A Tiffy Taffy Highlight Story: Sometimes there are stories that are just too good, too beautiful, or too unbelievable to keep locked away. That’s why we scour the archives and bring some of them back to enjoy again. They may make you smile or shed a tear, but they’re always meant to add a little positivity to your day. This story is from June 2015. Enjoy!Â
In 2015, Canvas Chameleons based in Pennsylvania reported the hatching of a baby Chameleon that went a little differently. The family-owned reptile breeder and shop focuses primarily on breeding healthy family-quality pet reptiles. Their focus is on chameleons, with multiple species in their care.
For those who have firsthand experience with the hatching of chameleons, this may seem odd. The hatchling remained curled up in a tight ball, as if still in his egg. It turns out that the baby chameleon struggled to pip out of his egg – a term used to refer to them breaking out of their shell by them-self.
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The Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is a species typically found in Madagascar’s tropical biome.
Nick Henn, owner of Canvas Chameleons has been in the business since 2013. His favorite species being the Panther Chameleon, he took rather fondly to the hatchling and turned to social media. “Here is a baby Panther only seconds old that didn’t realize he was out of the egg.”
He went on to explain what had occurred and that a little assistance was required to help this baby chameleon out of his once protective home, now prison. It’s not often that humans need to interfere, but this became a situation of life or death for the little one.
Panther chameleons usually take 7-8 months to hatch from their eggs. When it’s time to emerge, they use a small tooth on the upper jaw to pierce the shell and then break free. It’s when they struggle with this part that a little human intervention may be needed to assist in freeing the baby chameleon.
The baby chameleon just wasn’t managing, so Nick decided to help him out by cutting the soft shell. He removed the shell with soft cuticle clippers and was amazed at what he found. “I had to help him out of the egg. I don’t believe he would have been able to do it on his own as it didn’t pip correctly so I helped him out”
“If the egg pips on the side for some reason it can be difficult for the little one to push out as their head isn’t near the hole. I’ve actually had them push out other parts of their bodies like their yoke sac which ultimately end up taking their life”
A rare moment for Nick who has watched 100’s of baby chameleons hatch
This was indeed something one in the business doesn’t see every day, so Nick decided to snap a few photos of the baby reptile and posted them on social media for all to see. Tightly wrapped up as if being swaddled, the baby chameleon seems to think he’s still very safe in his egg .
Interesting facts about Panther Chameleons
Originally discovered by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1829, panther chameleons usually lay clutches of 10-40 eggs. They generally do quite well in captivity and thrive, alongside the veiled chameleon.
The average lifespan of the panther chameleon is estimated to be roughly 5-7 years for males and 2-3 years for females. The ales are also usually larger in size and can grow to lengths of up to 20 inches, whereas females usually hit their peak size at 10 to 12 inches.
According to the web page Chameleon Owner, “A panther chameleon’s color is determined by the locale it belongs to. For example, if the color purple is not among the range of colors that the chameleons in that locale can change to, an individual in that locale will never be able to turn purple. Thus, a panther chameleon, for example, cannot alter its color to match a chessboard despite what Youtube videos will have you believe.”
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