Experiences of a life time...

[rey]

We've all have our own experiences and opportunities where we've been able to see, touch, and own certain animals that other people have only seen on t.v. So i find it somewhat of inspirational, when i talk to other breeders and they tell me about their experiences, and the animals that they've dealt with and so on. And it makes me want to go out and explore more.

So basically this thread is mainly me askin the members to share some of their experiences. Because if you truely think about it, wether you are a newbie or have been chasing reptiles since before you chased girls/boys.
We've been priveleged to experience some of the most inspiring moments, as well as some heartbreaking ones as well. And thats what makes everything we do worthwhile.

So let's share some experiences

[Salzy]

Are you just talking about keeping reptiles, or everything related like breeding, purchasing, selling, field herping, etc.?

I wouldn't even know how to start telling of the things I've seen and done. I can remember close to every pet that I've ever had, which creatures I had in which tanks, where I found herps in the field, who and where I have purchased animals from...It's just mind-boggling and impossible to just start talking about it all...

[rey]

id say for starter as in keeping and breeding reptiles..

[jackxc925]

Well, I get to live by the National Aquarium in Baltimore, so today I went and saw "frogs- a chorus of colors" which was amazing, and I also got to see the new "Animal Planet Australia" exhibit.

I also got to talk to a keeper who was going through and feeding the frogs. If you have never been to the aquarium, go!

[Chicubswally]

Rey,
I don't know if this is what you are looking for but thank you for allowing me to share this....

When I first became interested in keeping reptiles, I took a different approach. Instead of trying the basic animals, I struck out on a path to keep a few more difficult species. A friend in LA maintained an enclosure of Jackson chameleons. It was wonderful to watch these animals explore their environment, interact, and feed. What a great way to be a bit in touch with nature. Many years after this experience, I had the opportunity to obtain my own small group of chameleons- a group of 6 young veileds.
These veileds were all were growing nicely when after a couple of months, I saw an ad for dwarf chameleons- not 2.5 inches in length at adult size! How cool!

I place my order for a sexed pair and excitedly anticipated their arrival the next day. A 10 gallon tank was setup weeks before according to dwarf chameleon care sheets I found on the web. Instructions were given to my wife who would be accepting the package the next day.

Well, we waited and waited that Tuesday. They never showed up. This wouldn't be a huge problem normally but I live in Wisconsin and at that time, temperatures were a balmy 25 degrees! We called and called until we finally found out they were sitting in a delivery truck at the post office. Nothing we could do until they were delivered the next day! How horrifying! The expense meant nothing compared to the thought that these animals were suffering!

Wednesday finally came. I went to work and my wife and I expected the worse sometime that day. About mid-morning I received the call..... the package had arrived (we did ask if we could track down the truck before its normal route and we were flatly denied). My wife relayed the news. She opened the box and not surprisingly, the two little chameleons were on their sides- lifeless! I could hardly contain my anger and remorse. She went on that she opened the deli cup container and, feeling the moss they were kept on, was horrified that it was actually frozen stiff. She touched one of the two bodies and, to her surprise received movement from the animal! With nothing to lose, she picked up one, then the other and held them in her hands. She said she could actually feed the cold seeping out of their little bodies and into her hands. She gently held them another 10 minutes before checking on them again.

Slowly she opened one hand then the other. One of the dwarf chameleons looked up, then the other. They were both alive! Another 10 minute session and they both were able to stand up on their own. A third 10 minutes in her warming hands and they were able to walk out of her palm and onto her fingers.

As she was narrating these events I found myself almost disbelieving her words. I left work a little early that day to see this miracle myself. When I got a chance to finally see the animals, they were walking around the branches of the 10 gallon aquarium I had set up for them as though nothing special had happened to them the last 48 hours.

Oh, I did learn a valuable lesson about never shipping/receiving animals in cold weather.

I will always have a special place for these two survivors in my reptile keeping life.

[Koda]

WOW!! That is truly a miracle story. They must have been extremely lucky little chams.

[Salzy]

That is awesome Wally. What a great story.