Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am asked this question by many people...including family members, friends, and co-workers...some people can't understand why anyone would want to own something that isn't "furry" and "full of personality"...

I think it is mostly because the majority of people have never been exposed to animals as beautiful, ancient, unusual, and amazing as reptiles.

We find our reptiles have very much personality. We are happy to take care of each one of them as well as observe and learn from their behavior.

So...why do others in this forum own reptiles...and what might you say to someone who would ask such a question...

Our little guy is growing up....*sniff"

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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
E-mail Me
1.3.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.3.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.7.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas
1.1.0 Savannah Monitors

I do not know why I im interested in reptiles??????

There cute though

I simply tell them: "Spend some time with a turtle or a chameleon and then ask yourself that question". I have always liked chams because they are so strange that theyre mesmerizing. I can sit and watch my jacksons for hours and see some new mannerism everytime. My male Jackson is a total ham. Chomp, my Veiled is so bold and aggressive at his small size that it's great to watch him coming around to trusting me.

Anyway....I have had friends come stay with me for a week that arrive being grossed out by my herps and leave wanting some of their own...gotta love that!

incidentally...I dont dislike Chris....I just find his approaches to discussions counter-productive to helping out most of the time....Chris..remember..there are a lot of beginners that read this board that dont post. They dont know the benefits of UVB and stuff yet and can take your posts to be "THE WORD OF AUTHORITY" because they can save some money.

Word to the Wise: "THINK BEFORE YOU POST!"
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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

I did explain previously in other posts that providing D3 supplements to chameleons is still a practice that is studied very little. There is next to no information about supplementation for them. I was posting for the opinions, and thoughts of experianced keepers and breeders as well as to find out if anyone else has tried or tested the effects of supplementation.

It seems I got a lot more than opinions and thoughts...certain people go so far as to attempt to ridicule me via the internet. (Oh, I'm so heartbroken that anyone would do such a thing) I think some of the people on this forum need to grow up a little bit, be more open minded, criticise less, and suggest more.

Just my opinion, of course according to many people on this forum I am probably wrong. But that's ok, regardless of what people think, I am educated, (more than some ever will be) experianced, and I make money breeding and selling reptiles on the side (even though it seems more like a full time job sometimes)...something that many try and fail with. We provide (in our opinion) the best possible captive care to our ability. (again some will argue this...but until they've actually seen our operation...I find it hard to believe they can make such judgements.)

Either way, you are probably right in the statement that I should watch what I am posting or perhaps note in the text of the post that it is not safe...etc

But regardless, thanks for your opinion and you have a nice collection on your hands.
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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
E-mail Me
1.3.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.3.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.7.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas
1.1.0 Savannah Monitors

>>Just my opinion, of course according to many people on this forum I am probably wrong. But that's ok, regardless of what people think, I am educated, (more than some ever will be) experianced, and I make money breeding and selling reptiles on the side (even though it seems more like a full time job sometimes)...something that many try and fail with. We provide (in our opinion) the best possible captive care to our ability. (again some will argue this...but until they've actually seen our operation...I find it hard to believe they can make such judgements.)

Chris,

I don't have a hatefull attitude towards you. Please read my comments and try to understand how many of us feel.

Your above paragraph is just why you get cheap shots taken at you. Your comment as to your education and "more than some will ever be" is not what people want to hear. It comes across as your better than they are and your putting them down.

Some of your post have some valid and good information in them. However, this gets forgotten when you posts convey a better than others attitude. Please think about what your saying here. You are entitled to your opinion, but not using it to put others down. I am sure as your schooling continues, you will have lots of valuable infomation to share with others. Nothing stands still as we learn more about chameleons/reptiles.

Just a note to the person trying to post as you. Find something else to do, most of us find it in poor taste.

Yosemite

I am in no way attempting to offend you or any others who simply are posting to help and assist in aiding others move their chameleon learning experiance forward.

Who I was trying to offend were the people who seem to get a satisfaction from posting immature, and childish comments about myself and the way our set-up is run...

Either way, I'm done with replying tho those posts...it only continues to fuel their stupidity.
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Chris Vanderwees
REPTILE SALES AND INFORMATION
E-mail Me
1.3.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.3.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.7.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Green Iguanas
1.1.0 Savannah Monitors

Hi Chris,

The other half here...
To be honest, I have gotten very irritated with those mocking posts. Not only do I agree that they are immature and useless - but they are very counterproductive to the purpose of this forum. If that person (or persons) put as much energy into trying to help someone - we might actually see more positive action on this board.

IMHO, you are entitled to your opinions (just as every citizen is), and your approach to keeping chameleons. I feel that there is still so much we really don't know about keeping them in captivity for long term.

However, as my hubby stated - you often manage to come across with a certain arrogance. This medium of communication is not the best for conveying emotion, as we rely on hearing it in spoken words. All I can suggest is that you re-read your words before posting, as sometimes the message may be altered with a few minor changes.

Another point: I certainly agree that many of the books we have available concerning chameleons contain outdated information, and I sorely wish someone would step up and edit them. This problem isn't exclusive to books on chameleons, however, it spans many species of reptiles.

Here's hoping we can all learn together,
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>>Hi Chris,
>>
>>The other half here...
>>To be honest, I have gotten very irritated with those mocking posts. Not only do I agree that they are immature and useless - but they are very counterproductive to the purpose of this forum. If that person (or persons) put as much energy into trying to help someone - we might actually see more positive action on this board.
>>
>>IMHO, you are entitled to your opinions (just as every citizen is), and your approach to keeping chameleons. I feel that there is still so much we really don't know about keeping them in captivity for long term.
>>
>>However, as my hubby stated - you often manage to come across with a certain arrogance. This medium of communication is not the best for conveying emotion, as we rely on hearing it in spoken words. All I can suggest is that you re-read your words before posting, as sometimes the message may be altered with a few minor changes.
>>
>>Another point: I certainly agree that many of the books we have available concerning chameleons contain outdated information, and I sorely wish someone would step up and edit them. This problem isn't exclusive to books on chameleons, however, it spans many species of reptiles.
>>
>>Here's hoping we can all learn together,
>>-----
>>
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

No Lele,

I hadn't noticed.
Thanks for mentioning it.
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Hi everyone: It seems somehow, I stumbled into a misunderstanding. My post from this thread got removed, and it concerned me because I didn't want my intent to be misunderstood or be lumped in with the Chris Imposter person. I really wished to convey that I appreciated everyone who tried to present info and I wanted everyone to continue in the joint effort here to better Chameleon's lives in our keeping. I was very concerned because of how heated everything got and I just felt the need to express my gratitude to Chris for the offer of his info even though it really stirred everything up. For what its worth, I am not at all affiliated with the Chris Imposter. I am a new Cham keeper coming over from the Dart forums and have loved herps for 20 so years. I look forward to learning from all of you and apologize if somehow I was misunderstood. There was no mockery in my posts, in fact, I was saddened to see the imposters misrepresentations of Chris. I would be heart broken if such acts would cause a resource like this to be no longer available. If anyone here would like to know more about me, I would gladly introduce myself in the full over email. Perhaps the post was just removed because I thought the Imposter was Chris and the entire thread was confused. At any rate, I am very glad to be amongst you all. Maggie Chen, San Gabriel, CA

I think that they have personality although I don't think it's innate it depends on their life experience. I have a male veiled I raised since he was a few weeks old I handled him everyday and thus he is not stressed out by people. If you open his cage he reaches for you he is not even afraid of going to the vet he'll just sit on my shoulder and submit to the exam staying calm the whole time. He used to get mad at mirrors but now he knows it's just himself and doesn't get mad. I have a female veiled who had a very tramatic shipping experience and as soon as I enter the room she hides so I almost never handle her. I've also had a very agressive male who would bite me when ever I put my hand in his cage.

However, I don't think they are very smart they don't question their existence or situation. They want to survive at all cost they are not bogged down by human emotions and therefore are much happier, simpler, and fascinating. I know if he was 500X bigger he would most likely eat me, but I don't take it personally. He is just nature personified and unmuddled by primate values, concerns, and weakness. I think chameleons are the most beautiful organism on the planet I am planing on having eschers work with the chameleons in space tattooed on my back. Except I want the chameleons to be calyptratus and i want one to be holding a key to his cage in his tail.

Back to the original reason for the post...

I find all animals fascinating because they have hundreds of ways of dealing with their environment. They don't whine or complain, they adapt and deal with it unlike humans. I find beauty in adaptation that works. Form follows function. I like finding out why an individual creature looks and behaves as it does as it opens my world to far away places. As a result of seeing (and keeping) herps or other exotics I care more about the fate of the earth and can make more informed decisions about how to help other cultures preserve their ecosystems intact.