Can Chams Come with me?

courtneydix

New Member
Hey.

So My husband and I are going home for thanksgiving. It's about 12 hour drive, and we have no one to come check and feed our chams.

So I would really like to take them with me, but Id like to know what y'all think about it and how you would do it.

Thanks Courtney
 
How long will they be left unattended (if you decide to not bring them)?
and then what species plus how old r they?
 
How old are they? if they're young you generally feed them daily but 9 months or older you can feed them every other day:cool:
 
in this case, since they are practically still babies, I would try my hardest to find a pet sitter for the week to avoid stressing them out in the 24 hours driving.
Are there no trustworthy friends or neighbors?

If you really have to do it, then i suggest transporting them at night.
During their 12 hours of sleep.
Some people here use shoe box as transport medium (ventilated off course).
Make sure it's dark, so the chameleons will be sleeping.

As you can probably guess, this is going to be stressful drive for them.
If you suspect any of them are sick, I wouldn't transport them and really try my best to find a pet sitter.
 
well they definitely need to come with you if you cant find someone to take care of them. I would either find a way for their enclosure to fit inside the car and cover it up so it is dark in there or put them in a smaller box like they were going to be shipped with something they can latch onto and it will be like they are sleeping.

travel at night so you can have their uv set up and basking set up at their regular times.
 
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OK so then this is what i was thinking.

I have a 1ft square box.
-I am going to put some of their fake plants (I used them in their smaller cages when they were tiny) in the corners of the box.
-Line the bottom with wet paper towel.
-When we drive, I'll keep the heat on, but not full blast just to make it warm for them. I will most likely bring their temp gauges.

Now when we get to my Mothers House,

I was going to let them free range around her plants, they are all fake. But we will set up their heat lamps and U VB lamps as well.

They are used to free range, I allow them to at least 2-3 hours a day. Then for the night hours I will put them back in their boxes.

Let me know how that sounds, and if there's anything I can do better let me know. I love Chams and I just don't want anything to happen to them.

THanks
Courtney:)
 
in this case, since they are practically still babies, I would try my hardest to find a pet sitter for the week to avoid stressing them out in the 24 hours driving.
Are there no trustworthy friends or neighbors?

If you really have to do it, then i suggest transporting them at night.
During their 12 hours of sleep.
Some people here use shoe box as transport medium (ventilated off course).
Make sure it's dark, so the chameleons will be sleeping.

As you can probably guess, this is going to be stressful drive for them.
If you suspect any of them are sick, I wouldn't transport them and really try my best to find a pet sitter.


I fully understand this, and I really would like them to stay at home, but we just moved here ourselves. My husbands in the Military, and we live off base. I don't feel comfortable asking someone I only met for the first time.

As for the drive we do plan on leaving at 8pm, do the drive will be all night long.
 
OK so then this is what i was thinking.

I have a 1ft square box.
-I am going to put some of their fake plants (I used them in their smaller cages when they were tiny) in the corners of the box.
-Line the bottom with wet paper towel.
-When we drive, I'll keep the heat on, but not full blast just to make it warm for them. I will most likely bring their temp gauges.

Now when we get to my Mothers House,

I was going to let them free range around her plants, they are all fake. But we will set up their heat lamps and U VB lamps as well.

They are used to free range, I allow them to at least 2-3 hours a day. Then for the night hours I will put them back in their boxes.

Let me know how that sounds, and if there's anything I can do better let me know. I love Chams and I just don't want anything to happen to them.

THanks
Courtney:)

Just wondering, Courtney. Are they in the same cage ordinarily?
If they are, they will need to be separated very soon. I normally separate them around that age.

Is there a way to let them free range day and night for those 7 days?
If there isn't, I would suggest bringing their cages with to your mom's house.
 
We Just separated them last week, thought it was time. But then they Free range at my house they always hang around one another, they are both females. In case you were wondering.

And yes they can free range all day and night at my mothers house. I just didn't know if it would be OK to do so.


When we travel they will be in to different boxes as well. :)
 
We Just separated them last week, thought it was time. But then they Free range at my house they always hang around one another, they are both females. In case you were wondering.

And yes they can free range all day and night at my mothers house. I just didn't know if it would be OK to do so.


When we travel they will be in to different boxes as well. :)

sounds good.
Just make sure that during the free range, they have ample access to uvb light, heat light, food, and water.
Also bring the thermometer and hygrometer with you.

I would definitely have them separated as well.

Will cat, bird, or dog have access to your chameleons in her house? might want to avoid that as well :)
 
The chams will be in the family room where the dogs, well no body, for that matter is allowed. So they will be in a quite safe room.

I'm still wondering about this, I really don't want to stress them out. :(
 
I am going to ask my Husband if any of the guys on base he trusts, who can come...
Im just thinking about it, and I would rather have them safe at home. I would rather have someone come in feed them, spry them and leave then making them be in a lil box for 12 hours.
 
I understand your worries.

Obviously, the move and the new place will stress them to a certain degree.
I agree with you. I still think the best way is to get them a trusted pet sitter.
give the sitter a very detailed instruction on how to feed and mist, etc.

But, if you really cannot, you have to take them with you.
Since they are still babies, leaving them unattended is not an option.

This is the dilemma of having a chameleon pet.
Maybe in the future, you might want to invest in an automated mister (if you have the money).
The investment is well worth it.
It frees up a lot of my time.
 
When I had to take my young chams home last year for the holidays i figured out to not transport them in thir cages because the small branches of plants bounce around alot and it seemed to stress them out. For me, they traveled best when I took them at night right right before they curl up for sleep and placed them in a small paper bag with loose crumbled up paper towels on the bottom. I then folded the top of the bag over and paper clipped it shut. They just curled up and slept the whole way. I would carefully open up the bag every hour or two and peek and to check on them. They never work up...worked great!

If you cant travel at night than I think a small transport cage is a good idea. that have a few sturdy branches in it and and some fake plants wrapped around the branches so water can collect when you spray. I have also gotten a hanging plant and hung it from the clothing hook in the back seat and let my cham just cruise on that and round the car. But ya defitinitey got to keep and eye on em!

Hope this helps!
 
Another possibility is to look for professional pet sitters; depending on where you live and if there are good reptile resources around, that might be an option. A professional is bonded and insured, and you can get references. Also, some pet stores or veterinarians will board; only do this if you know the store/vet is skilled with chameleons.
 
I know that everyone doesn't have the luxury of having a reptile store by them, but I do and they board reptiles. I think they only charge $10 a day. Really sweet, huh? :)
 
Well I just got off the phone with the pet store, and they said that they will take them for the week. I know a few girls that work there and all i have to do is make sure they have food.

I'm so happy I don't have to bring them with me. I will miss them but I just think a trip like that is too costly to their lives.


Thank You All so much!!!

Courtney:D
 
Hey.

So My husband and I are going home for thanksgiving. It's about 12 hour drive, and we have no one to come check and feed our chams.

So I would really like to take them with me, but Id like to know what y'all think about it and how you would do it.

Thanks Courtney


YES!, however, don't let them drive.:D
 
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