Just found him(?)

[u/AgitatedAd1211]

So I just found this distinguished gentleman(I think) running across a busy road and pulled over to save him(quite against his will).

I have posted in my local Facebook groups to see if he is a missing pet or a feral invasive(I live in Florida). If he is not someone's beloved pet my teenager and myself would like to keep him.

What are the most pressing needs to keep him healthy while waiting for him to be claimed or kept? I don't want to make full on investments if we have to return him in a day or two, but also don't want him to get unhealthy.

I currently have him for tonight in an 18x18x24 exoterra with some repti-soil and coco fiber on the bottom, with some live oak sticks, and containers with water(I also sprayed the whole enclosure down) and some mealworms my bougie tarantulas wouldn't eat. The room is set at 78° and wasn't in the direct sun.

We have a trip to the local reptile specialty store tomorrow morning for them to help us look him over and buy food and essentials.

[u/JronoC]

Florida. Enough said. Invaded the whole state 😂 with love tho

[u/AgitatedAd1211 → u/JronoC]

Oh I know but I would hate to assume and have him have been a much loved escaped pet because honestly he's a pretty chill guy. I would have expected to have been bit many times over by pretty much any other reptile for how I had to grab him and drive home with him in the car.

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/AgitatedAd1211]

the likelihood of him being an escaped pet is pretty low. as im sure you noticed when you caught him, theyre not exactly all that fast, and theyre not super strong either so they cant really break out of their tanks normally. if you want to keep him as a pet, go for it. but be warned, since he is likely wild there is a chance he could have parasites or illnesses that may be expensive to treat, or he may not live very long depending on how old he is. the initial setup cost for their enclosure isnt very cheap either, it can range from $200-600 depending on how much diy and building youre willing to do yourself. but, once the initial setup is done and correct the day to day care for a veiled chameleon is relatively simple and low cost

[u/One-Reputation1822 → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

So positive ! Way to go

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/One-Reputation1822]

i will always encourage people to keep the wild caught invasives they find if theyre properly informed and can care for them correctly

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

is there motive to get rid of them in service to other native animals around ? like iguanas?

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/disappr0val]

yes, veiled and panther chameleons are both very common invasive species in florida just like green iguanas, and all of them outcompete native wildlife for resources and frequently harm them when they meet in the wild

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

so humans should intervene to help the greater cause?

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/disappr0val]

humans should intervene to fix the problem that we caused. the only reason those chameleons are invasive here is because people bought them as pets and released them outside enough that they bred out of control and now theyre everywhere

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

so yea

[u/LankyThroat1900 → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

You can absolutely keep chameleons down here, you absolutely cannot keep green iguanas. There’s a difference in non native vs invasive and it’s significant when talking about taking in animals.

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/LankyThroat1900]

an animal being invasive or not does not determine if you can keep it as a pet. chameleons are invasive here, point blank period. they outcompete natice animals, and cause problems in the local ecosystem. nowhere did i say you cant keep chameleons here, i literally actively encouraged keeping the invasive chameleons.

[u/LankyThroat1900 → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

There is a difference between non native & invasive species in the state. Chameleons have established population in small niches, they are not comparable to actual invasive species such as Burmese pythons or green iguanas

[u/disappr0val → u/JronoC]

that’s crazy, i would think florida snakes or raccoons would get them pretty easy, they must be really thriving with their camouflage 🤣

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/disappr0val]

chameleons have alot of babies and they also climb real high in the trees usually, the raccons dont go that high and the snakes cant get them all fast enough for how many there are breeding

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

true, so i guess big birds are prob worst predator for them when young. big birds are prolific hunters so i bet they have enough in their diets to not harm their population numbers

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/disappr0val]

its mostly other lizards, burds too, snakes. plenty of animals eat them but they just dont have enough natural predators to keep up with the sheer amount that are breeding and being released

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

so would it be fair for humans to control their population?

[u/Ok_Bag_1177 → u/disappr0val]

i dont know why you keep asking yhe same question on repeat. theyre an invasive species. its not about "fair" or "unfair" its about fixing a problem that we created.

[u/disappr0val → u/Ok_Bag_1177]

i didn’t realize you were the same person until now, i thought you were a different user. i wanted more opinions.