The problem with free range....

ijmccollum

ijmccollum

New Member
.... they expect to do it all the time! I have several plants reserved for cham enrichment. They hang out in one till they decide the over there looks like a better view and off they go across the floor or whatever route seems better. When they are out everyone is advised to mind the underfoot, esp the hubsand who like to swing the golfclub periodically.

Mind you they are not allowed out at the same time as I am not prepared to breed. Yet they seek each other out. I am thinking of changing Sedgewicks name to roam-eo. He has just got to go see that Chi-Chi girl at all costs. He even tries to lunge out the door when I have it open for cleaning, etc.

Chi-Chi has been much more reserved but will visit his viv when given a chance. She will climb over and be content to gaze at him through the glass long periods of time.
 

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I have a male veiled and male panther and their cages or next to each other. I put up a barrier so they couldn't see each other and get stressed out. Though they do see each other when they're out on their "exercise" branches. However, this weekend I took down the barrier to see what would happen and at first the veiled puffed up and the panther didn't do anything. It's been two days and they are fine without the barrier and actually sit next to each other in their own cages. I think they are thinking......cool, I'm not the only lizard in the house. :D
 
draetish said:
I have a male veiled and male panther and their cages or next to each other. I put up a barrier so they couldn't see each other and get stressed out. Though they do see each other when they're out on their "exercise" branches. However, this weekend I took down the barrier to see what would happen and at first the veiled puffed up and the panther didn't do anything. It's been two days and they are fine without the barrier and actually sit next to each other in their own cages. I think they are thinking......cool, I'm not the only lizard in the house. :D
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That's kind of funny that you say that. I have two Veiled Chameleons one male and one female. I also, have to put up a sort of barrier so that they don't see each other. A few times I have removed the barrier just to see what happens. The first time I did it the female saw the male and puffed up really big and displayed her bright green colors while the male just sat there. The second time around the male unleashed all of his bight beautiful colors and did his "moon walk" mating dance. Pretty cool sight actually. But, I have no intentions of introducing the two together any time soon so for now the barrier stays up and there cages are now about 4 feel away from each other.
 
Mine have free range of the whole house and I have never had a problem nor has anyone in the free range club I am in along with many on this site. Mine are 100% free ranged I can see where a chameleon would have more curiosity if it was only out sometimes.
 
When you free range, how to you manage feeding? Like with crickets and such? Also do you lay anything down on the floor to clean up droppings?
 
There is just too much for them to get them selves into trouble at my house so they only free range under supervision. When no one is home, they go to their glass houses. And heck! Pete likes to get out too. No way is the beardie and chams going to be out at the same time.
 
i just started letting oscar, my veiled, free range in my room today, by leaving the door off of his cage and adding a vine from it to my hanging pothos in the window. he hasnt gone anywhere else other than the pothos.

my question is: if it gets too dry/warm/cold will he know to go back into his cage?
 
I tried free ranging a male veiled a few years back, didnt work. I would have to hunt him down every morning. It was no fun so back to the cage he went. Strange how some are content in the same spot and others want to see the world, but in opinion cages are the way to go. Safer and you know where your animal is.
 
I don't think free range is a good idea for;

A: a new keeper.... why? because it might be harder for that person to keep things right for the cham and not know what to look for when considering health issues. If the person is having an issue it might be hard for them to troubleshoot, even when asking for help.

B: small chams.... they can be harder to find if they do wander off....

C: baaaaad idea if you have any other pets... even fish. You really really need to make sure the house is cham proof.... or at least the room the cham stays in (and can't get out of).
 
summoner12 said:
I thought the way you worded your post, that it meant something that he had stayed in the free range a whole day. I guess I read into it wrong.
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Oh yeh i see what you mean, no i meant that he will stay in his free range without leaving ever and sometimes i will let him stay in it a whole day and he wont leave,

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT AN HOUR AGO HE DECIDED HE WAS GONNA EXPLORE AND I CAUGHT HIM JUST AS HE WAS CLIMBING OFF THE TREE ONTO THE FLOOR LOL
 
Yessabub said:
Oh yeh i see what you mean, no i meant that he will stay in his free range without leaving ever and sometimes i will let him stay in it a whole day and he wont leave,

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT AN HOUR AGO HE DECIDED HE WAS GONNA EXPLORE AND I CAUGHT HIM JUST AS HE WAS CLIMBING OFF THE TREE ONTO THE FLOOR LOL
Click to expand...

I take it he doesn't live in there..... lol If he stays all day... why not leave him in over night? The four melleri I have free ranging never leave... as in, go into cages. They all live 24/7 in the range.
 
If you set up your free range in a room that is cham safe you can limit their wandering by blocking the door with a smooth piece of board with the top edge just taller than they can reach. You can simply step over the board to get in. Works great!
 
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