Best to wait?

[hermes]

Hello everyone~

I just joined today and it seems like such great information here from what I've read. I've been looking at the questions about moving Chameleons in particular.

You see, I am still currently in graduate school and in all likely hood when I get out and get my permanent job (as opposed to my GAT position I work now) I will be moving from Texas to California as that's were the jobs are for me. I've been wanting a Chameleon for a good.. 8 years or longer I'd say, but when I did research way back when I had read about their temperament against moving and their tendency to get seriously ill or die because of it. It's put me off getting a Chameleon until I'm more permanently settled, but the urge has hit again.

I was wondering peoples opinions on the risk involved verses waiting another two years or so to get a Chameleon since I know in all likely hood I will be involved in a large move.

Thank you in advance!

 

[ChrisnLisa]

If you are set on getting a chameleon now, this is the best advice I can give.

This past Aug. I moved from MI to NV. We drove, and it took 4 days to get there. I gave all my chameleons to a family member to watch until we were settled in. Once we were, I had her overnight my chameleons to me through FedEx. This worked out just fine, as I already showed her step by step how to pack and ship our chameleons properly. So, if you have someone you can trust to watch your little friend for a few days, as well as ship him, I don't see any major problems with it. I would NEVER drive that far with them, and I think carrying them onto a plane is a no-no too...at least as far as the airlines I called it was.

 

[summoner12]

Hello everyone~

I just joined today and it seems like such great information here from what I've read. I've been looking at the questions about moving Chameleons in particular.

You see, I am still currently in graduate school and in all likely hood when I get out and get my permanent job (as opposed to my GAT position I work now) I will be moving from Texas to California as that's were the jobs are for me. I've been wanting a Chameleon for a good.. 8 years or longer I'd say, but when I did research way back when I had read about their temperament against moving and their tendency to get seriously ill or die because of it. It's put me off getting a Chameleon until I'm more permanently settled, but the urge has hit again.

I was wondering peoples opinions on the risk involved verses waiting another two years or so to get a Chameleon since I know in all likely hood I will be involved in a large move.

Thank you in advance!

I would wait. BUT if you HAD to get a chameleon, it would depend on the cham how the move would impact the animal. The big issue for chams are when the cage itself change. Say you had him all set up things seemed good and then you moved him to a new cage with different vines and plants... he would be set off. If you set him up, things are good and you move... not changing the cage around and you are able to move HIM and the cage within a day your cham should be fine.

The key is getting him from point A to B as fast as you can with as little change as possible.

Chams sleep when its dark. lights out... cham is sleeping. When I moved only 30 miles I even wasn't able to get my cham's cages up asap. The move went like this. thursday night I put them all in their own boxes. took them to the new apt, I put them in a closet with no lights on. we moved on friday and I didn't get the cages up and running till saturday morning. They didn't seem tooooo bothered. I admit the cages didn't go back like they were... so there was a bit of stress but that only lasted a week or two.

Chrisnlisa have some good advice too

 

[dodolah]

I say wait.
Plus, since you are going to move to California anyway, you would not have to bother with moving pets from one state to another.
With H.R. 669 in debate, we never know what gonna happen.
If it pass, you will get into serious problem moving one animal interstate.
1- 2 years is not that long. Trust me.
Instead, dedicate the time to research like crazy on how to care for one.

 

[hermes]

Thanks all for the suggestion- I would have family that is only about an hour and a half from me that would be able to watch it and then mail, but it is likely best to wait as I have been till now. One does just get tired of waiting, alas. Twice before I've been close to getting one so this can just be a third time.

Thanks again and I'll be sure to pop back here when it comes time for me to finally get one!

 

[summoner12]

Frans brought up a good point, use this time to research. Not only can you use this time to research but to purchase the things you'll need for his setup. Items like cages, lamps (when not in use), misting systems, drippers, books, fake plants or even real plants that you can develop, vines, temp guages and all sorts of items can be set aside ready to use for when you are able to set it up in your new home.

 

[hermes]

Indeed! I was planning to grab books from the library once more- repeat what reading I've done years ago because lord know's that it's likely been pushed out by other informaton.

I have quite a few plants and was planning to start a few more- some that could be useful such as an ivy or other vining. In all likely hood I'd wait to buy the actual cage equipment till I was moved, so not to loose anything in the process, but I've already started saving links. I'm still leaning to geting a panther though when I can get one- it's just going to stay a long process.

Oh well, I suppose waiting a decade or so to get one means I do really want one!

 

[summoner12]

Indeed! I was planning to grab books from the library once more- repeat what reading I've done years ago because lord know's that it's likely been pushed out by other informaton.

I have quite a few plants and was planning to start a few more- some that could be useful such as an ivy or other vining. In all likely hood I'd wait to buy the actual cage equipment till I was moved, so not to loose anything in the process, but I've already started saving links. I'm still leaning to geting a panther though when I can get one- it's just going to stay a long process.

Oh well, I suppose waiting a decade or so to get one means I do really want one!

Waiting to buy might work to your advantage depending on where in socal you plan to live... LLL Reptile is 'local' if your in the Orange country san diego area. If you in LA near chatsworth your near Reptile Deopt...

 

[hermes]

Ah- very good information! I used to live in Orange County actually, once upon a time. I'm likely to be around LA as the main computer animation/special effect houses are there, but if my dream job of Pixar comse through I'll be or outside San Fran.