etc.. So she wouldn't be as stressed when it was nessisary to. I also have a 4 month old male veiled that I have used the same process and he is now walking on to me with no hessitation, I did not want to post this because I knew that people would comment neggativly but now I know I'm not the only one who sees things like this with their cham!!! thank you for posting your story

I think your expirience is amazing

Wow that's great! I think it's really important to get a cham used to being held and touched in every way and place you can if possible, because you never know when it will need a medical examination! Of course it is best to acclimate them to handling in the least stressful way possible, but I'm sure it pays off in the long run when a cham is sick or injured and the stress of being handled for medication or exams could really do some harm to an already immunocompromised animal. Not to mention it just makes them happier Like which cham lives a nicer life... the one who feels the need to puff up and hiss every time someone so much as walks by, or the one who can contentedly welcome the inevitable presence of a keeper?

So glad to hear you have such a nice relationship with your chams, and thanks for the kind words. You shouldn't be nervous to post your experience with your chams; it sounds like you're doing a great job!

 

[PhoenixFeather]

Wow that is amazing! Finally found another person who named their cham Archimedes! Yes, I'm not the only one!

lol I named him for the owl in Sword in the Stone because he was just like that at first. Always perched up on his plant scowling down at the humans like he was so superior, and a fairly bad attitude. Thankfully he's gotten much better

 

[jannb]

I've always had a very special relationship with my chameleons. They are extremely smart when given the chance. I spend allot of time with them and they do all the things with me that my dog does. They go on vacations with us. They go for rides, to the post office and market with me. They go visit our work places and much more. I don't shut them in dark boxes nor do I keep them in cages. They have free roam of my entire house. I have one room in my house that gets extra cold at night for their night temperature drop. I have a sleeping tree for each of them in that room, except for my parsons because she has to be kept cooler than the rest of my chameleons. Every night when I carry them from the front of the house to this bedroom they root their little heads and noses into my chest. I had one female veiled that would lay her little head over on my chest at night. I used to get criticized all the time especially by one member because I free ranged my chameleons way before anyone else did and shared about it. Enjoy your chameleons to the fullest. Their time with us is way to short. Just be sure to keep them safe.

A cell phone picture of Hera from yesterday ridding home from the vets after getting X-rays to see how her eggs are coming along. BTW the eggs are liking good.

 

[ReptileLove18]

thanks for sharing this Jann
even tho i really like everyone on this forum sometimes i feel the supposed to be "helpful" criticizum get out of hand. once its been said, it doesnt have to be said again and again, and again...
so again thank you for sharing, its nice when a very respected member steps forward with a story like this and im glad to hear your girls eggs are coming along well!!

 

[SaintJimmy]

I've always had a very special relationship with my chameleons. They are extremely smart when given the chance. I spend allot of time with them and they do all the things with me that my dog does. They go on vacations with us. They go for rides, to the post office and market with me. They go visit our work places and much more. I don't shut them in dark boxes nor do I keep them in cages. They have free roam of my entire house. I have one room in my house that gets extra cold at night for their night temperature drop. I have a sleeping tree for each of them in that room, except for my parsons because she has to be kept cooler than the rest of my chameleons. Every night when I carry them from the front of the house to this bedroom they root their little heads and noses into my chest. I had one female veiled that would lay her little head over on my chest at night. I used to get criticized all the time especially by one member because I free ranged my chameleons way before anyone else did and shared about it. Enjoy your chameleons to the fullest. Their time with us is way to short. Just be sure to keep them safe.

A cell phone picture of Hera from yesterday ridding home from the vets after getting X-rays to see how her eggs are coming along. BTW the eggs are liking good.

I usually think that the bonding concept is false, but there are some things like this that are true. I believe that most somewhat experienced owners know what is good and bad for their chameleon (while sleeping with them maybe not.. I do agree with people on that one) but there are definitely little bonds sometimes.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Had the original story been "my chameleon was with me all day and didn't mind" then there's no problem, but even someone like Jann closely bonded with their chams will not put them under the covers.

I spend a lot of time with my chams as well. My panthers are completely sociable. Oscar has done multiple class presentations with me, will shoot bugs in front of anyone, and goes on walks with me and the dogs. He sees me and scratches at his cage to come out because he knows I'll let him out and he can crawl around and go outside. Taking my jacksons on walks though would be stressful for him even though he's pretty sociable too - that's just too much for him but he enjoys free ranging or being in the outdoor cage. So I think it's perfectly fine to enjoy your chameleon's company, but you have to know their limits and interact with them within certain boundries to avoid stressing them out without realizing it.

 

[ReptileLove18]

i just think that all that needed to be said was said and that we should let it be..

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Here's the thing. This forum is to discuss and educate, is it not? If experienced keepers and veterinarians are not supposed to offer guidance when they see improper care, then I guess we should all stop telling people when they need to add UVB or that they should probably remove the waterfall from the enclosure. To guide is to act out of leadership to give direction or advise. To criticize is to judge. Nobody judged, we just tried to give direction. I'm pretty sure there is nobody who commented on this thread who can give better guidance than ferritinmyshoes. She is a vet. That means she went to school for 8+ years to guide people in the care of their animals as a JOB. She would not waste her time or money on a veterinary education to judge people, she could do that for free.

This is what makes the experienced keepers go elsewhere for intelligent conversation about keeping chameleons, which frustrates me. I want those people around. If I'm doing something wrong, I would WELCOME some guidance from someone more experienced than myself. But sadly, most of those people don't engage in conversation here because they are met with defense in an argument that is not being considered objectively. But then we expect them to be around to help when something goes wrong with our chameleons? Stop being defensive, guys. Nobody is out to get you. There is no need to be a right-fighter, just be grateful there are people who actually care.

 

[DavidBuchan]

................

This is what makes the experienced keepers go elsewhere for intelligent conversation about keeping chameleons, which frustrates me. I want those people around. If I'm doing something wrong, I would WELCOME some guidance from someone more experienced than myself. But sadly, most of those people don't engage in conversation here because they are met with defense in an argument that is not being considered objectively. But then we expect them to be around to help when something goes wrong with our chameleons? Stop being defensive, guys. Nobody is out to get you. There is no need to be a right-fighter, just be grateful there are people who actually care.

I agree with you. It shouldn't descend to this......
but anyone who goes elsewhere would be missing out on what Dayna and Jann have to say about it.......
So any experienced people who go elsewhere have really made a foolish mistake.....
I also welcome any guidance/criticism/advice/whatever you want to call it (for myself and my lizards).....
People can't help being defensive lol......which is why it's up to all of us "right-fighters" to be as clear as possible what we are actually saying....(Shauna and Dayna and Jann and myself included.....).
It's possible to say exactly what we all meant, without anyone getting defensive at all......well done to PhoenixFeather for taking it (mostly...) in the spirit of helpfulness that was intended

Edit: For the record I think it's a good thing that this isn't going to happen again, and if I'd replied first I wouldn't have had the same perspective...so I might have been 'harsher'........lol...

 

[Tay And A]

Question

I was told by an experienced keeper to never take your chams for a car ride unless they are in a box. Being as its bad for their eyes rotation?? Anywho I'm glad we have a veterinarian on here. I myself am going to school for veterinary. I'm hoping to expand my knowledge of chams by doing so. Most of my knowledge happens to be with cats, and dogs.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I was told by an experienced keeper to never take your chams for a car ride unless they are in a box. Being as its bad for their eyes rotation?? Anywho I'm glad we have a veterinarian on here. I myself am going to school for veterinary. I'm hoping to expand my knowledge of chams by doing so. Most of my knowledge happens to be with cats, and dogs.

Hhhhmmm. I've heard plenty of stories and seen photos of chams comfortably riding in cars.....I can't be sure how bad it is for them...it should be avoided unless necessary of course, if only due to the air pollution....

 

[Psychobunny]

I have a friend who once had a baby croc (he is a bit crazy at times). He was told to hold them and hug them to tame them. Well. He fell asleep while hugging it and when he woke up his testicles were bitten off.

Ok, just kidding. But the croc was crushed.

I think we should not consider our reptilian friends as mammal like creatures. They are neither social nor too robust (especially when small as a Chameleon). We do interpret their behavior in our favor as they are our pets. But even the Cham that does tolerate you couldn't bother for you less.

Regarding your assumption of heat vs digestion: Putting them into the dark under a blanket will trigger their hormones to associate with night. And they will sleep and slow down their metabolism. Digestion will not take place. They are diurnal and can only digest when they are awake. Not when it is just warm.

Your story would be sweet when it is about a puppy. But with a reptile, I would not recommend this again. Don't get me wrong here.

Sans the crock, I agree with this post.

My chams love to get my body warmth too, and they close their eyes sometimes to enjoy it, like they do while basking, however, they do not fall asleep.
I dont even know if a reptile CAN sleep when it's body temp is high!!??

Though I dont think 3 hours is doing any harm, it's very likely that his cham was simply too scared to move during that time under a blanket!!??

 

[jannb]

I was told by an experienced keeper to never take your chams for a car ride unless they are in a box. Being as its bad for their eyes rotation?? Anywho I'm glad we have a veterinarian on here. I myself am going to school for veterinary. I'm hoping to expand my knowledge of chams by doing so. Most of my knowledge happens to be with cats, and dogs.

I totally disagree. My daughter and I have had chams going on car rides since she first started getting chams back in 2003. My daughter was in college then three hours away and I couldn't began to count the times her Cham, Vega rode in the car, normally on her head or shoulder home from college for the week end. He lived to the ripe old age of eight and never had any eye problems. She rode various other chams and I've always rode all of my guys. They love it. They enjoy sitting up high and looking around at everything.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I agree, it's not harmful for them to ride in the car without a box. Oscar has done that plenty of times - he enjoys the view. The only reason I have to put him in a box for long rides is that he won't sit still! He won't just sit on a plant in the next seat like Jann's do. He ends up crawling on the steering wheel and up my face, so it's a bit dangerous.

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

I say, we all put our Cham's into bubbles and protect them like the bubble boy. Lets all remember this : The best owners/handlers will have their Cham for years to come. thats all I'm saying!

 

[Jamall]

Just make sure to close up sun roof found my giant spiny hanging on my luggage racks going down the road Hathaway he was fine