Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i posted earlyer about my interest in getting a veiled, they have interested me for some time now. however, there is something i might have overlooked. i will be living in my fraternity's house next year. now i know that i will be keeping my door locked so people do not mess with him, my parrot, or my timor monitor; however, i understand chameleon's are quite a bit more sensitive. my concerns are these: loud music from parties, hookah smoke in the room (we tend to do this a lot, and i know it will be in my room, also just to clarify cuz people are ignorant, there is no marijuana in hookah tobacco), and lastly i'm up late. i don't know if there are any things i might not have thought of, but i would really appreciate a response to these concerns. though i really want a chameleon, i would rather have a happy one or none at all.
thanks
-jake

Hi Jake,
Yes, chameleons are more sensitive then many other reptiles. If purchasing a veiled (Baby, Juvie, or Adult) You must provide adequete caging, have time on your hands to feed, shower, and generally take care of your chameleon. Chameleons are very sensitive to their air intake, and under NO circumstances should there be any hookah smoke or any other drugs...ect. Sorry to sound harsh, but chameleons arent the easiest to care for.

If you have room to provide a screen cage, UVB lighting, ect...then thats great. Veileds grow very fast, and chameleon cages are expensive to upgrade and replace (I remember how tight my budget was when I was in college) They also prefer a quiet room, so they will not become stressed.

If you could provide all of this for your chameleon, he/she would be happy and healthy. If not, dont hesitate to prolong your chameleon purchase, for you want a happy chameleon, right?
Thanks so much, good luck with your decision!
Michele

Seriously, I would be more worried about my parrot! Birds are VERY sensitive to chemicals that are airborne and have died from something as simple as leaving non-stick cookware on the stove. They used canaries in mines as early warning of fumes (the canaries dropped dead & everyone evacuated). So I'd re-think the smoking in your room thing... not even sure what that is, but it can't be good for you either

JMHO

-Bonnie

I am going to be a junior in college so maybe you can relate.

I am not in a frat, however.

I live in a townhouse with 2 roommates. I keep my chameleon in my room, with a ficus tree in the living room for when I want to get him out and put him on the ficus (he has a schefflera in his tree and I think he enjoys all the branches of the ficus on occasion)! My roommates are very respectful of him, so if you considered doing this at all I would definitely talk to every single brother.

I would also definitely makes sure to lock him in your room whenever you weren't in there. Frat brothers and other people in a frat house can be real assholes.... and there is a possibility one could get ahold of your chameleon (intoxicated or not) and not treat it right in some way... from stressing him out to even teasing or abusing him.

As far as noise goes..my chameleon (and I've heard many other people say this) is OUT after he falls asleep. The only thing that will wake him up is light. Many timse I am up very late in my room on the computer or playing semi-loud games...I don't think he minds..as long as he is asleep first. My roommates don't even think he has ears! (...Chameleons do have ears, right?..)

Anway, if we have friends over or have a party or play poker I always leave him in my room. No one bothers him up there.

After saying all this I woudl personally not get one. I think a frat house is just too dangerous of territory (a dorm also). If you had your own house or apartmnet, then I would say go for it.

It is your decision. I know I am skeptical and critical of frat houses. They have never interested me and the whole concept and mentality just annoys me. I would hate to live with 20 obnoxious guys... UGH.

Hope this helped, although I don't think it did!!

I go to Kansas Universitiy btw.
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1.0 Baby Sunburst Veiled Chameleon -- Dexter

reading all of this kind of confirmed exactly what i was thinking, though i want one, its just not the right time (and yes, i was planning on keeping the door locked, though i'm pretty sure most bros wouldnt mess with my stuff. they wouldnt like the consequences) guess i'll get one when im more settled down and dont host as many parties (that's gonna take a while). anyways, thanks a lot, guess i'll come back here when i get one. as for the bird, i also appreciate the concern, i'm pretty sure the hookah smoke won't really be too much of a bother since the toxins in hookah smoke are few and far between (its actualy more the molasses than the tobacco that is smoked and it is .5% nicotine 0% tar) but i am about to research that a bit more now.
thanks again guys
-jake

p.s. anyone here have crested gecko experiences? seems like an awsome lizard as well (though really, which one isn't?)