I didn't mean for it to happen... need identification help

Riven

New Member
Well I didn't MEAN for it to happen, Pascal was going to be an only child. But... I went to pick up crickets today as we'd been having troubles with shipping and she was out, and I was looking around. In a little cage marked "anoles $10" I saw it right in front of the dead little snake carcass, grey in color, sitting in a bowl of water. She saw me.. and looked up, and came to me, I touched the glass by her, and she began to climb straight up this 4" ledge to the door. I saw another, larger one, she looked worse, sick and sad. When she heard me she picked up her head, they were slumped to the side as they had no light in their cage. She was hanging on the cage by the door, pawing it at. The lady was just filling in for the normal guy. I played dumb, how much is that one I asked. She said let me check, she saw the glass and said oh, Anole's $10, my heart skipped a beat, I'd take them both, then she realized they weren't Anoles and called and asked. $65 she said, I said I shouldn't, she said, "Did you want to hold it?". I knew I shouldn't have, but I said okay, she was still pawing at the glass. The door opened, she went up my arm half way and turned green... after that there was no going back.

I told her the other looked sick, she said she'd let them know, I said they liked the light, she said the light was supposed to be on and looked at it.

After that I went to my mom's shop because I had shopping to do and couldn't leave her in the car it'd be too hot. I held her, she was happy, she laid her head down on me and went to sleep. I had to go but she didn't want my mom to hold her, she turned brown and ran over by me, so we put her back in the little container. She rode home on my shoulder, climbed down into the sun and slept (upside down).

2012-03-14155338.jpg


The saga starts over again now. I know nothing about her ( I "think" it's a her... ) don't know what kind she is, so any help is awesome. And the first question I got when I got home was can she be caged with Pascal after quarantine? Her name, of course, is Rango. The one thing I do know is... sometimes we don't pick our pets, our pets pick us. My mom couldn't believe how much she loved me, she told her friend on the phone, this chameleon just really loves her! LOL

2012-03-14161249.jpg
 
Aaaw what a lovely story :) It is so sad that people keep these beautiful creatures in such poor conditions. I really hope things go well for you both and that she settles in well. She obviously knows you will take good care of her :) Although I don`t think two chams into one terrarium will go well, do you possibly have a spare set up ? congrats on your new little friend :D
 
We have Pascal's original cage we're going to set up for her for now. I figured quarantine was a good idea either way. I know I've seen several in cages at pet stores before... but wasn't sure if it was ideal for general keeping.

I've never seen a critter like this before, she was laying her head on me earlier and sleeping, then would rub a bit, then rub the other side... then go back to sleep. We'll have to get her all set up in a good cage, I couldn't believe it when she was sitting there smack in the middle of a water dish...
 
Thanks Camimom, I looked up Sengal's and that is what she looks like. Maybe the greyer coloring is more normal for them than for veileds then? I keep finding information that says they don't like to be handled, it stresses them out, she's been sleeping on my shoulder for the last 45 minutes I've been trying to do research about her, and she gets more stressed out if I put her down or with someone else! LOL

Anyone have ideas on how to sex them? I better go check on the progress, we'll have to put in an order for more vines and supplies now.
 
We have Pascal's original cage we're going to set up for her for now. I figured quarantine was a good idea either way. I know I've seen several in cages at pet stores before... but wasn't sure if it was ideal for general keeping.

I've never seen a critter like this before, she was laying her head on me earlier and sleeping, then would rub a bit, then rub the other side... then go back to sleep. We'll have to get her all set up in a good cage, I couldn't believe it when she was sitting there smack in the middle of a water dish...

sounds like youve got another special needs cham on your hands, sleeping during the day is bad.

and like i said, i think shes a senegal, though not sure on gender. contact karmachameleon, she has a senegal
 
It's a female Senegal, but grey is not normal. Senegals are the most docile chams I've seen. You'll see a bunch false info out there. I even saw an article that said to keep them in a dry, sandy aquirium with one light... if I could have found an email attached to that site they'd have gotten their fair share of foot. I'm sure you can nurse her back to health though.
 
Yea, they had her in a thing of dirt for substrate, and the whole dead snake and part of a fiddler crab claw in there didn't help anything I'm sure... she's hungry and went for a cricket, her tongue is... yellow! Is this normal? It was just different than Pascals so I was concerned. We have her set up in a cage, she's exploring and climbing around good. Is there anything we should do for her other than just giving her good care?
 
Chameleons have different colored tongues. Upload some more pics, can you describe more into detail the care the place had? I'd report them if I were you...
 
that is awsome of you to help that little one i think i would had buy her to if she was pawing the glass i wouldnt have been able to resist either congrats on the new girl
you are her hero im sure you guys will share a special bond all the best steve
 
I'm no expert but that is definitely a Senegal as Karma said and also as she said it would be a good idea to report that particular store. If you're not sure who to report them to contact your local SPCA and ask.

Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong here but I get the impression Senegal's are more sensitive to being dry than many other species. I'm not sure if it is because they are so small or just how they are wired. That would probably be why it was sitting in the water bowl.

To me a dry enclosure is grounds for immediate misting and mine has been happy, moving around, bright green, and eating well once I got him hydrated and used to his enclosure.

On another note: You were grossly over charged unless it is a captive bred in tip top shape. 30 to 50 dollars is the average price. If you don't complain to the SPCA at least go in and demand a partial refund so you're not paying extra money that is obviously not being spent on overhead. (Trust me if you go in angry and make a stink they will give you 15 bucks to go away).
 
Yea, they had her in a thing of dirt for substrate, and the whole dead snake and part of a fiddler crab claw in there didn't help anything I'm sure... she's hungry and went for a cricket, her tongue is... yellow! Is this normal? It was just different than Pascals so I was concerned. We have her set up in a cage, she's exploring and climbing around good. Is there anything we should do for her other than just giving her good care?

It needs lots of hydration and peace for a few weeks. As hard as it may be I wouldnt handle it until its in tip top shape. The sunken eyes arent a good thing. it could be dehydration, malnutrition, both or something else. Lots of water and well gutloaded bugs. Get a fecal sample tested also. Hopefully it turns right around in a few weeks for you. It doesnt appear to be in terrible shape but not in great shape either.
 
Okay, thanks for all of the info! We're out of worms, and I picked out some smaller crickets for her but most are bigger, so I need to get her some small ones ordered, with the warm weather here I can get them online again.

She is in my office where it's quiet, usually it's just me in here and the dogs, when I'm here they follow me. We'll try to get her all fixed up and try to get some more pics later! I need to get working on a report a bit so I can at least say I did something on it since it's due on Friday! :p
 
Here are some more pics, she ate two smaller crickets this evening, and was rather thirsty after I started misting her, so I syringe watered her because she didn't seem to know how to lick up the droplet's like Pascal likes to do, she was licking the branch, and I'll tell you it wasn't very effective method of drinking...

She LOVES to be on me, when she sees me come up she comes towards me and if I put my hand near her she will reach out to get on me.

Upon request, more pictures with the better camera. She's small, but looking back I don't think Pascal was much bigger and she looks like a monster now compared to her! These were right after I misted her she her eye is kind of shut in the one from the water and such. If you guys can think of anything else I need to look into please let me know!

ETA: I don't know if it's just the new enclosure and she doesn't know her boundries or because I was misting her but when I was she about walked right off a branch, but I caught her. Nutrition issues or should I be watching for something else too? Thanks again everyone!

rango.jpg


rango3.jpg


rango2.jpg


Dan, I agree I was over charged, especially when I see I can get them for $29 online, but at that time, all I could think was I need to get her out of there. I wish I could have taken them both, but I think that would've pushed the limits at home a little too far and I don't know of anyone around here that has chams to get her out of there. I will look into reporting them, it wouldn't be the first time I reported a local place for poor care. I helped get a pet mill shut down here a few years back due to extremely poor practices.
 
She's so cute. Glad you were able to rescue her.

I would have been meaner at the pet store, and said something more along the lines of "These two chameleons are going to die. How about I be nice and take them off your hands for half-price, you guys don't try and sell anymore chameleons, and I don't report your store to the humane society?"
 
Back
Top Bottom