Buying a Chameleon

L

LickMyShoe

New Member
hi im new to Chameleons was watching Planet Earth and as soon as i seen the Chameleon i knew i had to have one.

i have one question i wanna buy one but i don't know which one to buy i want one thats very colorful can someone help me out.

was thinking maybe a panther chameleon.
 
The panthers are probably the most colorful but you can get some very colorful Veilds too. The males are more colorful in each species. Either one of these would be a good starter chameleon for you.
 
LickMyShoe said:
hi im new to Chameleons was watching Planet Earth and as soon as i seen the Chameleon i knew i had to have one.

i have one question i wanna buy one but i don't know which one to buy i want one thats very colorful can someone help me out.

was thinking maybe a panther chameleon.
Click to expand...

Before you buy it though, spend a good amount of time researching how to take care of it and make sure you will be able to take care of it PROPERLY. I took a good 2-3 months getting everything down before getting my first chameleon. Do not assume that its easy because it isnt. Its time consuming and expensive.Also, before purchasing one, have everything ready for it. Not buy it along with the stuff you need for it otherwise the chameleon will suffer and you will be stressed out of your mind. When you buy a chameleon, you are making a long term commitment to an exotic animal that have very strict needs, so be ready.
When you have found out what chameleon you want, try your best to buy a CAPTIVE BREAD chameleon. This not only makes it easier to take care of the chameleon because it has always been in captivity, but it also lessens the stress on the ecosystem to which the certain species of chameleon belongs to.
Always keep in mind not only the animal you'll have, but also all the various things that you'll need to keep to feed it. Unlike a snake which you feed once a week and can go to the petstore to buy a single mouse to feed it, your going to need to house crickets for the staple diet and a variety of different food items for it.

There is a lot more to it than "I want one, lets buy it" in this hobby. I say this because too many times, too many people buy chameleons and have no clue what they are doing and end up doing great harm to them. You've taken a great step forward joining the forum, so ask away and everyone here will help you.
 
thanks man for the infooo

i would really appreciate it if someone took some time to explain to me how the chameleons are feed and what i have to do to keep him/her healthy. thanks guys for the help
 
There is SO much stuff to know which is why I say to take your time. If you use the search function here on the forum, you'll be able to find anything (almost) you're looking for.

read this blog by Jann, senior member. VERY informative.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

Also, if you're a first time owner, go for a male. Females are much more delicate (they lay eggs even if not mated), and, for the most part, males are more colorful than females.
 
No problem. Just be sure you can take care of it.. Chameleons are delicate creatures and improper husbandry takes a huge toll on them, even kills them. So do your research. As I said, ask anything and we can help you make your future chameleon happy
 
i wanted to make my chameleons cage/home really nice for himm can i put like a water fall inside it and like a little pond for him ? i want him to live in luxury
 
LickMyShoe said:
i wanted to make my chameleons cage/home really nice for himm can i put like a water fall inside it and like a little pond for him ? i want him to live in luxury
Click to expand...

BIIG NOO.

water falls and ponds like that are breeding grounds for bacteria. Also, chameleons do NOT recognize standing water as drinking water, thus rendering the pond pointless. The waterfall may look pretty but will cause you more problems than you want. Chameleons drink rain water in the wild, so you'll need to have a drip system (as rain drops) and also something to mist your chameleon a few times a day (how much depends on the species). If you search for "enclosures" you'll find some awesome ideas for chameleon cages. For adult male veileds and panthers, a minimum 24X24X48" screen cage is recommended (Glass can be used, if you know what you're doing and on where you live. I'll explain it later and post another very useful link). The bigger is always better. Also, the use of live plants is very help since they help keep the humidity of the cage up. You'll need many vines and branches in order to create walkways for the chameleon, at different levels to get a temperature gradient. for adult male veileds, a basking spot of 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit is good, but having a variation around the cage providing cooler places is important to help the chameleon cool off. The decoration of the inside of the cage depends on you and what you like. (all Live plants are not safe, check in the safe plants lists here on the forum. I use a schefflera arboricola). You're also going to need a Reptisun 5.0 linear tube bulb for UVB and a basking bulb. The wattage of the bulb depends on what temperatures you want for the specific species. Some dont even need a basking bulb because the chameleon species thrives in the specific temperature. You can also use a flourescent bulb in the 6500-6700 range to have more light inside the cage.

These are some of the basics will the cages. There is plenty more and many ideas around the forum, just search ;)
 
thanks mannn dont mind if i ask a lot of questions because i really want to learn when i buy my cage and my live plants do i fill the bottom of the cage with regular soil and put the plants in then fill all the spots with rocks? is that correct ?
 
No again, lol.

Bare bottoms haha, otherwise the chameleon can ingest the bedding which can cause impactation. (i believe that's the term). The soil or any other substrate will block the digestive tract and eventually kill the cham. Having substrate also makes it tedious to clean the cage.
 
Depends on where you live and how your setup is. I use it once in a while because I run my A/C all day. Preferably, though, use the MistKing (automatic mister). It is relatively expensive (everything in this hobby is), but will work perfectly.
 
LickMyShoe said:
also need more info on basking temp lolol would u be able to explain me that please
Click to expand...

Basking temperatures depend on what species of chameleon you have, and if it is a male or a female. The basking spot is where the chameleon will go to heat up. Depending on what distance you have the basking spot at from the light and what bulb size you have, you'll get different temperatures. For example, you may have a 60W bulb at 8 inches from the basking spot and get an 87 degree temperature reading, but then decide you want to lower the temperature, you can either A) change the bulb to a lower wattage or B) raise the lamp with the 60W bulb. using a mx of these two techniques, you should be able to get the perfect basking spot temperature for the species and gender of cham you will get.

Also, the lights are placed at the TOP of the cage on the OUTSIDE, otherwise the chameleon can be burned.



I also forgot to mention, when using a humidifier, clean it thoroughly often to prevent bacteria.
 
I have mine outside the cage, on the floor, but run a hose all the way to the top which allows the fog to cover the entire cage and keeping the humidity up all around.
 
Again, depends on where you live. I would not use it with a baby.
Having a humidifier DOES NOT replace misting whatsoever. Misting is essential to the care of chameleons.
 
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