Pickles is New by Furryscaly on Flickr.

I operate a (very) small animal rescue type deal, and my most recent addition is this female veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, whose previous owner referred to as “Pickles”.

Apparently their son moved out and left behind his chameleon that he had purchased only months before. The mother and daughter couldn’t get her to eat and she was looking sickly, so I took her in.

She’s missing half her prehensile tail, which makes it difficult for her to get around. She’s looking healthier with her new habitat and mercury vapor light though, but I have yet to see her eat. She’s still very shy, as chameleons tend to be. She’s still very thin though, and has deformed bones in her joints due to malnutrition throughout most of her life.

On a side note, if you’re ever thinking of getting a chameleon….don’t. There’s a lot more to them than you would think, and most don’t live long in the care of their inexperienced owners. Get a leopard gecko. They’re cheaper too anyway.

—Furryscaly

(Source: animalgazing)