Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When your first chameleon died, was it hard to get another? how long was it before you did? did you feel guilty as if you might have replaced your first chameleon?....

it was only a matter of a few weeks for me. i felt bad mainly because i think if i handleed it differently it the outcome may have ben different.

dennis

When he dies it will be very hard for me.
My third chameleon "Gala" died and that was quite hard for me. Since I have several it is not really a matter of replacing them. I will never be able to replace any of my chams. Love is infinate so you will never run out of room in your heart for any new pet and you will never forget your old ones. I would not feel guilty at all about wanting another chameleon. They are wonderful creatures and there is nothing wrong with wanting another one to love.

My first Cham "Mr Pokey" (vieled Male) was giving to me by my girl firend as a birthday present a loing while ago because she knew how badly i wanted to be the owner of one of these curious friendly creatures.. He died from MBD, and intestinal blockage, for the last 3 weeks of his live i had to force feed him nutri cal and calcium sumpliments, i feel so miserable because i feel like i killed him and im a terrible chameleon keeper. especially since i came home to him takining his last few short-deep breaths, and then had to burry him in the back yard underneath his favorite tree. I cant help that every time im out side having a beer that i remember the so many memories that i shared with my best friend -- the only person/thing that i could tell all my sercrets and problems to, and would just listen and not say a word. i miss him alot =/.

How long did you have him? Also if he had MBD I would do more research before getting a new one so you provide him the correct lighting and supplements to prevent that from happening again. Sometimes when chams get old they cannot absorb supplements like when they were young. There may not have been much you could do if he was very old. At this point don't beat yourself up about the past. You cant change it anyway just strive to improve the future.
Try reading some articles on www.chameleonjournals.com and ask lots of questions on this forum before getting a new one.
The forum members can help you with lighting, caging, feeding, supplements and any other questions you may have.
Try visiting lots of cham sites. I am sure other members will post good cham info sites if you post that as a question.
Good luck.

i had himd for 7 years, from what i understand an average vieled chame limes 6 years in captivaty....

Wow, he had a long life!
I'm really sorry.. i know how you feel. I've been having problems with my baby right now.. I'm sad about it, and she's only a year. If she makes it, i'll be heartbroken when she is ready to pass later on. Thats the problem with animals. They are so lovable and great, but they only live so long that there there is no way to avoid pain and loss. i think it's especially hard, because they are like our kids, and your kids aren't supposed to die before you do.. it's tough.
i hope you figure things out. You could even look into adopting a new lizzard. There are a few places out there that do this. That way you know you aren't "replacing" mr pokey and that you are helping an animal that needs a loving home. Let us know how things go!

He had a much longer life than many veileds have in the hands of new keepers! If you hadn't given him basically good care he would have lasted a few months at most. The fact that you are thinking back on what to do differently "next time" shows your compassion, and it will also probably tell you when the time is right for a new one. How long you wait to get another cham is completely up to you. If you find yourself visiting shops to see if they have any chams or start reading the classifieds you are getting ready. If the mere thought of seeing a cham hurts, you are not ready.

When my first chameleon died (thanx reptile D--pot) i tossed it out.
I bought another a few months later.
I didn't feel guilty at all.

n/p
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

what are you suppose to do with it?

dennis

We always bury our pets when they pass on.
If the ground is too frozen, then I keep the animal in the freezer until spring.

Larger animals like cats and dogs, we have cremated.

I'm not saying MY way is the right way. It just makes me and my children feel better to do it that way.
My parents always did it that way too, so I guess it's just what I am acustomed to.
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Kim

I don't think it really matters what someone does with the body. It DOES matter how someone handles the actual death of an animal. If you appreciated the animal and cared about it's wellbeing and cause of death that's the important thing. The way he said it was a bit callus and flippant, but I would care more about how long he had his cham, why it died, and his intentions for keeping one in the first place. If he saw his first cham merely as a temporary and disposable entertainment that would bother me more.

When George, my last remaining baby cham died, I actually held a "service" in the backyard when I buried him. If anyone ever dug up any of the backyards I have lived in, they would find animal bones from all the different pets I have had that passed on and had a burial.

I think I will use the Genius's agar agar recipe to bury my next pet in. (JK Lele...chew no I luffs chu mang!)
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

bring it to a vet. My vet will dispose of the body in a proper manner. I would never just "chuck it". We've also buried some of our animals or cremation is not all that expensive. The way you put your post seemed a little off. As if you could care less about these beautiful creatures. I don't really care about who you are, or what you do. I just find it humorous how someone who sounds so immature can try to have a valid opinion on anything.
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

I hope you don't think i give a blank what you think.. That's right your still trying to figure out how to TAME a chameleon. Oh wait or was it how to make others think. Try it you might like it.. Sorry the thread was disrupted but this guy/girl wanted to communicate to my lack of compassion for the Jackson..
Like i said next time i'll gather all the local chameleons and have a real nice service.. Cv u r a joke..

I'm glad you get so much amusement out of attempting to insult or degrade someone on a reptile forum. I'm sure your parents are proud to have such a mouthy little brat of a child. Honestly you and that compasscreek character should get together, you both have so much in common. When you get out of high school, I'm sure you'll have a bright future ahead of you. Also, if you don't care what I think, how is it that every time I post a comment, that doesn't seem to sit right with you...you post something obnoxious or insulting back...funny, I usually thought when people didn't care they just let it go.

PS: Sorry that I happen to care about my animals when they pass away, I didn't know that was wrong. You might want to seek counciling or go for your annual check-up with your doctor. It seems you might be angry living at home with mommy and daddy and somehow you are filtering that anger through these forums.

Go ahead, post something else insulting, that last comment about me being a joke really hit me hard...
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

I'm glad you get so much amusement out of attempting to insult or degrade someone on a reptile forum. I'm sure your parents are proud to have such a mouthy little brat of a child. Honestly you and that compasscreek character should get together, you both have so much in common. When you get out of high school, I'm sure you'll have a bright future ahead of you. Also, if you don't care what I think, how is it that every time I post a comment, that doesn't seem to sit right with you...you post something obnoxious or insulting back...funny, I usually thought when people didn't care they just let it go.

PS: Sorry that I happen to care about my animals when they pass away, I didn't know that was wrong. You might want to seek counciling or go for your annual check-up with your doctor. It seems you might be angry living at home with mommy and daddy and somehow you are filtering that anger through these forums.

Go ahead, post something else insulting, that last comment about me being a joke really hit me hard...
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I'm not going to comment on your parents as i don't know them.
I posted in response to original poster and feel no need to lie to make you feel better.
Please point out where i insulted you in this post. Ohh your still upset because i replied when you asked how to tame a chameleon.
Read where i mentioned you in my reply in this post. Thought so it was you who made the funny reply to me.
I'm glad you feel emotional about how i dispose of my reptiles. Let me see, bury him outside so the local cats can dig him up and feast, hmm great idea..
If you feel the need to take to the vet and have cremated that's your choice i don't knock it. So why worry about how i dispose of mine.
Reread this thread and point out to me where i said one thing about you (and you are?).
Can't find it, thought so.
Interesting how someone is a teenager and lives at home when they disagree with another..
By Chris..

I'm a teenager??? News to me...I must be living inside a 27 year old's body, with a wife and a home of my own.

You didn't mention my name in the thread?? What does that have to do with anything?? You posted a message connecting off of my thread and made random references to things that I have posted in the past. You also referred to me as a joke...(don't know where you come from but around here calling someone a joke is probably considered an insult) and in the same sentance left my name off as cv...which are my initials...I really don't understand you. You don't make a whole hell of a lot of sense and your attempts to sound witty or clever are really pathetic. You are clearly a child with nothing better to do than excercise your low level, uneducated criticism through a keyboard and the internet.

I could continue these endless, immature debates with you forever, but this will be my last post to you...so good luck with your animals and the next time you have a little funeral for a chameleon, be sure to invite mine out to attend.
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

As long as you've done your job taking care of the chameleon, and you can honestly say you gave him/her a good life, then its nothing to feel bad about. At first I felt bad when my chameleon died, but when I thought back, I realized she had a great life.

I'm mentally preparing myself for the day my dogs die by doing everything I can for them while they are alive. In the end when they do die, I want to be able to have peace of mind that they were happy while they were with me.

How much did that fella cost ya?

i had a 7 year old jackson female