Finding Dexter: Guzzo, whose pet family also includes Magic, the betta fish, was searching for a pet that both her and her boyfriend would love. Enter Dexter, the veiled chameleon. “My boyfriend isn’t into fuzzy pets. I was trying to figure out what could I take care of and what would be OK with him, and I came across chameleons. They’re not super easy to take care of, but they’re a pretty cool pet.”
Meal Service: Chameleons won’t eat dead bugs, so Guzzo likes to treat Dexter with superworms and hornworms. “He’s addicted to superworms. It’s gross. It kind of looks like a centipede and they’re alive. Hornworms are just like a big bag of water. So it’s good for chameleons to hydrate themselves.”
Sleep Schedule: Chameleons are diurnal, usually awake or active during the day. Guzzo has lights in Dexter’s cage that are set on timers and Dexter is a stickler for his beauty sleep. “As soon as the lights go out, he’ll be asleep. It’s cute, he kind of rolls up in a little ball, just hanging on whatever branch and he usually goes to the same spot every time. He curls his little tail up into a little pinwheel.”
In A Mood: Guzzo was surprised by how much personality Dexter has. “I just think he’s adorable and interesting. Because of his colors changing and his body language, you really can tell if he’s in an accepting mood at the time or if he just kind of wants you to go away.”
Pet Parenting 101: Guzzo says people should make their pet a priority. “Especially with something like this, I could see people get something that lives in a cage and they just put it in there and leave it alone. If you’re going to take on the responsibility, then you need to keep up with it.”
Follow them on Instagram: @life_with_dex
