Lost and found: Need identification, sexing, advice

[Saldarya]

Bobby you need to change your signature to 3.3 panthers!

I need to change my signature to more like 35 panthers!

You will have to weigh him and let us know how much and also how old is he? Be interesting if you knew his weight when he escaped and how much he weighs from being MIA. Also, are you on Chameleon Central?. I have not seen this story appear yet on there.

Hey Carol, I do have some weight records on him from the summer, so I will do some comparisons. I will also do a fecal and it will be interesting to see what that turns up with him having lived 'wild'. On a side note, he is probably close to 2 years old.

I am on Cham Central. Once I get him in and give him a good once over, I will share the tale on here as well as on CC. Aside from how cool this is and how utterly surprised I am of course, I think there are some things to learn here in regards to what they can handle in terms of weather and temps.

 

[Carlton]

If that's the case, then these magnificent creatures may not be as fragile as we are lead to believe. I wonder how many missing cham cases end up like this one? I mean 5.5 months out on his own is bizarre!

The key thing to remember is that any creature can be considered "fragile" in the wrong habitat situation. If the animal is forced to live outside the environmental parameters it evolved to tolerate, its going to be fragile. This cham obviously found enough shelter, prey, pockets of humidity, and water to handle short periods of extreme weather. Remember they can go days without eating and can also handle brief cold snaps if they have shelter and can bask often enough. He was also wc, right? So he may have had a better chance to survive because he was "experienced". Anyway, a great story and a great ending!

 

[Carlton]

This reminds me of a call I got from the police while living in NJ. Someone reported "an alligator" in their woodpile and would someone go catch it. Being the local herp nut they called me. I showed up with a dog crate, towels, and heavy gloves and found a beautiful but terrified 5' mangrove monitor wedged under a log in their side yard. I'd never handled a monitor before, but how hard could it be if you use your brain? She ruled my guest bathroom while I tried to find her owner. I got a recent issue of Reptiles magazine and searched for monitor breeders in NJ. Sure enough, there was one about 5 miles away. Called and asked him if he was missing any. He just came unglued. He had imported 5 mangrove monitors months before and only 1 was female. She tore through a screen window and escaped over a month earlier. She had to cross an interstate, several busy roads, avoid dogs and ignorant homeowners with shovels or shotguns to reach that woodpile. The breeder worked at an Atlantic City casino. How bizarre to deliver a 5' lizard to the glittering casino's employee entrance! No I didn't get a monitor reward. Come to think of it I don't remember getting any chips either.

 

[Saldarya]

The key thing to remember is that any creature can be considered "fragile" in the wrong habitat situation. If the animal is forced to live outside the environmental parameters it evolved to tolerate, its going to be fragile. This cham obviously found enough shelter, prey, pockets of humidity, and water to handle short periods of extreme weather. Remember they can go days without eating and can also handle brief cold snaps if they have shelter and can bask often enough. He was also wc, right? So he may have had a better chance to survive because he was "experienced". Anyway, a great story and a great ending!

Good comments all around here. I will note that he is CBB. However, he does remain outside from March through October normally so the outside weather itself he was use to.

 

[jajeanpierre]

This reminds me of a call I got from the police while living in NJ. Someone reported "an alligator" in their woodpile and would someone go catch it. Being the local herp nut they called me. I showed up with a dog crate, towels, and heavy gloves and found a beautiful but terrified 5' mangrove monitor wedged under a log in their side yard. I'd never handled a monitor before, but how hard could it be if you use your brain? She ruled my guest bathroom while I tried to find her owner. I got a recent issue of Reptiles magazine and searched for monitor breeders in NJ. Sure enough, there was one about 5 miles away. Called and asked him if he was missing any. He just came unglued. He had imported 5 mangrove monitors months before and only 1 was female. She tore through a screen window and escaped over a month earlier. She had to cross an interstate, several busy roads, avoid dogs and ignorant homeowners with shovels or shotguns to reach that woodpile. The breeder worked at an Atlantic City casino. How bizarre to deliver a 5' lizard to the glittering casino's employee entrance! No I didn't get a monitor reward. Come to think of it I don't remember getting any chips either.

Great story!

 

[carol5208]

I need to change my signature to more like 35 panthers!



Hey Carol, I do have some weight records on him from the summer, so I will do some comparisons. I will also do a fecal and it will be interesting to see what that turns up with him having lived 'wild'. On a side note, he is probably close to 2 years old.

I am on Cham Central. Once I get him in and give him a good once over, I will share the tale on here as well as on CC. Aside from how cool this is and how utterly surprised I am of course, I think there are some things to learn here in regards to what they can handle in terms of weather and temps.

Thanks, that would be very interesting to see! Also, on the 35 panthers! OMG!!

 

[MantisFTW]

Update: Bobby has his Masoala back and I have this new beautiful beast!

Still cant decide on a name... considering Motley, Smudge, or anything new that comes up that I like. I like artsy names for chams lol.
He sure does have a big personality!! We are going to work on the manners.

 

[gotwqqd]

Update: Bobby has his Masoala back and I have this new beautiful beast!

Still cant decide on a name... considering Motley, Smudge, or anything new that comes up that I like. I like artsy names for chams lol.
He sure does have a big personality!! We are going to work on the manners.

Monet? Seurat?

 

[brownie64]

He is a real nice one. Great story where everyone made out. I'm happy for you!

 

[jannb]

Update: Bobby has his Masoala back and I have this new beautiful beast!

Still cant decide on a name... considering Motley, Smudge, or anything new that comes up that I like. I like artsy names for chams lol.
He sure does have a big personality!! We are going to work on the manners.

Congrats on your new boy. He is very handsome.

 

[DaChameleonKing]

Yay he was found!

 

[Lathis]

Dali? For the surreality of the whole situation? He's a beauty, btw.

 

[Mikesyring]

Nice congrats