Any recommend a good book on care?

[ryanra22]

Hey everyone name's Ryan and I'm in the process of doing some serious research to determine whether or not I can adequately provide and offer a great home for a chameleon, and was wondering if any of you could suggest a few books I could check out.

I checked on amazon, but for the most part a lot of the books were published in the late 90's, which seem a little outdated to me.

I've been reading a ton online and checking out these forums all the while taking notes on various things and adding up everything from my available space to feeding to expenses that go with having a chameleon. A bit obsessive/OCD I know, but I've always been fascinated by chameleon's and would very much enjoy having one eventually but I'm not willing to take the plunge until I'm 100% sure I can provide a great life for the little guy!

Thanks in advance!

 

[camimom]

Welcome!
your best book.. is right here on thsi forum.

ask and you shall get an answer, (or ten)

anything you need to know, we can help with.
alot of the sites out there are wrong, outdated, etc. same with the books.

 

[JackP308]

Im soon getting chameleons of africa, I heard its a pretty cool book but it isn't cheap. I don't think you will need it for care but if your obsessed with chameleons like me it should be a great addition.

 

[laurie]

This book is a bit old 1995 but it has good basic info "The New Chameleon Handbook" by Francoi Le Berre, and depending on what kind of cham you are looking at "Chameleons : Care and Breeding of Jackson's, Panther,Veiled and Parson's" by Gary Freguson, Kenneth kalisch, and Sean McKeown, published 2007, and Chameleon: their Care and Breeding By linda J. Davison published 1997. You can find 2 of those available by clicking on the bookstore tab at the top of the forum.

You will gain a lot of good basic knowledge & have something to easily put your hands on. I keep a lot of books and look but info for people all time. And they think I feel like I know all that.

I can also give you more books that are newer, more advanced, and often more technical and a good bit more expensive.

Let me know if I can help at all.

 

[laurie]

Im soon getting chameleons of africa, I heard its a pretty cool book but it isn't cheap. I don't think you will need it for care but if your obsessed with chameleons like me it should be a great addition.

Jack you will just love that book. I am addicted. Between that and the second edition of "Chameleons nature's hidden jewels by Petr Necas, i am a happy person. But I am weird, I also have Mader's "Reptile Medicine and Surgery" for when i need some light reading.

 

[camimom]

Jack you will just love that book. I am addicted. Between that and the second edition of "Chameleons nature's hidden jewels by Petr Necas, i am a happy person. But I am weird, I also have Mader's "Reptile Medicine and Surgery" for when i need some light reading.

light reading? since when is a medical book light reading?

 

[ryanra22]

Awesome! Thanks so much for all the help guys. If I do end up getting a chameleon I'm almost 100% sure I'd go for a Nosy Be Panther, I just love that blue color.

Ya it really seems like this forum is a great place to learn a lot! I've been reading through various posts and some blogs on the site and already have learned a great deal! My biggest concern was getting some bad info on the web, but it really seems like everyone on this site really knows their chameleons, so I'll definitely keep reading.

As far as the books go I had someone suggest them to me, so figured I'd ask since the dates threw me off a bit. If I can find some cheap copies of the ones you recommended I'll definitely pick em up, seem like they at the very least can provide some beneficial quick reference info!

One simple question I've got for you guys is how many thermometer's is typical to have in an enclosure? I know that the basking area should be a higher temp than the rest of the cage so it would seem to me that you would need at least two thermometers?

 

[laurie]

light reading? since when is a medical book light reading?

Come on, that was my idea of a joke. I know you guy's don't believe it, but I do have a sense of humor. But seriously since there are no vet's with in a 5 hour drive - one way- who know chams, that book is a lifesaver for my chams. If I can work with the vet here in town they will help get the meds I need to try to help with my cham. I even bought them a copy of Mader's book. You know I am a sucker for my chams.

 

[jdog1027]

One simple question I've got for you guys is how many thermometer's is typical to have in an enclosure? I know that the basking area should be a higher temp than the rest of the cage so it would seem to me that you would need at least two thermometers?[/QUOTE]

You can get thermometers at department or hardware stores like Wal-Mart and Lowes that have two readings and has a probe. They are for hanging in your home and sticking the probe out through a window so you can get a temperature reading for both inside your home and outside. The one I have also has a barometer gauge to measure relative humidity. It cost me about $12 at Wal-Mart.

 

[laurie]

One simple question I've got for you guys is how many thermometer's is typical to have in an enclosure? I know that the basking area should be a higher temp than the rest of the cage so it would seem to me that you would need at least two thermometers?

You can get thermometers at department or hardware stores like Wal-Mart and Lowes that have two readings and has a probe. They are for hanging in your home and sticking the probe out through a window so you can get a temperature reading for both inside your home and outside. The one I have also has a barometer gauge to measure relative humidity. It cost me about $12 at Wal-Mart.[/QUOTE]

Justin you and I use the same expensive item. I have one per cage, but only after I am sure what the cage is showing for a lower/ bottom temp. I also keep the control unit is a ziplock baggie so I can attach it ti the cage and it not get wet.

 

[ryanra22]

Very cool! Thanks for the info j and Laurie

 

[carol5208]

welcome to the forums! As Camimom said this is your "handbook" right here! just about everything I have learned has come from being a member on here. Don't be shy about asking questions and remember no question is ever a "dumb" question!!!

 

[ryanra22]

Thanks for the warm reception! Definitely seems like a unique and welcoming place here.

I've got one question on cage cleaning actually. I was reading in another thread about this and I had one question...where do you put the chameleon during this? I noticed some people said on another plant that was outside the cage, but would it be ok for the chameleon to be outside the humid and warm cage for awhile? I'm assuming it would take about an hour(?) to give the cage a thorough cleaning. Would this hurt the chameleon or should I go a different route?

 

[carol5208]

Thanks for the warm reception! Definitely seems like a unique and welcoming place here.

I've got one question on cage cleaning actually. I was reading in another thread about this and I had one question...where do you put the chameleon during this? I noticed some people said on another plant that was outside the cage, but would it be ok for the chameleon to be outside the humid and warm cage for awhile? I'm assuming it would take about an hour(?) to give the cage a thorough cleaning. Would this hurt the chameleon or should I go a different route?

no it will not hurt the chameleon at all. Sometimes the trick is getting them out of the cage, especially if you have one that does not like to be handled!

 

[AndrewWelch]

Hehe, good choice tallying up all the costs! When I got my cham 3 months ago I knew it was going to be expensive, but not near as much as it was. I thought it was going to be about 300$ buying his cage and everything without thinking about future cages or buying more vines. I did a lot of research but I think I did jump into the chameleon business a bit fast.

As someone stated before, this forum will help you with anything you need. I have posted to many topics asking questions and almost every time I do I get at least 3 pages of answers, all being helpfull and kind.

 

[AndrewWelch]

Thanks for the warm reception! Definitely seems like a unique and welcoming place here.

I've got one question on cage cleaning actually. I was reading in another thread about this and I had one question...where do you put the chameleon during this? I noticed some people said on another plant that was outside the cage, but would it be ok for the chameleon to be outside the humid and warm cage for awhile? I'm assuming it would take about an hour(?) to give the cage a thorough cleaning. Would this hurt the chameleon or should I go a different route?

No it's fine. I had mine out for a bit over 3 hours to take him to a vet visit and he was fine, just a bit chilly.

 

[ryanra22]

Ok great to know, thanks! Ya I live in cleveland, oh and I don't really know of any breeders around the area, and after hearing some horror stories I don't think I wanna go the pet store route.

I was checking around online and found Screameleons and it seems like a great site with really good people and chameleons so if I were to get one I'd probably end up going with their ultimate setup kit since I have absolutely nothing in terms of a cage/supplies and I just can't get away from those Nosy Be's I think they're SO awesome so that'd be around 700 bucks after shipping plus additional cages/food/potential vet visits in the future, which is a lotttt of cash for me especially since I'm a poor grad student

but I think I'm gonna start saving up and see what I can come up with. In the meantime you guys will probably see me on these forums asking more questions or silently lurking and checking out people's awesome enclosures and chameleons