Just got in to chameleons and wanted to know what is the best chameleon for a beginer and best place to get one?

Yemen/Veiled chameleons are the best beginner chameleon and I would buy one from a breeder if possible. Panther chameleons are a close second but are a lot more expensive to buy. If you just want one as a pet then go for a sub-adult male one to begin with.

Are you sure a veiled is better to start with?

A vieled is maybe less expensive but has higher nutricios needs as a pardalis. The chance for MBD is much bigger with calyptratus. A panther has less of these problems. The only issue is they're more expensive.

On the other hand a calyptratus is an easy eater compared to a bad behaving pardalis. But in general I wouldn't say a vieled is easier. But that's just my opinion. And to be honest I've never kept vieleds so my total view on them is not 100% but many starters end up with some problems with there nutricion.

But for sure pardalis and calyptratus are the 'easy' starters.

But the most important is to read as much information about chameleons as possible. With a good preparation these two are good to start with. But without a decent preparation those two will end up in a disaster as well. and with a very decent preparation some other species are possible as well, as long as it are captive breed animals and no wild caught.

Are you sure that if you are recomending a chameleon to start with it should be the Easiest species to care for? Should there not be a little difficulty to proove to the new keeper that any chameleon is not a walk in the park. That keeping any chameleon, wether they are deemed easiest, mediocre or most difficult, is a huge responsibility. If they adapt the thinking style that my first chameleon was easy and care requirements were minimal, and move on to another species and treat it with the same care, when in fact it needs much more attention?

Another reason that veileds are a great starter is because for the most part, healthy veiled chameleons are generally not very tolerant of handling. We all know that chameleons need minimal handling compared to other reptiles. Even panthers who sometimes seem to enjoy it. People who start of with a panther are going to be handling it more and more and more, maybe too much- and even though it may not display it, but there is a chance it could be stressing out. Handling is less possible with a veiled.

Why is there much more chance of MDB in Veileds? They're isn't. It is that there are MANY more cases of MDB showing up because of irresponsible new keepers that start with a veiled chameleon and fail to provid needed elements- the cheaper and more accessible chameleon. Now let me think aloud, maybe it's crude, but if a new keeper looses their veiled chameleon, they are going to have two choices, start over with another veiled after doing more research and adjusting their husbandry and care routine, OR quit working with chameleons. There is no way that a person who lost a $40-80 chameleon is going to spend $300+ dollars on a panther chameleon.

I may have contradicted myself in this somewhere, nut thats what you get when you throw thoughts into a discussion.

Why does no one suggest Pigmy chameleons? I think Brevs would ba a great begginer. Not exactly your typical chameleon, but no less interesting.

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WILL HAYWARD

that is a good point Will i started out with veileds and a few rough end with them at first but i'm still working with them my first was a 3day old veiled i got from a guy from my herp society and he has been helping me with my chameleons ever since my first one died after 6months i left out of state and had my friend watch my animals at the elementary school for a week. i decided not to start out baby that young until i get better with them now i have 9 eggs in my incubator from my second chameleon the guy gave me. the only problem i worry about is are mine getting enough vitamin and calcium. i feed all my chameleons 3 veiled and 2 jacksons evey other day (one day rep-cal with d3 and the next feeding is miner-all I) since it is getting warmer out i will have them outside fedding them miner-all O and repcal without d3) i have lost more ficus tree then chameleons and i still want to learn more this is my 2nd year with chameleon

Interesting thoughts.

I mean lines I think we both have the same thoughts only we have a different look on the whole picture. I even don't like to recommend one species my general point is that not for sure calyptratus is always the best choice.

And indeed both species have their own specific problems. But the handling part I can not agree with you. Both species can be very tolerant or not depending on their care. When you want to handle them you will be able to. And if you leave them alone that's what they like. I also prefered very agressive pardalis.

I think the most important part is a good preparation. For the keeper and for the animal. Whitout it the chance for troubles is very big. And I also won't agree that all more difficult species require more care. The care is only different. And important is to know everything about a species and its habitat.

Then about the MBD. You're totally right that a big number of MBD cases are due bad husbandry. But on the other hand the growth rate of a vieled is so much higher that the same nutrition given to a panther wouldn't be enough to a vieled. And in this way maybe it's good to have a vieled as you'll be able to see your bad care faste. But on the other hand the slower growth makes it easier to handle.

And indeed pigmy's can also be a good starter but so I can give you a big list of good starters. The most important is to give them the right enviroment and care. If you can do that you can start with many species. As long as you know what their needs are.

And counting in money never works. As someone with few money maybe has less options but might take more care due to this lack of money. and someone with a lot of money will keep on buying new ones just to have a cool animal. This is no general rule but this makes for me the money issue very hard to mension.

My first Cham was a Senegal Chameleon. They're so steardy and are available in alot of pet stores. She was the sweetest temperment and even drinks from the droplets on her misting bottle. I haven't owned a veiled yet, so I can't speak for them. Hopefully I will soon enough!

Essh. I have never seen a healthy senegal. Always imported, and always in rough shape.

She was when I got her. She was always dark and wouldn't move. Now she's as bright as ever and moves around her cage like crazy! What a turn around. But, sadly, she had the shakes when she first got home. I'm guessing it's a sign of mbd. I'm trying my best, and keeping a positive attitude. She looks great though.

My first and (only so far) chameleon is a captive bred Jackson's (jacksonii xantholophus). He is a year old now. The only problem I nearly faced was possible symptoms to early dehydration, as the months got warmer and I was gone over the weekends. They need to have access to moving water whenever they are thirsty. They should at least have the ability to drink for 5+ minutes twice a day. I've since installed an automatic mister (though I may move to a himidifier style rain machine) along with the drip system and occasional spraying as I walk by. Anyway, I think a jackson's is a nice beginner chameleon since there are challenges to raising it, yet if done properly it is a very hardy lizard. He is very docile and will allow me to take him outside for some sun. They also don't grow very large compared to some other chameleons, like veiled and panther, which will allow a moderately sized cage to be used. If I had to make one suggestion for a beginner, it would be to get a male rather than a female. Males usually have the more impressive coloring, etc..., but females may eventually develop egg binding. Hope this helps.