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I used to have a ton of lizards. Now, all but one Bearded Dragon has passed, and I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about getting more. Particularly, I really want a Chameleon. I always have! They’re just so cool!
Not only that: they’re apparently very devoted. One woman on TikTok posted about her Chameleon and his undying devotion! She managed to get him praying to the heavens on camera, and it was honestly kind of inspirational:
Peyton Gardner and her Chameleon of undying devotion, Eric, are a classic example of why I love reptiles so much. They do so much weird stuff! Sometimes, you just have to let them sit on your head and reach for the stars.
The music choice for this video is stellar, too. It really captures how Eric was acting, and everyone is in love. He does this kind of thing all the time, whether he’s reaching for the heavens or he’s just reaching for his next meal.
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Eric is a very happy Veiled Chameleon: you can tell because of the veil on top of his head, and his little feet. Veiled chameleons have a little structure on top of their heads, and they only have two toes on each foot.
They can also sit straight up and reach pretty far, though that’s not how they eat or grab their food. They use their incredibly long tongues for that, while their feet are designed to help keep them steady on the branches, along with their tails. You can see Eric in action here:
Like, come on. He’s literally trying to go toward the light. I will never get enough of him!
Why Do Chameleons Reach Up?
It’s a little strange: Eric is not reaching for food, so what the heck is he reaching for? And why does he do it so much?!
Chameleon sitting on someone’s knee.Image via Shutterstock / Jacktamrong
If a Chameleon is reaching up toward the sky, it’s because they saw something that intrigued them, or something they’d like to explore. For example, if a chameleon walks past a doorframe, they might confuse it for a branch and try to hop on.
Alternatively, they might be trying to reach higher ground in order to:
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Get a better look at their surroundings.
Keeping track of their temperatures is always important: you should move or adjust their basking spot as needed. Additionally, these guys love to climb: having plenty of places to let them do that will help keep them from attempting any dangerous stunts!
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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Apr 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.