Hello! When am I no longer a beginner?

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a chameleon when I have finished college, an animal based one. That will be in 2016 but I want to be ready! I have loved herps since I was about 8 and I have always been reading about them but I have found my two true loves, tree frogs and chameleons. My first question is, when is it a good time to get a chameleon? In all books, websites and forums it says chameleons are not beginner reptiles. So when can I call my self experienced? I have read just about every book on the subject and gone to talks on them and handled them. I'm just scared I think myself experienced and then end up hurting the poor creature. My course is practical meaning I work with many reptiles every week but unfortunately no chameleons. I will be specialising next year before I even get my jewel so will I be experienced enough? Should I get a beardie (which I love but not adore like chameleons and tree frogs) before going to the deep end? Its just beardies have a very different environment to most chameleons. Okay that was way more than one question but I need to know because I do not wish to harm these wonderful creatures! Thank you and sorry for such a long message.

My first reptile ever was a chameleon. The "not a beginner" tag is true in the sense that they have specific requirements, but if you do plenty of research you will be fine. This is a great place with a lot of experienced keepers to guide you through the process. Once you get one you'll be hooked. They are truly fascinating little creatures!

Thanks

Thank you, I'm glad I'm not doing a bad thing going straight to chameleons and I have a year of happy planning and research ahead of me!

I would also consider getting an juvenile cham (5-8 months) as your first. They are usually advertised as "holdbacks". At that point they are eating full-sized feeders and are a little hardier. Also, you'll have better luck with a private breeder rather than a pet store.

You are not a beginner, because true beginner's jump in knowing nothing. You are getting ready and will know what you are doing. That and paying attention to all the little details we make you a great keeper.

Start be reading all the care resources shown on the left of the screen. Lots of wonderful knowledge.

Oh! I forgot - Welcome.

My first panther was my first chameleon, first reptile. I got on this forum any second I had to spare and I read everything I could. Literally, every new thread that came up, I read. Because while someone might just post a picture of their chameleon, a 'experienced' keeper might come by and see something that your eye doesn't see. I didn't go by any books or what pet stores said.... I've even run into "breeders" who said I don't use D3 calcium enough and that I needed to use it everyday

So, I just got my second panther. However, I took my time to read all that I could, from common health issues (MBD signs, URI's, burns, fungal infections, mouth rot, etc), to husbandry issues, gutloading my feeders, raising my own dubia colony to help save money, buying a WIDE variety of feeders to keep my boys happy. Going by suggestions of products (like using Sticky Tongue Farms supplements instead of the Exo-Terra stuff, or using Repashy products, etc) Seems like folks who are new the the hobby get a cham and a month later go out and buy more, and then start breeding, then run into multiple issues.

I don't know when you can not call yourself a newbie, because we all learn new things everyday, I would just call it by experience..... and the folks who are the 'Gods' on this forum, are "THE" experienced ones. I was scared to death when I first got Chief home, but it's more of learning a routine to keep him happy and healthy..... Which, I have it all down to a science in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work, and during the week what other things I need to do (get feeders, gutload, clean bins and cages, etc)

But since you are taking your time, I encourage you to go through all the threads that you can find, especially in the 'general' area and the health section.

I think my post rambled and went all over the place, but I only had 3 hours of sleep and got ran like crazy at work today, lol