It is with a heavy heart that I share this with you all. Beman is now in the vines of heaven watching over me. Beman was my impulse Petco purchase which was a Birthday present to myself in October of 2018. It was an instant love and my very first experience with a reptile. I knew absolutely nothing and quickly figured out I was very misinformed. Based on his size at the time that would put him at an approximate hatch date in June of 2018 and roughly 4 months old. He would have been 7 years old this June. He passed of old age at 6 yrs 8 months old.
I want to share the following details, so people know what my experience of old age with Beman was like. I feel it is important that some of this thread be educational for others. While I know my experience may not be the same as another’s exactly it may help someone that reads this at some point. I have been lucky in the fact that I do have an experienced reptile vet. Someone I could talk to consistently about what was happening and provided feedback in a most thoughtful and caring way. My knowledge of normal vs not normal gave me a baseline. But the bond and trust between Beman and I allowed me to truly know and see through his facade of being “ok”. And throughout this my only goal was to let Beman live a normal happy life in a natural environment without extreme intervention until I could see it was his time.
The last year and a half, I have seen gradual and subtle signs of being an old man. Small things at first like not being as nimble moving through the cage branches. Also signs of arthritis in one of his front arms. Over the last 6 months I have watched him decline slowly. Differences in behavior towards me, swelling to the arthritic front arm, closing eyes sporadically, missing branches, reduced grip. The last few weeks he showed more extreme signs of decline. Missing branches completely and I would find him hanging by his tail stuck and not able to grab anything. Stopped using the entire cage space staying to the upper 1/3 of it instead. More extreme swelling to the entire right forearm especially at the joints of the wrist and the elbow plus the other arm now being swollen. Barely gripping with the front feet at all and walking flatter with the pads of his front feet not doing a full wrap around branches. Edema which would likely be linked to organ function issues. Extreme puffing to the back of the casque even though on a very reduced diet, which would be more than likely linked like the Edema with extra fluid retention due to compromised organ function. Moving much slower laying on branches instead of standing up. Eye turrets being more sunk in. And no longer sleeping in his hidden behind plants sleeping spot that has been his every night place the last 3 years. Instead sleeping totally out in the open on the top basking level. In this entire period the last year and a half, he never stopped wanting to eat.
I will never forget being new in the forum and being told that my Petco baby would live a very short and unhealthy life due to his “bad breeding”. Being a newbie and hearing this I freaked out even more than I already was. The only good that came out of that comment was that it further sparked my eagerness to learn as much as possible as fast as I could. I had to understand the ins and outs of every single aspect of husbandry. I desperately needed to know all warning signs and became very proficient in spotting things for other new keepers. Beman became my passion, and my passion led to the ability to help many people and their chameleons over the years.
People outside of this hobby do not understand the love that a person can have for a chameleon/reptile. It’s not like when you tell someone you lost a beloved cat or dog. Beman was one of the most extreme loves I have ever had. My best buddy that had the most goofy and friendly personality. From the moment he followed my fingers back and forth along the glass cage at Petco he had my heart. I committed every single day to ensuring he had an amazing life with a perfect enclosure set up. Everything automated, real branches, all live plants including hibiscus with blooms that never lasted because they were his favorite to nibble. I would give him a world in which he could thrive. I would show him my love in everything I provided for him. I committed every single day to this.
Most of all I would give Beman a peaceful passing. I would not let him suffer any more than needed. Lastly, I would give him my heart to take with him… and so I did.
Rest in Peace Beman my little love June 2018 - February 9th, 2025
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He was the luckiest boy, and thank you for sharing his journey, he sure was one handsome guy.
