Heika
New Member
I decided to make some changes to my 65 gallon tank that houses 6 leaf chameleons today. I wanted to mix in some new organic soil, scrape the glass, add some more dried leaves, etc. Anyhow, it was going to be a couple hour job, and I didn't want the chams to be in the tank while I did it. So, I took all 6 out and put them in a box with some twigs, loosely closed the flaps on the box and taped it shut. Then, for extra safety, I put the box in the bathroom and turned out the light. There isn't a window in that bathroom, so I really expected that they would just fall asleep.
I went about my remodeling chores, and after I added the dirt, I wanted to wet it down real well. So, I went into the bathroom and filled a watering can in the bathtub, and then turned to leave the bathroom. And felt something under my foot as I headed to the door, followed by a small squeek noise. In my home, with dogs and cats, it is instictive to not step down all the way when you feel something under your foot, because you never know when it might be a tail or, even worse, a hair ball. My heart jumped when the thought crossed my mind that it could be a chameleon, and then just as quickly, I dismissed the thought. They were safely in their box. Nope. It was a chameleon. A particularly adventerous and active female that I am very fond of.
As I stared at my socked foot in horror, I realized she was completely flat. Like, Wiley Coyote just got squished by a rock flat. And, she was squirming, clinging/stuck to my sock. I carefully removed her, and she sat on my hand, her rib cage and abdomen completely compressed. She turned nearly white, and I thought for sure she was a goner. But, after a few minutes, she just... uncompressed. Just, sort of rounded back out. I checked her over very carefully, and it looks like she has a bruised tail and side. I have watched her for a couple of hours now, and she seems fine with those exceptions. She is safely back in the tank now, and has roamed from one end to the other.
I still am amazed that she managed to get out of the box, made it to the bathroom floor from the counter, to the area over by the door, all in the dark. I am even more amazed that she seems nearly unaffected by being stepped on. If I had been wearing shoes, she would be quite dead right now.
Heika
I went about my remodeling chores, and after I added the dirt, I wanted to wet it down real well. So, I went into the bathroom and filled a watering can in the bathtub, and then turned to leave the bathroom. And felt something under my foot as I headed to the door, followed by a small squeek noise. In my home, with dogs and cats, it is instictive to not step down all the way when you feel something under your foot, because you never know when it might be a tail or, even worse, a hair ball. My heart jumped when the thought crossed my mind that it could be a chameleon, and then just as quickly, I dismissed the thought. They were safely in their box. Nope. It was a chameleon. A particularly adventerous and active female that I am very fond of.
As I stared at my socked foot in horror, I realized she was completely flat. Like, Wiley Coyote just got squished by a rock flat. And, she was squirming, clinging/stuck to my sock. I carefully removed her, and she sat on my hand, her rib cage and abdomen completely compressed. She turned nearly white, and I thought for sure she was a goner. But, after a few minutes, she just... uncompressed. Just, sort of rounded back out. I checked her over very carefully, and it looks like she has a bruised tail and side. I have watched her for a couple of hours now, and she seems fine with those exceptions. She is safely back in the tank now, and has roamed from one end to the other.
I still am amazed that she managed to get out of the box, made it to the bathroom floor from the counter, to the area over by the door, all in the dark. I am even more amazed that she seems nearly unaffected by being stepped on. If I had been wearing shoes, she would be quite dead right now.
Heika