| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/27/2004 : 22:09:19
Well, some of you may know I'm into reptiles, especially chameleons. I've been away from them for a few years but now that I've bought a house I decided to get back into them. After a lot of research as well as searching for the species I wanted to take on, I (against my own personal opinions on them) went with wild caught chameleons.
The first thing I'd like to do is retract the thrashing I gave a forum member that made some comment about us chameleon people disgusting her, and us being the reason for chameleons endangement. I would like to appologize. You were apparently right. Your reaction and the way you made your comments were out of line though, and that was why I ripped you up. I must admit that you were onto something though.
Although I tore her apart and have since never seen her post anything, I have come to realize that things seem to have changed in the pet trade. I am horrified at what I am seeing, when reading about chameleons go through by the time they make it to the pet store.http://www.skypoint.com/members/mikefry/wildcaughthealth.html
That being said I still got some wild caught chameleons. I searched and searched for this species captive bred, but they are few and far between. There are a few breeders but they are with out chameleons at this point. http://calumma.com/ Not to mention that they would have been from the same bloodline.
Ends up that this particular kind is even tough to find wild caught. After quite a while calling and searching I find a guy that has just gotten some in. I purchased 2 males and 2 females. They were shipped yesterday via UPS from Florida and I recieved them at ten this morning at my door.
I was horrified with the way they were packed. They were in a box that, once opened, had a styrofoam container inside. Inside of that was a cool pack wrapped in newspaper on top of a bunch more newspaper, Under that, was four deli cups with holes, and inside each one of those were the chameleons. The boxes had four holes as well but I really can't see how much air was getting in there.
Once I opened the cups and got a look in, the chameleons were not looking good. They were lying inside the cups curled up on a bunched up paper towel. When I took them out they were really out of it.
The first thing I did was work on getting them hydrated. I put them on this large potted ficus tree I had just gotten and hung the hose off of a branch with it set on a fine mist. I left that on for over two hours and they all drank and started to become active.
I have a little male that looks good and ate just before sleeping. I have a little female that looks good. I have a slightly larger male that has a skin abraision on his lower jaw and is pretty lethargic (not good). I have a female of about the same size that is active and showing good coloration but sits with her mouth open for no reason(really not good). This is probably the start of a respiratory infection.
This could end up being a very sad undertaking. Wild caught chameleons are very fragile. Once they start showing signs of something being wrong, it's usually too late.
I have intentions of breeding them otherwise I would have stayed away from wild caught. I don't feel proud about supporting what's going on with them in the pet trade. I hope to be able to reduce the need for that to continue. If they can be bred on a regular basis eventually that is all you'll see in the pet stores. This is what has happened with Vields, Jackson's, and Panthers. They say this species will probably be the next readily available, so I'm hoping to facilitate that.
I'm not looking to make money either. Generally, by the time you actually get them old enough to sell, you've spent more than you'll make.
I'm not sure why I've felt the need to tell you all this. I guess I was just looking to start an interesting topic.
Here's a link to the type I have. Click on the photo's underneath as well.
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/icham/icham.php?The_Species=Chamaeleo%20Trioceros%20deremensis
http://www.chamresearch.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=30
Crouton, if I manage to breed these I'm hookin' you up.
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/31/2004 : 18:39:33
quote:
Originally posted by KimStanleyRobinson
I leave my porch light on all night.
My cat spends most of his nights hanging around the front of the house devouring whatever unfortunate insects he can get his paws on.
For some reason he isn't smart enough to catch spiders in the house.
I shall try to train perhaps.
Watching a chameleon eat is VERY cool. When they move, they shake like they're nervous, but my buddy told me they do that to emulate the wind shaking the trees...or something like that. You'd be surprised how large a cricket they can take down.
I've wanted to mention that we have a turtle.
Box turtles can live for like 60 years.
Our turtle is little.
It shall be free someday...either that or my 6 year old son will take the damn thing to college with him. I actually kinda like 'her'. She seems to know that I am the one that feeds her...sort of.
Has anyone ever known any reptile to have any kind of personality at all? They seem to be rather 'brainstem' to me...which isn't bad...just different from the usual furry pets with cute faces we're all used to.
...and the crowd goes MILD...
For the most part that's true.
I've obseved interesting behavior from my Caiman as well as an iguana I had. I did notice that my veild chameleon prefered to be on me as opposed to strangers.
The Caiman (Angus, then Agnes, once I realized she was a she) was freaking out when I moved. It was it's first new enviroment since being little. After walking all over my new apartment all day trying to figure out what was going on, it was in the living room going from wall to wall and I was on the couch kind of stressing about her. She turned, looked at me, walked over and climbed onto the couch with me. Yes, she was pretty big.
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| KimStanleyRobinson |
Posted - 08/30/2004 : 16:39:15
I leave my porch light on all night.
My cat spends most of his nights hanging around the front of the house devouring whatever unfortunate insects he can get his paws on.
For some reason he isn't smart enough to catch spiders in the house.
I shall try to train perhaps.
Watching a chameleon eat is VERY cool. When they move, they shake like they're nervous, but my buddy told me they do that to emulate the wind shaking the trees...or something like that. You'd be surprised how large a cricket they can take down.
I've wanted to mention that we have a turtle.
Box turtles can live for like 60 years.
Our turtle is little.
It shall be free someday...either that or my 6 year old son will take the damn thing to college with him. I actually kinda like 'her'. She seems to know that I am the one that feeds her...sort of.
Has anyone ever known any reptile to have any kind of personality at all? They seem to be rather 'brainstem' to me...which isn't bad...just different from the usual furry pets with cute faces we're all used to.
...and the crowd goes MILD... |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 08/30/2004 : 15:01:17
quote:
Originally posted by pfeffa
cats eat spiders! I taught my "kids" how to hunt. I haven't seen a spider indoors in a year...they must be earning their keep!
Give me a smile...and aren't you having fun?
Cool! I love cats so much.
_________________________________________________________
Live every day as if it were your last. Eventually you'll be right
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| TheCroutonFuton |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 23:18:23
Ack, that's horrible! I'm glad they're doing better, though.
I really would like to have a chameleon as a pet..but hearing stuff like this all of the time really gives me second thoughts. I only want to take care of them if they'd be happy, you know? If they'd be happier in the wild I'd rather them be there. Whenever I'm in a pet store I always have the urge to "save" the poor animals that are stuck in the small cages because I know for a fact that they'd be happier with me..But they'll just get more "shipments" in..(Such a horrible word to use for animals, I think..) It's all very tough.
Do you feel they're happier with you than they would be in the wild, KoK?
(I'd take you up on your offer if you think I'd be able to care for them properly and keep them happy, hehe.)
"Freedom is a state of mind and the condition and position of your ass. Free your mind and your ass will follow." - Funkadelic |
| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:34:26
quote:
Originally posted by pfeffa
Is reptilemax.com a reputable site?
Do you mean reptileMART? I was not impressed. Most huge reptile distributers disturb me. I prefer finding someone that specializes in the particular breed you are looking for, and dealing with them. If you wanted to buy a really nice Bulldog would you get in the car and go down to Petco? No. You would try to find a breeder that delt with those particular animals.
I was in Petco the other day and the place depresses me. When I was young I used to think I'd love to have a pet store. I've come to realize it would be very hard to be a true lover of animals, and make a living off of selling them to strangers.
If anyone here is seriously considering getting into any reptile, I am willing to help them with any info. I hqave quite a bit of experience and have read a million books. I have good connections for supplies as well.
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| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:19:05
quote:
Originally posted by pfeffa
That's the best phone ever! I just threw my cellular phone in the trash!
KOK-
Chameleons are really cute. Now I want one, too--how can you get one that hasn't been abused and mistreated and dehydrated? Maybe you can start your own colony of chameleons and only let nice people adopt them in person, instead of through the mail. It must be very upsetting to be a little cute green thing with aspirations of eating delicious bugs and hanging out in a tree--but then, a big monster human stuffs you in a box without food or water for days and you almost suffocate.
The deal is to buy captive bred. If I wasn't trying to breed them i would never have bought these. Even if I had to over night CB chameleons in the mail they would be fine.
They are doing well by the way. I'm concerned about the larger male but each day they seem better. I have a seven foot ficus tree set up to take inside or out. They seem stoked to be hanging on this most of the day. I bet I could leave them on this all thew time but they're out side day and night right now. i'm afraid an opossum will eat them.
Even though they look cute...Survival is their reality
Even when you're a chameleon
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| floop |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 11:10:22
quote:
Originally posted by glacial906
floop, have you lost a few IQ points in the past few days? You're speaking like Captain Caveman.
i hungry. i go eat now
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 06:55:14
death to the bugs, do they eat spiders? If so i'll have me a chameleon a-roaming round my flat, bah chinchillas, they don't eat spiders, reptiles are way cute
the room smelled like cupids gym
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| Bryan Shepherd |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 04:19:12
After weighing all my options, I decided to get a store-bought Karma Chameleon Phone. Everyone loves it...dads, moms, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins of any degree, door-to-door salesmen, burgulars, and the pizza guy. No luck getting them to breed, though.
http://www.starpecker.com/movies/karma30sec.mpg
Call me again!
 I'm the guy from wonderland...& you will never understand... |
| glacial906 |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 22:09:45
floop, have you lost a few IQ points in the past few days? You're speaking like Captain Caveman.
|
| floop |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 14:16:32
quote:
Originally posted by The King Of Karaoke
I guess it depends on the species, but in captivity they tend to live longer. Hopefully five to eight years.
that seem like pretty long
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 13:51:22
chinchillas live 15 years dontchaknow
the room smelled like cupids gym
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| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 13:36:18
quote:
Originally posted by floop
how long to chameleons live for?
What country are you from? I can barely understand you!
I guess it depends on the species, but in captivity they tend to live longer. Hopefully five to eight years.
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| floop |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 10:57:42
how long to chameleons live for?
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
| The King Of Karaoke |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 09:58:50
I understand why you'd say that.
I came across that detailed article on what they go through, after my purchase. I was looking for info to be able to assess their health once I recieved them, but got more info than I expected. I had heard they go through hell but that article really lays it out in detail.
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http://www.geocities.com/j_vaughn/bigfoot.html
Have you looked into the eye's of a RankStranger?
If you have you will never forget that moment!
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|
| darwin |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 00:45:57
quote:
Originally posted by The King Of Karaoke
That being said I still got some wild caught chameleons. I searched and searched for this species captive bred, but they are few and far between. There are a few breeders but they are with out chameleons at this point. http://calumma.com/ Not to mention that they would have been from the same bloodline.
Ends up that this particular kind is even tough to find wild caught.
I don't really understand how with what you knew how you could justify going ahead and supporting the trade of an "endangered" or "threatened" species. |
