Wow, sounds like you should teach us how you raised Diego...yes Chameleons and reptiles in general can amaze us with behaviors not noted in the wild. I myself had a type of skink once that would get out of her cage, and come chill outside near the open veiled cage to bask on some leaves...she would then run back to her cage when I came in the room and startled her...yes common enough behavior but still amazing. I would not stop keeping herps if I was you...anyways I know what is like to loose a buddy...when my skink died out of the blue I was dismayed also, but they do have shorter life spans and you can always raise a baby one once more.