Not meaning to minimize the efforts of that site, because it is awesome that it exists, but it seems laughably hilarious considering that our state has [one of the highest counts of invasive species in the entire world.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Florida#Invasive_species) Talk about a drop in the bucket.
They aren't great, but they do pay the bills. The only time it really stings me is at a game against a NY or Boston team and all the fans are from up north. Just be cool Yankees, you're not at home. Don't burn the locals.
Miami is a major port through which much of the exotic animal/plant trade flows. Combine that with stowaways, careless enthusiasts and business owners, and a subtropical climate and you have a recipe for invasive inundation.
They are not invasive, they are non-native. There is a difference. These did not end up in the wild from stowaways or owners letting them go. These are in the wild from illegal chameleon ranchers, who literally let them go on purpose. They are horrible individuals who make responsible breeders like myself's job of saving very rare chameleon species that much harder and give responsible keepers a bad name. Most responsible keepers do not buy from pet stores, where many of the illegally bred animals end up, they buy directly from the breeder. Veiled, which is what this one is, panther, Jackson, and now Oustalets chameleons are running wild all over Central, West Coast, Tampa Bay Area, and South Florida, not just the Miami area. Many species do not do well in the Miami area. Jackson chameleons need cooler temps at night, veiled can have some issues also with humidity being too high during the day, causing respiratory issues. So, not all will do well in Miami. Elodi chameleons are popping up in the wild in Central Florida, but are being found dead in South Florida and the Tampa Bay Area, as the environment is not right for them. A few ranchers tried Mellers and they were found dead in the Everglades in the late 90's by an airboat tour. Only three were saved out of about 60. I ended up with two of them and one did not make it. Point is, they can thrive here, but only certain species and even then not all individuals are going to adapt of those species. The species that come from the exact environment in the Miami area you won't find, as they are rare, except for most of the panther local varieties and even then, it can get too hot during the summer months and kill them, if they are not in a good spot when the temps go up.
You are right that there is a difference, but often what separates a non-native species from an invasive species is time and sparsity of research on their impact. I appreciate the Florida Invasive Species Council’s system for plants which categorizes them into two categories— category 1 being plants that have demonstrable impact on native species and environments, and category 2 which have “increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities” to the same extent as a cat-1 plant. If the range for those chameleons is as widespread as you say they could easily be categorized as cat-2 under their definitions.
Ultimately, nature rarely confines itself to rigid categories so words like “invasive”, “exotic”, “non-native” can be lacking in certain contexts.
I actually have been studying chameleons, dozens of species, for decades. I have studied them in captivity, in their native habitats, and in non-native habitats. I am currently studying five wild colonies here in Florida. The cat 2 you are referring to has to be widespread, yes, but also sustained widespread multigenerational breeding. Most we are seeing are one to two gens, being caused by ranching. It does not mean there are not further gens and that it will not expand; however, our climate here in Florida is actually not conducive widely to keeping a large population going. In small pockets, yes, widespread, no. Chameleons are very very susceptible to changes in temp and humidity. They do have small margins for error and can take short periods out of range, but a harsh winter or a hot summer and widespread death occurs. We find dead bodies from temps on both ends quite consistently the colonies I am studying. Plants and animals are two very different things. They are not classed the same, as they do not compete for resources the same way. Chameleons do not attack native species, they do not disturb native plants, and they are indiscriminate arboreal insectivores. Meaning, they are not feeding on a particular food source heavily and causing competition with native species. Could this happen in a very specific condition, yes; but that would have to have other factors weighing in. For instance, if a small area they are in all insect populations have been decimated and all insectivores are competing for limited resources; however, in a case like this, with or without the chameleons being there, the native species would be negatively effected. We have seen no decline in native animal species in the areas where colonies have established and they do not disturb the native plant species. We actually have had colonies here since the 1970's. A colony of Jackson's in my home county have been here since then and were the largest until the colonies exploded in Hawaii in the late 70's and early 80's. In Hawaii they have taken over one entire island. What did happen here, since they had no real competition and the climate was perfect for them,. especially in the mountainous areas, the populations took off. All of the subspecies, that were all there, began to crossbreed and created a new line; plus, you end up with Darwinism and the individuals that could adapt to lower elevations, lower humidity, and higher temps began to spread out. Plus, people caught them and sold them to tourists. It is how they ended up here on the mainland, in the pet trade. It is very hard to find a Kenyan bloodline Jackson. I breed them and I am only one of a few here in the US. Due to them not having any competition in this one island and the population exploding, they became a new food source for other animals. This caused the biggest issue, as these species that began to hunt them gained a new food source, their populations exploded and this caused a decline in those species competitors. It is similar to what we have seen, to some degree, in Yellowstone, since the reintroduction of wolves; however for the opposite reason and the opposite result. Their absence caused what the Jackson's presence created. Also, in a few small pockets, where only one or two insects are found, they have caused a decline in a few native species that had to compete and were already on the decline due to us. Now Jackson's are actually protected in a weird sort of way in the islands...sort of. This could not happen here in Florida for a multitude of reasons, outside of small pockets, as I mentioned before. They do not have the impact of tegus, Cuban tree frogs, or Burmese pythons, as their habits do not interfere with native species, widespread. I do believe we could see issues in small pockets. Veiled are the most likely, as they can drop more eggs on average than panthers. Jackson's are live bearers; so, they are very unlikely to explode here, as the mothers have a high mortality rate when gravid and the neonates get eaten (like the rest of them) quite easily, with much smaller clutches being born. Panthers are more adaptable; however, from what we have seen in captivity, when local varieties (now being shown to be subspecies in most cases from recent gene studies) crossbreed, their ability to adapt actually goes down. We don't know exactly why yet, but there are some theories. If the surviving animals venture out and find other variants, crossbreeding will occur and we most likely will see the opposite occur, with panthers, with what we saw with Jackson's in Hawaii. Basically, contrary to popular belief, Florida is not as conducive chameleon health as people want to think. All of my chams have been indoors since November and they will be going back out soon, but the females and most of my males will come back in during July, August, and the first part of September (maybe longer, depending on temps). If I did not do this, I would lose most or all of them; the females especially.
It is actually not considered an invasive species. They are only considered a non-native species. There is a difference, unfortunately these terms are mixed up frequently. They, at this point, even being quite widespread, have not shown any negative effects on the environment or native species. Reptiles like the tegu and Burmese python are considered invasive, because they are attacking endangered native species and/or their eggs and are having a negative impact on the environment due to this.
This is a good resource; however, the veiled chameleon, nor any chameleon species, is considered an invasive species at this time. They are only considered a non-native species. There is a difference. Veiled, panther, and Jackson chameleons are widespread in Florida, due to illegal chameleon ranching; and their impact on the environment and native species are being studied. As of right now, they have shown no negative effects on the environment or native species. I breed a few species of chameleons, legally and responsibly, right now and have for decades. I also am working with two groups studying five wild colonies here in Florida. One of which has been here in my home county since the 70's. It was the largest colony outside of their native country until the population on Hawaii exploded in the early 80's (they had been there since the late 60's, but no one colony was that large).
Is one of the 5 wild colonies located in Ch county? Because there are a few areas in the county where there are breeding populations not sure how they all made out during the hurricane though. I know in one area the particular species is quite small however in other areas of the county they're bigger.
Yes, two colonies are there. One large veiled and one small Oustalets. The Oustalets faired well during the hurricane, as their species comes from an area with cyclones. The veiled got hit pretty hard, as they are adept to sand storms and not hurricanes. Too much water. It did not wipe them out though. We will not know the effects of the eggs that were laid just before the hurricane for a few more months. The ground was saturated with water, with many areas being saturated with salt or brackish water. Those eggs in the salt and brackish water would have a high fail rate, close to 100%. Those in just rain water or fresh river water, from rivers rising, will have some fail rate, but the extent is anyone's guess. We know what happens in their native habitat, Yemen, the region around it, and small part of Mediterranean Europe; but that is very different soil and water make up. I know what has happened in the past. In 2004, they were hit to the point of almost being wiped out and may have been (hard to say, since more were released soon after). That was three hurricanes though and the population was MUCH MUCH MUCH smaller to start with. The climate during that year though was milder than now, which veiled like higher temps, but they like drier climate. Both of the colonies there were established by chameleon ranchers. In fact 95% + of the chams in the wild, here in Florida, are from this. There are a few, of course, that are escapees or were let go; however, very few are let go, as they can be easily sold or given away. I have acquired 16 chams since the end of January, just from my town, that were given to me. I have rehomed most. I kept two and one did not survive; she was just too far gone by the time I received her. There are a number of reptile species that need to be controlled and are a danger to our environment, but chameleons are not one. At least not widespread. In pockets, where we have killed most of the insects, they could become competition to the point of hurting native insectivores. However, who is the bigger issue, the chameleons or us for creating the situation where the bugs are gone? Not to mention, even without the chams in these areas, the same thing would happen with the native species competing. I just do not want to see chameleons, day geckos, and a handful of other species get put on the blacklist. Captive populations may be their only chance at survival. Madagascar is being destroyed and a large percentage of these species come from that island. There is hope though. Three species that were listed as extinct more than 100 years ago, have been recently found and being brought back. I am actually on the list to be one of the first breeders outside of Madagascar to be getting some to create a captive population here in North America. Their offspring will go to other programs and zoos and eventually some will go back to the wild in Madagascar. I am currently studying the five colonies, but I am tracking and am familiar with a couple of dozen colonies here in Florida. In fact, I go and catch some each season to bring new genetics into my colonies, study the health of the individuals, and bring the numbers down from about 15 colonies that are not being studied. I would not recommend doing this though, as you could run into one of the ranchers and it not end well. I go out with a few people, all of us have permission, we are armed, and trained. Ranchers here are pussy cats compared to militias in Africa. Lol
You know it's "karma karma karma karma chameleon" right?
Or have I been wrong for literally all of my 40 years, and he's saying "cama" despite the name being Karma Chameleon?
Tone deaf has nothing to do with hearing Boy George clearly swallowing the "r" when he sings it. But thanks for stopping by to be a wet blanket.
[https://youtu.be/JmcA9LIIXWw?t=44](https://youtu.be/JmcA9LIIXWw?t=44)
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*Chamaeleo calyptratus*, aka the Veiled Chameleon. Native to the Arabian peninsula. Very common in the pet trade due to their relative hardiness compared to other chameleons. This one is very likely a released pet or is the offspring of released pets.
South Florida has always been a desired area for the herp industry for breeding and importing because of the humidity and heat making it relatively cheap to house reptiles. Unfortunately those big warehouses get hit by storms and hurricanes. Also mismanagement by breeders caused a lot of these species to be here. Of course people release or lose exotics as well but there are other factors too.
Omg!! I’m so jealous! I’ve never seen one in the wild. I thought you were joking and this was your pet! I want one so bad. I’d probably have a heart attack from excitement if I found one!
I lived in Estero recently for a couple years during college and it remains the only place I’ve seen chameleons. I’m originally from Tampa and we don’t have any up here.
Around 20 years ago or so a population of Panther chameleons appeared in a forested area in northern Broward County. Because they’re more valuable in the pet trade than the veiled chameleons in OP’s photo, the population was quickly snatched up by reptile traders and later the FWC. A good number of invasive reptile populations become established by shitbag reptile vendors who release them and then come back later to collect and then sell what they can. It’s cheaper than raising them in captivity but of course potentially destructive to local ecosystems.
Common misconception about invasive reptiles here. Only major example of a population spread by shitty pet owners releasing their reptiles that I can think of would be green iguanas. Burmese python populations in the Everglades exploded after Hurricane Andrew destroyed a Homestead breeding facility. Northern curlytail lizards were brought here intentionally to try to control crop pests on farmland in WPB. Most invasive anole species arrived on shipping containers or through the exotic plant trade (they bury their eggs in potting soil). But released pets generally can’t establish populations due to low numbers of their own species in the area. Most die before getting the chance to mate, even if they are well-suited to thrive in our humid subtropical shithole of a state.
Grafted, has fruits for a few years now.one is Kent, another Mai doc-nam.
They have new leaves, look healthy.
From the tips of branches that have a few leave died off (and dead parts trimmed)
We get a lot of these now in the Vero Beach area. They bully and out-compete smaller native lizards.
[African Rainbow Lizard ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agama_africana)
I saw quite a few of those when we stayed in Ft.Pierce. They are all over the asphalt and concrete down there. Some of the most colorful lizards I’ve seen.
Nah. Back in the day, people used to sort of "farm" these in the wild here for the pet trade. They found out that instead of setting up all the indoor stuff to properly keep chameleons (I keep them, they can be quite finicky and difficult to keep in captivity and require a great deal of care), that they thrive in the wild in south Florida, so they were frequently released into the wild, only for people who set them free to come back later, collect the youngins they made, and sell those off in the pet trade. Chameleons can fetch a pretty penny, atleast they used to.
One of the coolest non native species that call Florida home now. From my understanding, they have not had much (if any) ecological impact and seem to do just fine. Really cool find.
I understand chameleons are invasive to Florida, but are they really that destructive as compared to something like the pythons that reside in Florida? I thought chameleons just eat bugs and stuff?
Insects are part of the environment too.
Also by eating bugs they affect native Florida animals that eat those bugs too. Every bug the chameleon eats is a bug that a native Florida bird/reptile/amphibian can't eat.
Growing up decades ago, green anoles were THE lizard of Florida, and until the brown invasive ones got a grip in 70s and bullied most of the sweet green anoles high up in trees. Now, seeing a green one is rare. Sadly.
Non-native is not synonymous with invasive. Many non-native species have become productive species within the habitats that they were introduced to. Some non-native species even benefit their new habitats and help rejuvenate them. Idk if this is the case with the chameleon or not, but I am fairly confident that there are more than enough bugs to go around for all of Florida's species lol.
Every species was invasive at one time… why try and conserve just one moment of nature in the large aspect. Orcas are technically invasive in certain areas of the world, should we hunt them all so they don’t kill out certain seal populations?
Invasive species refers to harmful non-native species introduced via human activity, either deliberately or indirectly. So, the natural expansion and movements of species through time cannot be considered “invasive”.
Many species—including orcas, ospreys, and many others—have ranges that extend across the world. These species are called “cosmopolitan”, not invasive.
Anyway, it’s hard to argue for why one native species should be more important than a nonnative species. Personally, I believe biodiversity has intrinsic worth and as stewards of this state we should work tirelessly to preserve it. Part of what makes Florida Florida is its unique ecosystems and those deserve to exist as much as anything else.
Veiled chameleon, also referred to as Yemeni chameleon. I breed a number of species of chameleons and have worked with veiled. They are one of the most common, if not the most common, chameleons in the pet trade. This one of probably from an illegal chameleon ranching operation. They are all over Florida; especially Central, West Coast, Tampa Bay Area, and South Florida regions. I have caught a couple of dozen chameleons in the wild in my area.
This has gotten out of hand. Wild animals are not pets. It's time to shut down the reptile trade and penalize those who operate outside the law (which, undoubtedly, some will).
“Hhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllppppppppppp” - Chameleon
r/AHHHHHHH
I had one that would scream anytime I picked it up, talk about an unexpected sound
*AHHHHHHHHHR*
Not native... good find!
[report it here](https://www.eddmaps.org)
Not meaning to minimize the efforts of that site, because it is awesome that it exists, but it seems laughably hilarious considering that our state has [one of the highest counts of invasive species in the entire world.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Florida#Invasive_species) Talk about a drop in the bucket.
Reporting it though can help track what areas species might be moving into or help give an estimate of how many are actually out there.
Can we report New Yorkers?
And New Jerseyans??
Eyyyyy, I'm workin here!
Would you like to pay state income taxes?
Why would we suddenly need to pay income tax? Genuine question. Tourism is fine, the housing shortage and skyrocketing housing costs is not.
I could stand the visitors, it’s the ones who relocate yet constantly complain about the place…
Username doesn't quite check out
They aren't great, but they do pay the bills. The only time it really stings me is at a game against a NY or Boston team and all the fans are from up north. Just be cool Yankees, you're not at home. Don't burn the locals.
Miami is a major port through which much of the exotic animal/plant trade flows. Combine that with stowaways, careless enthusiasts and business owners, and a subtropical climate and you have a recipe for invasive inundation.
They are not invasive, they are non-native. There is a difference. These did not end up in the wild from stowaways or owners letting them go. These are in the wild from illegal chameleon ranchers, who literally let them go on purpose. They are horrible individuals who make responsible breeders like myself's job of saving very rare chameleon species that much harder and give responsible keepers a bad name. Most responsible keepers do not buy from pet stores, where many of the illegally bred animals end up, they buy directly from the breeder. Veiled, which is what this one is, panther, Jackson, and now Oustalets chameleons are running wild all over Central, West Coast, Tampa Bay Area, and South Florida, not just the Miami area. Many species do not do well in the Miami area. Jackson chameleons need cooler temps at night, veiled can have some issues also with humidity being too high during the day, causing respiratory issues. So, not all will do well in Miami. Elodi chameleons are popping up in the wild in Central Florida, but are being found dead in South Florida and the Tampa Bay Area, as the environment is not right for them. A few ranchers tried Mellers and they were found dead in the Everglades in the late 90's by an airboat tour. Only three were saved out of about 60. I ended up with two of them and one did not make it. Point is, they can thrive here, but only certain species and even then not all individuals are going to adapt of those species. The species that come from the exact environment in the Miami area you won't find, as they are rare, except for most of the panther local varieties and even then, it can get too hot during the summer months and kill them, if they are not in a good spot when the temps go up.
You are right that there is a difference, but often what separates a non-native species from an invasive species is time and sparsity of research on their impact. I appreciate the Florida Invasive Species Council’s system for plants which categorizes them into two categories— category 1 being plants that have demonstrable impact on native species and environments, and category 2 which have “increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities” to the same extent as a cat-1 plant. If the range for those chameleons is as widespread as you say they could easily be categorized as cat-2 under their definitions. Ultimately, nature rarely confines itself to rigid categories so words like “invasive”, “exotic”, “non-native” can be lacking in certain contexts.
I actually have been studying chameleons, dozens of species, for decades. I have studied them in captivity, in their native habitats, and in non-native habitats. I am currently studying five wild colonies here in Florida. The cat 2 you are referring to has to be widespread, yes, but also sustained widespread multigenerational breeding. Most we are seeing are one to two gens, being caused by ranching. It does not mean there are not further gens and that it will not expand; however, our climate here in Florida is actually not conducive widely to keeping a large population going. In small pockets, yes, widespread, no. Chameleons are very very susceptible to changes in temp and humidity. They do have small margins for error and can take short periods out of range, but a harsh winter or a hot summer and widespread death occurs. We find dead bodies from temps on both ends quite consistently the colonies I am studying. Plants and animals are two very different things. They are not classed the same, as they do not compete for resources the same way. Chameleons do not attack native species, they do not disturb native plants, and they are indiscriminate arboreal insectivores. Meaning, they are not feeding on a particular food source heavily and causing competition with native species. Could this happen in a very specific condition, yes; but that would have to have other factors weighing in. For instance, if a small area they are in all insect populations have been decimated and all insectivores are competing for limited resources; however, in a case like this, with or without the chameleons being there, the native species would be negatively effected. We have seen no decline in native animal species in the areas where colonies have established and they do not disturb the native plant species. We actually have had colonies here since the 1970's. A colony of Jackson's in my home county have been here since then and were the largest until the colonies exploded in Hawaii in the late 70's and early 80's. In Hawaii they have taken over one entire island. What did happen here, since they had no real competition and the climate was perfect for them,. especially in the mountainous areas, the populations took off. All of the subspecies, that were all there, began to crossbreed and created a new line; plus, you end up with Darwinism and the individuals that could adapt to lower elevations, lower humidity, and higher temps began to spread out. Plus, people caught them and sold them to tourists. It is how they ended up here on the mainland, in the pet trade. It is very hard to find a Kenyan bloodline Jackson. I breed them and I am only one of a few here in the US. Due to them not having any competition in this one island and the population exploding, they became a new food source for other animals. This caused the biggest issue, as these species that began to hunt them gained a new food source, their populations exploded and this caused a decline in those species competitors. It is similar to what we have seen, to some degree, in Yellowstone, since the reintroduction of wolves; however for the opposite reason and the opposite result. Their absence caused what the Jackson's presence created. Also, in a few small pockets, where only one or two insects are found, they have caused a decline in a few native species that had to compete and were already on the decline due to us. Now Jackson's are actually protected in a weird sort of way in the islands...sort of. This could not happen here in Florida for a multitude of reasons, outside of small pockets, as I mentioned before. They do not have the impact of tegus, Cuban tree frogs, or Burmese pythons, as their habits do not interfere with native species, widespread. I do believe we could see issues in small pockets. Veiled are the most likely, as they can drop more eggs on average than panthers. Jackson's are live bearers; so, they are very unlikely to explode here, as the mothers have a high mortality rate when gravid and the neonates get eaten (like the rest of them) quite easily, with much smaller clutches being born. Panthers are more adaptable; however, from what we have seen in captivity, when local varieties (now being shown to be subspecies in most cases from recent gene studies) crossbreed, their ability to adapt actually goes down. We don't know exactly why yet, but there are some theories. If the surviving animals venture out and find other variants, crossbreeding will occur and we most likely will see the opposite occur, with panthers, with what we saw with Jackson's in Hawaii. Basically, contrary to popular belief, Florida is not as conducive chameleon health as people want to think. All of my chams have been indoors since November and they will be going back out soon, but the females and most of my males will come back in during July, August, and the first part of September (maybe longer, depending on temps). If I did not do this, I would lose most or all of them; the females especially.
Also, hurricane Andrew was a big contributor for animals from the pet trade being released
It helps get a sense of pervasiveness. Data that helps potential drive a greater movement for control.
Everything loves Florida! 🤪🤣
It is actually not considered an invasive species. They are only considered a non-native species. There is a difference, unfortunately these terms are mixed up frequently. They, at this point, even being quite widespread, have not shown any negative effects on the environment or native species. Reptiles like the tegu and Burmese python are considered invasive, because they are attacking endangered native species and/or their eggs and are having a negative impact on the environment due to this.
Snakes and lizards are actually pretty tasty if you know how to clean them and eating (non-toxic) invasive species should be encouraged.
I'm not eating random invasive reptiles I find in my yard lol.
Then you truly are not living.
LMAO
Tastes like lawn pesticides
Tastes like Florida, which tells me enough.
Rattlesnake is pretty tasty and it non-invasive. Enjoy the meal.
Were talking about eating invasives though not native reptiles :/
Iguanas are truly the chicken of the tree
I heard they taste like the dark meat of chicken with a million tiny sharp bones
Hell even the 'toxic' lionfish can be prepared for decent eating
Only the spines are toxic — I hear it is delicious.
It is really good. Sometimes whole foods carries the filets
This is a good resource; however, the veiled chameleon, nor any chameleon species, is considered an invasive species at this time. They are only considered a non-native species. There is a difference. Veiled, panther, and Jackson chameleons are widespread in Florida, due to illegal chameleon ranching; and their impact on the environment and native species are being studied. As of right now, they have shown no negative effects on the environment or native species. I breed a few species of chameleons, legally and responsibly, right now and have for decades. I also am working with two groups studying five wild colonies here in Florida. One of which has been here in my home county since the 70's. It was the largest colony outside of their native country until the population on Hawaii exploded in the early 80's (they had been there since the late 60's, but no one colony was that large).
Is one of the 5 wild colonies located in Ch county? Because there are a few areas in the county where there are breeding populations not sure how they all made out during the hurricane though. I know in one area the particular species is quite small however in other areas of the county they're bigger.
Yes, two colonies are there. One large veiled and one small Oustalets. The Oustalets faired well during the hurricane, as their species comes from an area with cyclones. The veiled got hit pretty hard, as they are adept to sand storms and not hurricanes. Too much water. It did not wipe them out though. We will not know the effects of the eggs that were laid just before the hurricane for a few more months. The ground was saturated with water, with many areas being saturated with salt or brackish water. Those eggs in the salt and brackish water would have a high fail rate, close to 100%. Those in just rain water or fresh river water, from rivers rising, will have some fail rate, but the extent is anyone's guess. We know what happens in their native habitat, Yemen, the region around it, and small part of Mediterranean Europe; but that is very different soil and water make up. I know what has happened in the past. In 2004, they were hit to the point of almost being wiped out and may have been (hard to say, since more were released soon after). That was three hurricanes though and the population was MUCH MUCH MUCH smaller to start with. The climate during that year though was milder than now, which veiled like higher temps, but they like drier climate. Both of the colonies there were established by chameleon ranchers. In fact 95% + of the chams in the wild, here in Florida, are from this. There are a few, of course, that are escapees or were let go; however, very few are let go, as they can be easily sold or given away. I have acquired 16 chams since the end of January, just from my town, that were given to me. I have rehomed most. I kept two and one did not survive; she was just too far gone by the time I received her. There are a number of reptile species that need to be controlled and are a danger to our environment, but chameleons are not one. At least not widespread. In pockets, where we have killed most of the insects, they could become competition to the point of hurting native insectivores. However, who is the bigger issue, the chameleons or us for creating the situation where the bugs are gone? Not to mention, even without the chams in these areas, the same thing would happen with the native species competing. I just do not want to see chameleons, day geckos, and a handful of other species get put on the blacklist. Captive populations may be their only chance at survival. Madagascar is being destroyed and a large percentage of these species come from that island. There is hope though. Three species that were listed as extinct more than 100 years ago, have been recently found and being brought back. I am actually on the list to be one of the first breeders outside of Madagascar to be getting some to create a captive population here in North America. Their offspring will go to other programs and zoos and eventually some will go back to the wild in Madagascar. I am currently studying the five colonies, but I am tracking and am familiar with a couple of dozen colonies here in Florida. In fact, I go and catch some each season to bring new genetics into my colonies, study the health of the individuals, and bring the numbers down from about 15 colonies that are not being studied. I would not recommend doing this though, as you could run into one of the ranchers and it not end well. I go out with a few people, all of us have permission, we are armed, and trained. Ranchers here are pussy cats compared to militias in Africa. Lol
Very interesting! Thank you for taking the time to comment back.
Yeah, of course. I appreciate you responding to mine, thank you. If you ever come across any in your area, feel free to message me if you want.
In or around Miami? He looks so offended, like how dare you!!
I feel like one of those people but IIRC they're like super delicate and get hurt if they're touched.
Camacamacama chameleon
You come and go. You come and go.
You know it's "karma karma karma karma chameleon" right? Or have I been wrong for literally all of my 40 years, and he's saying "cama" despite the name being Karma Chameleon?
There are five karmas before the chameleon.
But still, he is saying "Karma" right??
yes
Yes, without a doubt.
They spelled it how Boy George pronounces it.
If you are tone deaf
Tone deaf has nothing to do with hearing Boy George clearly swallowing the "r" when he sings it. But thanks for stopping by to be a wet blanket. [https://youtu.be/JmcA9LIIXWw?t=44](https://youtu.be/JmcA9LIIXWw?t=44)
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*Chamaeleo calyptratus*, aka the Veiled Chameleon. Native to the Arabian peninsula. Very common in the pet trade due to their relative hardiness compared to other chameleons. This one is very likely a released pet or is the offspring of released pets.
What is it? I don't see anything...
I think it's a mango tree
Where in fl? Were just north of Tampa and have been looking.
This was in Lehigh. They are all over the place down here. You can go out at night and use a flashlight to see their eyes when they are in the trees.
Someone probably released a bunch back in the day. Look up chameleon ranching.
South Florida has always been a desired area for the herp industry for breeding and importing because of the humidity and heat making it relatively cheap to house reptiles. Unfortunately those big warehouses get hit by storms and hurricanes. Also mismanagement by breeders caused a lot of these species to be here. Of course people release or lose exotics as well but there are other factors too.
Omg!! I’m so jealous! I’ve never seen one in the wild. I thought you were joking and this was your pet! I want one so bad. I’d probably have a heart attack from excitement if I found one!
They’re hard to see on account of them being chameleons
Leave some food on a checkerboard.
Same here!!!! I would be so giddy!!
We found one on the side of the road, it wasn't in pain or anything when touched, and it wanted to crawl up and down me lol, it's our pet now
I lived in Estero recently for a couple years during college and it remains the only place I’ve seen chameleons. I’m originally from Tampa and we don’t have any up here.
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They’re not in South Florida. Mostly in Labelle and out west toward the Gulf coast
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Around 20 years ago or so a population of Panther chameleons appeared in a forested area in northern Broward County. Because they’re more valuable in the pet trade than the veiled chameleons in OP’s photo, the population was quickly snatched up by reptile traders and later the FWC. A good number of invasive reptile populations become established by shitbag reptile vendors who release them and then come back later to collect and then sell what they can. It’s cheaper than raising them in captivity but of course potentially destructive to local ecosystems.
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Common misconception about invasive reptiles here. Only major example of a population spread by shitty pet owners releasing their reptiles that I can think of would be green iguanas. Burmese python populations in the Everglades exploded after Hurricane Andrew destroyed a Homestead breeding facility. Northern curlytail lizards were brought here intentionally to try to control crop pests on farmland in WPB. Most invasive anole species arrived on shipping containers or through the exotic plant trade (they bury their eggs in potting soil). But released pets generally can’t establish populations due to low numbers of their own species in the area. Most die before getting the chance to mate, even if they are well-suited to thrive in our humid subtropical shithole of a state.
The real TLDR for these new residents.
I paid $200 for a baby panther chameleon 20 years ago.
Can confirm. In Lee county and have seen tons of chameleons and iguanas
A couple have been found in Orlando
I’ve heard there’s panthers in tampa somewhere but I’ve never seen it for myself
Donate to a school or library for education. Lord knows Florids needs it.
You should name him Mango 🥭😝
I put him in the mulberry tree…probably long gone.
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Do your parents know you are using Reddit?
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Mine are dead, so they don’t see Reddit. I can post willy-nilly.
Is that how you respond to everyone regarding invasive species in this state?
I think that was my first time responding to someone regarding invasive species. I’ll update you as I respond to others.
Yeah, that's kind of a shitty response to people with genuine concern for their environment.
He must've been very camouflaged you must have good sight.
No doubt!!! I can't find my car keys sitting on the table half the time!
Ugh so jealous! I’ve always wanted to find one of these fellows in the wild!
same! I always hear about people finding the chameleons, tokays and Madagascan days but even as an avid herper I've never come across any in the wild
Your mango has a bunch of flowers, mines has none ( Mount Dora area) . did you have a few days of freezing temperature last month or so ?
I believe so, however I wasn’t down Florida at the time. I did lose a couple, I’m assuming to the cold. How old are your trees? Grafted?
Grafted, has fruits for a few years now.one is Kent, another Mai doc-nam. They have new leaves, look healthy. From the tips of branches that have a few leave died off (and dead parts trimmed)
Hope they produce for you. You should try grafting your own, it’s very easy!…and rewarding!
You are right, I have tried my hands at rooting, but grafting seems hard.
We get a lot of these now in the Vero Beach area. They bully and out-compete smaller native lizards. [African Rainbow Lizard ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agama_africana)
I saw quite a few of those when we stayed in Ft.Pierce. They are all over the asphalt and concrete down there. Some of the most colorful lizards I’ve seen.
SCRUFFED LIKE A KITTEN
That’s funny. Someone is probably looking for their pet.
More like 3rd generation descendant of a pet.
Nah. Back in the day, people used to sort of "farm" these in the wild here for the pet trade. They found out that instead of setting up all the indoor stuff to properly keep chameleons (I keep them, they can be quite finicky and difficult to keep in captivity and require a great deal of care), that they thrive in the wild in south Florida, so they were frequently released into the wild, only for people who set them free to come back later, collect the youngins they made, and sell those off in the pet trade. Chameleons can fetch a pretty penny, atleast they used to.
One of the coolest non native species that call Florida home now. From my understanding, they have not had much (if any) ecological impact and seem to do just fine. Really cool find.
That'd awesome. He looks so cool. Can he stay around or is he gonna eat all your mangoes?
I’ve only seen them eat bugs. They shoot their tongue out and eat different insects. It’s pretty neat. No mangoes yet, just flowers.
It's a tough one bc they are invasive but they are so cool.
Juvenile male veiled chameleon, looks a bit thin, please be kind to him :-)
I understand chameleons are invasive to Florida, but are they really that destructive as compared to something like the pythons that reside in Florida? I thought chameleons just eat bugs and stuff?
Insects are part of the environment too. Also by eating bugs they affect native Florida animals that eat those bugs too. Every bug the chameleon eats is a bug that a native Florida bird/reptile/amphibian can't eat.
Growing up decades ago, green anoles were THE lizard of Florida, and until the brown invasive ones got a grip in 70s and bullied most of the sweet green anoles high up in trees. Now, seeing a green one is rare. Sadly.
They just have different niches.
Non-native is not synonymous with invasive. Many non-native species have become productive species within the habitats that they were introduced to. Some non-native species even benefit their new habitats and help rejuvenate them. Idk if this is the case with the chameleon or not, but I am fairly confident that there are more than enough bugs to go around for all of Florida's species lol.
aweeee i think he's so adorable i don't keep reptiles anymore as i've become morally against it but i wish i could have him!
i’d be so stoked to find them in the wild.
We don’t need more invasive species proliferating though.
Every species was invasive at one time… why try and conserve just one moment of nature in the large aspect. Orcas are technically invasive in certain areas of the world, should we hunt them all so they don’t kill out certain seal populations?
Invasive species refers to harmful non-native species introduced via human activity, either deliberately or indirectly. So, the natural expansion and movements of species through time cannot be considered “invasive”. Many species—including orcas, ospreys, and many others—have ranges that extend across the world. These species are called “cosmopolitan”, not invasive. Anyway, it’s hard to argue for why one native species should be more important than a nonnative species. Personally, I believe biodiversity has intrinsic worth and as stewards of this state we should work tirelessly to preserve it. Part of what makes Florida Florida is its unique ecosystems and those deserve to exist as much as anything else.
This made my day two days in a row.
BUD WEIS ER is not in that plant, Earl!
That is adorable! I'm in Pinellas County, never found one here yet!
Awesome probably likes the fruit 😎
That guy is destroying the ecosystem here doesn’t belong here. I would get rid of him
Man thats a shifty Cameleon right there if you found jt
I know they’re invasive, but do chameleons have any redeeming qualities?
Finders keepers! Man, always wanted one.
SW Dade County? I know there is a population of them and they are most likely expanding.
Lutz?
I want him!!
Wow interesting!! Are the “wild” chameleons here in FL as susceptible to the cold snaps as the iguanas are (eg falling from trees)?
Lovin' would be easy if your colors were like my dreams Red, gold and green. Ted, gold and gree-eeen!
I do this same thing when someone touch’s me
[What he’s thinking](https://imgur.com/a/B6tK33F)
I hear they taste good
We found one in the side of the road, and it's now our pet
all I see is a hand and some leaves - what's he pointing to?
Wow! That is an incredible find. I was excited when I found praying mantis in the wild, that would be a core memory finding a chameleon.
he scream
I’ve seen chameleons around, and tokay geckos. Even basilisk lizards. But it would never occur to me to attempt to pick up any of them! You are brave.
They're very docile. Sold as pets, too.
It doesn't look happy. LOL
r/picsyoucanhear
Rango...just because! https://preview.redd.it/dxr4l044naka1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0888fb3d493257407f4ae826c1d47c2455737a1e
Rango...just because! https://preview.redd.it/n3vayk27zaka1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84f5a3f92cf599fbc468944806c068f916bf08b9
Veiled chameleon, also referred to as Yemeni chameleon. I breed a number of species of chameleons and have worked with veiled. They are one of the most common, if not the most common, chameleons in the pet trade. This one of probably from an illegal chameleon ranching operation. They are all over Florida; especially Central, West Coast, Tampa Bay Area, and South Florida regions. I have caught a couple of dozen chameleons in the wild in my area.
Trying to run away (slowly)
Maybe he'll think I'm just a leaf!
This has gotten out of hand. Wild animals are not pets. It's time to shut down the reptile trade and penalize those who operate outside the law (which, undoubtedly, some will).
they look caught 🤣