Is it weird my chameleon likes to cuddle

Thank you for that. See, this is how to respond. Nicely done :)
My chameleon just looked at me and said, " dude, this guy is the total posting etiquette police!" And I said no kidding Doesn't he understand that the vast majority of chameleon owners are children. They own chameleons for the joy, the curiosity, the imagination that becomes stirred through the experience of raising a chameleon. Is everyone a herpitoligist? Do some people "kill" their lizards? Humans have a taxonomy for the description of death by another person ranging on a spectrum from involuntary manslaughter to Premeditated murder with prejudice.
When I was young growing up on a farm, if a small animal became ill the cure was a pillow sack and a 2 by 4.
And as far as your opinion about the perfect, virtuous post and how you think it might be crafted and how other's might respond in a correspondingly appropriate vein. I personally subscribe to the method of using a light-hearted, mostly humorous, sometimes partially accurate, always ironic and playfull ( please refer to my the body of my posting history for reference) tone to explore the often complex and intricate complexities of easing a wild animal in captivity. It is virtuous to be "like a child" in spirit , is it not.. I have been challenged in my belief in this method before but I stand by it's merits.
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The word "desert" was never used by me. I said arid, meaning drier . I agree that there are varied climates in the Arabian Peninsula, however none of them seem to have the 86-145 inches of annual rainfall to qualify as a "rainforest". You called the poster an idiot for not having a fogger, I was just saying that the ambient humidity in her home may be well within the level needed for a chameleon who thrives in Saudi Arabia, therefore a dripper and periodic showers would be fine. I think some people overdo humidity for that species, basically turning the cage into a sauna. A lot of what you have said I completely agree with, I just think it is better received if the info is a little less harsh...

You misread, I did not call the poster an Idiot, I said if the breeder told her nothing but a dripper was fine, they were an idiot, especially when they said "Misters are overrated just use a dripper" which is what OP said the breeder said. If a breeder told me that I would never buy from them ever.

A dripper is not enough unless you live in a humid house. However I do not see that happening, without a humidifier I doubt 99% of US residents have a humid house. ACs and Heaters suck humidity out of the air, that is the nature of how they work. So if you heat or cool at all you dont have a humid house.

Sorry if you or OP took at as me call them names. I wasn't nor was that my intent, the poster is clearly new to the hobby, so it would not be stupid of them at all. However someone that breeds chameleons saying a mister is overrated well that is another matter wouldn't you think? An experienced keeper could likely be okay without a mister or whatever and not misting with just a dripper. However those keepers would know how to handle dehydration ect if it happened. To suggest to a newbie not to use any misting or mist the cage as it is Overrated, is imo Irresponsible.

I also know you said Arid not desert, but Arid is desert. Arid by definition is "(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation." If it is too dry for plants and trees it is too dry for chameleons. Arid and Desert are the same thing, just different ways of saying such.
 
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You are anthropomorphising, that animal. Chameleons like all reptiles do not have human emotions. And whether they are captive bred or wild caught they still have there instincts, even dogs that have been bred and maintained in captivity for 1000s of years still hold on to a portion of instinct.

You say a specialist said forums doesn't base of science? Which is also quite funny as some "Specialists" have absolutely no clue what they are talking about. We just had someone a few days ago that took there cham to a "Specialist" Vet, and he told the guy to stop giving the cham live food. Well chameleons do not eat non live food. On top of that we have "Specialists" here as well, so?

Moving on, you keep him in that free range all day? Where is the UVB light? Where is the basking Light? How do you mist and maintain humidity? Nothing wrong with a Free Range IMO. If it is done right, which yours I see no lights, not enough shrubbery and am curious how you keep up humidity.

Also the cham sleeping and all the lights on? was that during the day? He also doesn't have his tail curled while he was asleep which is odd.

So some science now.

Science says you need a UVB light, which I don t think you have.
Science says you need a basking light again not sure you have.
Science says he needs water not in a bowl but sprayed/ and humid, which I dont think you are doing.
Science says chameleons can see light while they sleep, and this can cause them to not get good sleep.
Science says if that cham is sleeping during the day it is sick.

And the breeder you got her from that said humidity is not needed for a RAIN FOREST ANIMAL is an idiot. You may not need a fogger, (those suck, and likely what they meant) you do need some way to raise the humidity and drop it to the animals needs. Your dripper is good to have along with spraying the corner 3 times a day with a mister.


Okay, this is what I'm talking about for the rudeness.... yes I do have a heat and uvb light, they are up where she cannot grab at them. They are not in the picture because the light from them was too bright for my camera. Yes she's in there all day. No she does not curl her tail all the time. She sleeps how she wants and wherever she feels comfortable. Yes I do spray twice a day. She is not sleeping during the day in this picture... I turned the light on and turned it right back off because it looked cute to see her sleeping and enough to snap a picture. I don't think her life is over just by doing that. This is what you assume because first, you do not ask questions. Thank you for making my experience on this site, yet again, a negative.
 
Okay, this is what I'm talking about for the rudeness.... yes I do have a heat and uvb light, they are up where she cannot grab at them. They are not in the picture because the light from them was too bright for my camera. Yes she's in there all day. No she does not curl her tail all the time. She sleeps how she wants and wherever she feels comfortable. Yes I do spray twice a day. She is not sleeping during the day in this picture... I turned the light on and turned it right back off because it looked cute to see her sleeping and enough to snap a picture. I don't think her life is over just by doing that. This is what you assume because first, you do not ask questions. Thank you for making my experience on this site, yet again, a negative.

My "Rudeness" came with your attitude. You set the tone I only followed it, people here are very nice until you get an attitude, then they will too, just like everywhere else in life. Anyway moving on, nicely now.

I thought the lights may be off, that was why I asked and said they were needed, and that part was not rude or not meant to be, the science stuff was and again you set the tone for that.

On to the sleep during the day, there is 2 pictures there both with Eyes closed, were those during the day or at night? I think you are saying both were at night and you turned on the lights for a moment. That is fine, if she is closing her eyes during the day at all that is a problem.

Misting 2-3 times a day and a dripper should be plenty humidity for a veiled I would think so good job there :).

You should add more plants though, JMO. I know you mentioned taking over the whole corner so I am sure you will add more plants.

The only remaining hope is that is a cham proof room. Lots of free ranges posted here are not, and then a few months later there is threads of my cat ate my cham.
 
My "Rudeness" came with your attitude. You set the tone I only followed it, people here are very nice until you get an attitude, then they will too, just like everywhere else in life. Anyway moving on, nicely now.

I thought the lights may be off, that was why I asked and said they were needed, and that part was not rude or not meant to be, the science stuff was and again you set the tone for that.

On to the sleep during the day, there is 2 pictures there both with Eyes closed, were those during the day or at night? I think you are saying both were at night and you turned on the lights for a moment. That is fine, if she is closing her eyes during the day at all that is a problem.

Misting 2-3 times a day and a dripper should be plenty humidity for a veiled I would think so good job there :).

You should add more plants though, JMO. I know you mentioned taking over the whole corner so I am sure you will add more plants.

The only remaining hope is that is a cham proof room. Lots of free ranges posted here are not, and then a few months later there is threads of my cat ate my cham.


I'm allergic to cats, so that won't happen :)
 
I also know you said Arid not desert, but Arid is desert. Arid by definition is "(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation." If it is too dry for plants and trees it is too dry for chameleons. Arid and Desert are the same thing, just different ways of saying such.
There is one chameleon that lives in barren desert, so your statement about being "too dry for plants and trees is too dry for chams" isn't entirely true. Check out the Namaqua chameleon. Pretty amazing creature!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaqua_chameleon
 
Boy, this thread devolved quickly. In summary, the OP is doing chameleons wrong and then the less experienced folks defending OP are trying to be "right" by arguing that people on here are rude when they tell hard truths. Sure, it's not fun when someone tells you something you need to hear and you feel "attacked", but for crying out loud, this is a chameleon forum. Every single post on here, with the exception of the off topic threads, should pertain to these animals, and not "posting etiquette" unless we're talking about the violation of forum rules.

As for the one who said their local reptile specialist told them to avoid forums like these, you do realize that this forum is moderated by at least one vet and one scientist who studies these animals among others, right? I'd make sure you inform yourself of the facts before you come on here spouting about how you believe nobody knows anything more than your expert friend. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
 
Boy, this thread devolved quickly. In summary, the OP is doing chameleons wrong and then the less experienced folks defending OP are trying to be "right" by arguing that people on here are rude when they tell hard truths. Sure, it's not fun when someone tells you something you need to hear and you feel "attacked", but for crying out loud, this is a chameleon forum. Every single post on here, with the exception of the off topic threads, should pertain to these animals, and not "posting etiquette" unless we're talking about the violation of forum rules.

As for the one who said their local reptile specialist told them to avoid forums like these, you do realize that this forum is moderated by at least one vet and one scientist who studies these animals among others, right? I'd make sure you inform yourself of the facts before you come on here spouting about how you believe nobody knows anything more than your expert friend. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Very well said. And to Chammie, its threads like these https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/i-need-help-asap.150652/page-3#post-1275179 that make us rude.
 
Are u guys still talking about the towel wrapped chameleons cuddling?!
U know the Baby R US is having a big sell on the wrapping blankets right now,U might also pick up some bubble bath shampoo there ,they like misting shower very much.....
Hows that for cuddling after the shower huh....
 
I got my chameleon about 3 weeks ago and he's super sweet and is really getting attatched to me which I didn't think could occur! And now he likes to cuddle and be wrapped up in a warm towel and take naps when he cuddles! I'm not complaining at all ! Just wondering if anyone else's chameleon does this :)
Brenna, your chameleon just loves you
 
So is it weird he cuddles and falls asleep at night time ?
My Veiled chameleon does the same thing!! As soon as I put him in the hand towel he lays on his side and closes his eyes. The rest of the day he is climbing around like normal and eating well. I actually have a vet appointment this Wednesday for a small wound checkup on him. I will ask him these questions and put it in here when I get the answers
 

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My Veiled chameleon does the same thing!! As soon as I put him in the hand towel he lays on his side and closes his eyes. The rest of the day he is climbing around like normal and eating well. I actually have a vet appointment this Wednesday for a small wound checkup on him. I will ask him these questions and put it in here when I get the answers
How do you tell the difference between him liking it? Or is it a response to stress?
 
When I go to his enclosure to take him out he climbs toward the door. When I open it he climbs on my hand. No signs of stress that I'm aware of but I will demonstrate the "laying down" when I bring him to the vet on Wednesday.
 
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