are chameleons fun ?

[frankgtrs]

Hello everyone.

Im looking for a new pet and Im considering a veiled chameleon I've been doing research and they are an advanced reptile species to keep I can provide their needs.
I know they don't like to be handled and although i't be nice if mine turned out to be docile Im ready to only touch it when is time to clean the cage but that brings me to the question of how active are they ?

do they move frequently other than to eat ?
what brands do you guys use for heating and uvb ?
about how much money do you i'd spent weekly or monthly on a single male ?
do you think i should get something else instead of a veiled ?


thank you.

 

[melonman]

Chameleons are amazing pets .....at first its like i want it to ride like a berdie but after a couple days youll see its fun watching them in thier cage excellent pets

 

[Kmw]

Mine moves around quite a bit, he's very fun to watch - well I guess both are.
Per week on the 2 i probably spent about 20 (ish). But that's a mix of crickets, horn worms and super worms right now.

My veiled is nice, he moves around and can be a little silly - good to watch.
If i was going to have only one chameleon though, it would be my panther. I just really love the colours in them. They are more expensive though - so there's that.

 

[Robyrango]

Are you kidding?
They are the best!! It's like having a different pet every day!
Do lots of research before you get one! They can be very hight maintenance for somebody.. The need constant care, and so do the feeders! Only if you're are 100% committed and ready.

 

[Zubi]

Yes!!

Hell yeah they're so fun. Even if they arent really friendly, and even the ones that dont let you hold them,they're still so fun to just watch. They are really funny too

 

[Carlton]

I know they don't like to be handled and although i't be nice if mine turned out to be docile Im ready to only touch it when is time to clean the cage but that brings me to the question of how active are they ?

do they move frequently other than to eat ?
what brands do you guys use for heating and uvb ?
about how much money do you i'd spent weekly or monthly on a single male ?
do you think i should get something else instead of a veiled ?


thank you.

Thanks for asking these great questions before you buy one! If this is your first cham a veiled is a good choice as they are a bit more forgiving of newbie mistakes. But, if another captive bred species appeals to you more, do as much homework about it as possible, consider your local climate (dry, warm, humid, seasonal changes, etc), and pick the one you'll care MOST about.

Some chams are more tolerant of handling than others and it isn't always along species lines either, more individual. You can't always predict how a baby will turn out in terms of personality, so the best idea is to be ready to accept what you get and enjoy it regardless. Some are just going to be meanies and others won't care.

A healthy contented cham will tend to have a daily routine, but depending on how much space you give it, the temps in your house, the light level, and the cham's level of stress its activity level could be different. It can also change by season (a mature male searching for a female). A very contented cham may not be all that active, but once it has warmed up in the morning, eating and drinking, maybe a patrol around its territory, and then settling in a favorite perch for much of the day. Some species are more active than others. For example, a Fischer's cham tends to be a lot more active than a Usambara three horned.

There are very good basic husbandry articles and "sticky" messages on this forum that can answer most of your questions, so read them and come back with specific questions that aren't clear, OK?

Oh, I meant to add that if you are someone who enjoys more technical cage setups, enjoys designing a more complex type of habitat, and someone who enjoys observing an animal's behavior as it lives it's own life, a cham can be great fun. If you want your animal to like you, appreciate what you do for it, or respond to you emotionally, a cham may not be all that fun. Again, some chams are fairly friendly (for a herp) but most don't really look for a lot of one on one time with a person.

 

[robmd1]

It is true it takes a lil more to take care of chams but, they are like a potatoe chip once you have one you cant stop..

 

[frankgtrs]

thanks everyone for your quick replies i think i'll be getting one in the next few months , my house is actually kept pretty warm right now my gecko's thermometer reads 84 and Im not using any heating it's usually between 76 and 85. and this chameleon would be my only pet besides my gecko. Im not planning on having anything else.

 

[Adam Harrelson]

i think they're very interesting creatures

 

[AllFallDown]

I've had my veiled a couple of months. Had some reservations at first before buying, especially because veileds have a reputation of being mean. I am very happy I did. Lots of personality. He moves pretty slow but mine is far from inactive. He can be kind of a jerk but I like him more for it in a weird kind of way. Nice contrast to my super cuddly cat.

I'm definitely hooked!

 

[PREACHAP]

my veiled is awesome. mine is rather social, because we raised him that way. He eats crickets, butterworms that we gut load with many goodies, he used to be aggresive but hes rather mild mannered now. wouldn't trade him for any other cham