General Personality Differences of Jackson, Panther and Veiled (Just a Discussion)

I'm looking to add another chameleon to my family and I am having the hardest time deciding which. Although these three types of chameleons have their obvious and basic differences of care and species, I am looking for advice on their personal differences that are below the surface of a basic "google" search.

What do you know about the activity levels, friendliness, and overall pet experience, of the below:

Jackon male vs. female?
Veiled male vs. female?
Panther male vs. female?
Veiled vs jackson vs panther?

Don't know about jacksons, but all veiled, male or female take great pride in their nastiness. There are the exceptions to the rule though. Most panthers are quite a bit more personable and don't know about jacksons.

I've heard about panthers being more relaxed and chill and i have a female veiled and she just seems uptight and nervous. I have also heard that males are a little easier to handle. By handle i mean in a vet situation. I have to take molly to the vet next week and I'm terrified of her because she hisses at me when im just misting from 2 feet away.

veileds

Hello again Julie!
I honestly like Male veileds better than females... I handled mine everyday for 5 minutes a day to get him used to me ( i know alot of people don't recommend it) but now my cham will allow myself and others to handle him without flaring up or getting his upset colors... Females from my experience tend to be alot more moody and nasty chameleons. I tried to handle my female and she just got meaner and meaner everytime i've tried... You would def. like a Male Veiled. They are very active and snazzy little creatures...

I don't know about Jackson's either but I have a male and female panther and male veiled. I love my male panther, he is so chill. He just sits around. My female is chill too, even more so than the male. She is beautiful, I love her. The veiled gets a little pissy sometimes but he actually lets me handle him without. He is hilarious. My b/f and I always catch him doing funny stuff when he doesn't realize we are watching.

I really can't choose a favorite though...I am interested to hear everyone's experiences with jackson's

chams

Male veileds have alot of personality that's for sure. I'm very excited to try my first ambilobe panther this friday!!!

MollyGreen said:

I have to take molly to the vet next week and I'm terrified of her because she hisses at me when im just misting from 2 feet away.

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Their usually just bluffing. Mine does the same thing but he'll just open his mouth, hiss and repeatedly head butt my hand. He's only bitten me once and that was when I had to remove some dead skin from his casque. Try using both of your hands, palm open and one hand on each side of her. By using a flat open palm on each side it's hard for her to get a bite if she chooses to and she can't turn around and run. Then put your thumb out so she has an option to get on. This will usually work. Good luck and keep us posted. Thanks David

Just as everyone states, Female veileds tend to have more of a temper compared to that of males.

My jackson chameleon seems to be very active, When he's in his cage he will just stay still. Once he's out he is all over the place looking around. If i open my cage he will practically walk over and grab on my hand and make his way to my hair, i believe he was handled alot by the previous owner.

My male Veiled thinks he is a dog, or maybe a human. Never gapes or bites, comes to the front of the cage, crawls right out on to our hands when we open the cage. Hand feeds, drinks from the spray bottle. He is a wonderful. Now my female Veiled will hand feed, come to the front of her cage for mistings, but if she thinks you are going to touch her she will lunge and go for the kill. My female Panther is fearless, walks right up. My male Panther did not like me. My Oustalet is shy, but doesn't bite. I never "trained" any of these guys, and I never overly-handle anyone. They are happy just being what they are and doing what they do. Typically Veileds are know to be aggresive, more so than Panthers, but they are all very different.

My jackson chameleon seems to be very active, When he's in his cage he will just stay still. Once he's out he is all over the place looking around. If i open my cage he will practically walk over and grab on my hand and make his way to my hair, i believe he was handled alot by the previous owner.

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Funny...my jacksons does the same thing when I open his cage. He'll almost run straight up to the front and wait for me to put my hand up for him to grab on to. He's always "running laps" around his cage too.

I'm not even sure you can tie a personality to a species. Ive heard good and bad from many of them. Ive personally have owned only panthers but my female is great, she walks over to me when I open the cage because she knows I bring food. The males Ive owned however want nothing to do with my presence. I walk in the room, they hide. And they do NOT like to be handled.

I guess it is difficult to compare species but there seem to be a general difference in males and females of the same species.

HiroProtagonist said:

Funny...my jacksons does the same thing when I open his cage. He'll almost run straight up to the front and wait for me to put my hand up for him to grab on to. He's always "running laps" around his cage too.

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thats true but in females they do the same but they are more skittish

I have a very laid back male Ambanja panther. He has never hissed or opened his mouth when I try to pick him up. I will be receiving a female in a few weeks and I am hoping that she will be just as laid back too.

have a male panther and he is pretty laid back and chilled. Knows who i am but isnt that big of a fan when i am in the cage, always a lil cautious and tries to hide. Now when he is out, he is a different story. he is like a lil baby with his arms streched up, trying to have me hold him. he likes to climb up my arms, then up my ear and glasses, and chill on the top of my head. He knows when i open up the cage, with a cup, that i have food for him. just trying to get him to know that when i have a stick, im trying to bring him outside to hang out on a ficus or my hibiscus plant. overall hes laid back and chill, even had my mom talking to him when he was in my plant in the kitchen one day. mellow and laid back from me

My boy Veiled, Nimoy is a snuggle-bunny. Sorry to gush, but he sits on my shoulder flashing his Mr Spock hand sign reaching for my face. Maybe he likes body heat, he lets me cup him between my palms without going bright. Only hisses if I startle him in his cage.
True the panthers have more color, but the shark fin on Nimoy's head is very dashing too! Wendy

HiroProtagonist said:

Funny...my jacksons does the same thing when I open his cage. He'll almost run straight up to the front and wait for me to put my hand up for him to grab on to. He's always "running laps" around his cage too.

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My Jackson's is very active. He free ranges in my living room and is perfectly happy there. Doesn't mind being picked up..pretty laid back..really nothing bothers him..not even my two cats

I have a male Jackson who isn't handled all that much. He went to the vet recently and he was just the sweetest little chameleon for the vet to handle. I think they naturally have a easy layed back disposition. He has never once hissed and I don't think he knows hes capable of it...lol...Jacksons are an awesome cham if your looking for easy going and layed back. JMO...

Of the three most commonly kept species. Based on my exp i believe the male jacksons have the best disposition of all of them. My male jacksonni was so cool he'd just hang out and wait for me to bring him to his free range and he learned to hand feed really fast. For an almost assuredly wc cham he acclimated really well and i will get another one day.