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Does anyone have a Chameleon?
- Thread starter Eriathiel
- Start date
desertanimal
2003 UB313
They are difficult. My wife is super into chameleons and she is planning several years out. They need lots of humidity but also good ventilation, and they need peace and quiet. They are way cool, but I'd suggest doing a LOT of reading before jumping into chameleons. They're not so forgiving as corn snakes.
texastailfeathers
New member
I've had three. My first was a wild-caught Senegal (flea market impulse buy) that only lived three months and the second two were hatchlings that a reptile expo vendor suckered my husband into buying waaaaay too young. They lasted two months. That's really saying something because I raise tiny exotic birds and it is rare for me to have an animal die here.
The care is pretty complicated and they are not interactive at all. They're not "handling" pets. For the most part they are strictly display animals. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions, but chameleons really don't "tame" down. They stress very easily.
You have to keep the humidity and temp at perfect levels and they require calcium powder daily and vitamin powder once or twice a week.
HASSLE. I know people love 'em, but they just weren't for me.
The care is pretty complicated and they are not interactive at all. They're not "handling" pets. For the most part they are strictly display animals. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions, but chameleons really don't "tame" down. They stress very easily.
You have to keep the humidity and temp at perfect levels and they require calcium powder daily and vitamin powder once or twice a week.
HASSLE. I know people love 'em, but they just weren't for me.
Matthew
-M.P. Stafford
First off, let me just say that it's easy to lump all Chameleons into the 'hard to care for' bracket - this is true with Senegals, Gracefuls, and Jacksons. One of the biggest reasons for this is that 'most' of them (especially Senegals and Gracefuls) are wild caught and they do very poorly trying to adjust.
Then you've got the Panther and Veiled; I've kept both in the past and currently have a juvenile Veiled. Both of these are widely bred in captivity, and both are 100% easier to keep than a lot of people say.
Now, let me say this: Compared to a Bearded Dragon, or a Leopard Gecko, Veiled and Panthers are significantly harder to keep alive. They definitely require effort, no doubt about it, but they're not 'too' bad.
My current Veiled is housed in a 65gallon Tall Reptarium. He's got a 100w Mega-Ray MVB as a heat source/UVB source. I've got live Ivy and a live Dracaena bush in there for vegetation and humidity (most people underestimate just how much humidity live plants give off).
For water and additional humidity supplement, I have a Little Dripper, that's on a slow 24 hour drip, into the pot of the Dracaena. I also mist his cage three times a day.
He eats a diet of crickets and mealworms.
Sure, it might sound like a lot of work, but it probably takes me less than 10 minutes a day to maintain him. 10 minutes a day is definitely worth the pleasure I get out of him - they have SO much personality, even when they're unable to be handled.
My guy gets handled about once every month or two - they're definitely not a touchy feely type Reptile and excessive handling causes them to stress out. Little Brother comes out for photo ops only.
So, in closing, if you want a fairly easy-to-take-care of Chameleon, go for a Veiled. Very hardy little guys for their species; just not as colorful as a Panther.
If you want a harder-to-care for Chameleon that shows absolutely amazing colors, get a Panther.
I'd recommend either one quite equally, so...it's up to you.
Then you've got the Panther and Veiled; I've kept both in the past and currently have a juvenile Veiled. Both of these are widely bred in captivity, and both are 100% easier to keep than a lot of people say.
Now, let me say this: Compared to a Bearded Dragon, or a Leopard Gecko, Veiled and Panthers are significantly harder to keep alive. They definitely require effort, no doubt about it, but they're not 'too' bad.
My current Veiled is housed in a 65gallon Tall Reptarium. He's got a 100w Mega-Ray MVB as a heat source/UVB source. I've got live Ivy and a live Dracaena bush in there for vegetation and humidity (most people underestimate just how much humidity live plants give off).
For water and additional humidity supplement, I have a Little Dripper, that's on a slow 24 hour drip, into the pot of the Dracaena. I also mist his cage three times a day.
He eats a diet of crickets and mealworms.
Sure, it might sound like a lot of work, but it probably takes me less than 10 minutes a day to maintain him. 10 minutes a day is definitely worth the pleasure I get out of him - they have SO much personality, even when they're unable to be handled.
My guy gets handled about once every month or two - they're definitely not a touchy feely type Reptile and excessive handling causes them to stress out. Little Brother comes out for photo ops only.
So, in closing, if you want a fairly easy-to-take-care of Chameleon, go for a Veiled. Very hardy little guys for their species; just not as colorful as a Panther.
If you want a harder-to-care for Chameleon that shows absolutely amazing colors, get a Panther.
I'd recommend either one quite equally, so...it's up to you.
Matthew
-M.P. Stafford
Eriathiel said:Thanks guys! I'm going to have to think about it a bit more now...
You're welcome to read as much as you want, but information is really pretty scarce on them. I think part of the reason for that is because they all differ from one individual to the next that it's hard to collect a huge amount of 'facts' about their care and what-not.
I've learned more keeping them than I ever could reading about them anyway. :shrugs:
They're definitely a commitment, though, so props on doing your research and thinking before you buy.
texastailfeathers
New member
Whatever you do, don't buy a hatchling or a WC as your first chameleon. You will be much more successful and much more satisifed with a captive bred chameleon that has already had some significant growth.
snakewispera snr
The Devils Advocate
They're not that difficult to keep. Getting the the environment right is the key to it. Ceramic heaters are best and you'll need a little dripper, But the best bit of kit for them is exo-terra-flexarium. A mesh tank , loads of ventilation and the little guy can't see out so good so he does'nt get so stressed. and yemen are the easiest to keep,we have two in the shop and they're both doing fine. watch them though they might look cute but they don't do cuddling or petting. It's a leave alone specemin
MIKE
MIKE
I've had panthers before.They aren't that hard to take care of.Just make sure you get the enclosure set up and the temps and humidity right,BEFORE you get the chameleon.I think the myth that they are so hard to keep alive came when you where only able to get wild caught.These were so stressed and under such a heavy parasite load,that they were doomed no matter how well you kept them.You may want to look into a captive bred Oustallet's if you want a large easy to care for species.They aren't as colorful as the Pardalis but they get big,are real mellow and can take a real wide range of temps without any ill effects.Get a silkworm and lobster roach colony started and your chameleon will love ya!