Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday I took my vieled cham outside for some sun. I think it was the first time the sun had shone in New England since last summer. I put him in a small apple tree that is only about 4.5 feet tall. I stepped back so he would calm down and enjoy the sun. After a while of exploring the tree he climbed down and headed off. He was making a bee line for the nearby forest edge.

It was a good thing I kept an eye on him. He seems to have no inabitions about descending to the ground. And can he move when he wants to! I easily caught him but in just a few minutes he would have covered the 12 yards to the forest. I'd never find him then.

Be sure to keep an eye on any cham, no matter how slow you think it is unless it's in a cage. If I didn't watch mine he'd be gone now.

(I'm sure many of you know this. I thought it may be helpful for new owners.)

Brian

Brian,

well, he certainly would have surprised some of our forest dwellers! You are right about speed. Even my little cham's can be quick when they want to be! Where in New England are you? I'm in SE NH.

lele

>>Yesterday I took my vieled cham outside for some sun. I think it was the first time the sun had shone in New England since last summer. I put him in a small apple tree that is only about 4.5 feet tall. I stepped back so he would calm down and enjoy the sun. After a while of exploring the tree he climbed down and headed off. He was making a bee line for the nearby forest edge.
>>
>>It was a good thing I kept an eye on him. He seems to have no inabitions about descending to the ground. And can he move when he wants to! I easily caught him but in just a few minutes he would have covered the 12 yards to the forest. I'd never find him then.
>>
>>Be sure to keep an eye on any cham, no matter how slow you think it is unless it's in a cage. If I didn't watch mine he'd be gone now.
>>
>>
>>I'm sure many of you know this. I thought it may be helpful for new owners.)
>>
>>Brian
>>

Also, another good reason to keep an eye on your chameleon when he's out and about is threats from above. Someone I know lost his chameleon to an osprey when he put him on the lawn and went to get a drink, leaving the cham to his untimely doom.

-Brock

Brock - the guy must have been devastated! Did he see it happen? How very sad but a good point to folks taking their chams outside.

lele

>>Also, another good reason to keep an eye on your chameleon when he's out and about is threats from above. Someone I know lost his chameleon to an osprey when he put him on the lawn and went to get a drink, leaving the cham to his untimely doom.
>>
>>-Brock

What I have done is bought one of the cheap plastic screen cages to be used only for outside basking. There are no crickets in there or anything like that to chew through the cheap mesh. It's just a simple cage with a plant inside strictly for periods of outdoor sunning (to be honest, I picked this tip up from someone else in an earlier post).

In any event, it works great and there's no chance of being bird food or an escape. It's just about the only thing that those crappy, plastic cages are good for. Plus they are light for easy portability.

~MP
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4 Month Old Ambanja Male I - LESTER
4 Month Old Ambanja Male II - SHOGO

Shhhh southeastern MA. We're not sapossed to have chams.

Brian

For real??? You aren't allowed to own cham's up there? Why not and where else??? Poor things...

Kristen

Well, it made sense 15 years ago when they were all wild caught. The law protected dwindling wild populations. Today there is no reason that veileds and panthers should not be legal. I can't remember when I've seen a wild caught animal of either species. The laws have not caught up to the times.

Brian

i put mine into a bird cage when they are out, so they will not run away