Carpet Cham

[Maddie1234]

Hey
Does anyone know any websites or breeders in the uk that have carpet chameleons.


Also how often do u feed a chameleon is it like 3 times every other day or just put all the food u need in at once.


And how much food do they have

 

[Devokid]

Hey
Does anyone know any websites or breeders in the uk that have carpet chameleons.


Also how often do u feed a chameleon is it like 3 times every other day or just put all the food u need in at once.


And how much food do they have

I do not know UK breeders, but i can answer the other questions.

The amount to feed varies with age. Young chameleons will eat more as they are growing and need the extra energy. You should definitely NOT dump all the bugs in. The bugs will eat the chameleon and it is unhealthy for your chameleon. I feed my carpet adults 2~3 small dubias every other day or so. The babies are fed every day. Here is a fantastic article on carpet care:

http://www.chameleonnews.com/06MayStanford.html

 

[Maddie1234]

Ok thnx
How do u feed them?

And how long can they stay out their cage

 

[kinyonga]

If you are asking about feeding then I wonder if you know about supplementing, gutloading and feeding the insects and appropriate temperatures and proper lighting??

 

[zlew]

yeah, definitely look at the care sheets.

 

[JanelleNOtto]

Learn as much as you can- you want to be as prepared as you can for a new chameleon.

 

[Maddie1234]

How long can they stay out of their cage

 

[Lathis]

Maddie, I don't mean to be rude, but you are asking a lot of really basic questions. It makes me worry that you are not quite prepared. Chameleons are very high maintenance animals - far more than other reptiles. It may cost you a few hundred pounds getting all the equipment and supplies together. Plus you need to have a veterinarian that specializes in chameleons and a fund for vet costs which can get very expensive. Lights, supplements, misting systems, insects... It adds us quickly.

Have you read through all the general care information on the forum? If you go to the main page of chameleon forums, at the right side is a box called "Start Here". There is all the basic information you need to get started. There isn't a care sheet for carpet chams, but if you do some searching, I sure someone here has specific advice.

I just don't want your to get in over your head. Chameleons are fantastic, really special animals, but they are a " lookin but don't touch " animal for the most part and can be rather delicate in health.

 

[johnnyev]

If you really want to get a chameleon, you (& possibly the chameleon) would be better off getting an easier to keep species. Carpet chameleons can be quite shy & fragile. Definitely not a first chameleon species to keep in my opinion. And quite difficult to obtain in the uk.
Personally i'd go for a nice male panther. Especially if you want to handle them as part of your interaction. Most of them actually appear to enjoy being handled, once settled in & used to their keepers. Plenty of info around on their care too.

 

[Miss Lily]

I am in the UK and have a Carpet - I got mine from ChameleonworldMuji, but I don't think he breeds them any more. You could try Chameleoco - if they don't have any they may know someone who has.

I have had several chams and my Carpet is the only one that has bitten me! As others have said above - do plenty of research before you jump in as they can be expensive! You really need to know what you are doing as it's a lot of money to lose should the cham die due to improper care. Also bear in mind that vets fees can be costly too! Plus there's the initial set up cost - cage, lighting (both heat and UV) and a thermostat, plants and vines/branches etc, all before you even purchase the chameleon itself. That said, I care for mine the same way as a Panther.

 

[johnnyev]

I am in the UK and have a Carpet - I got mine from ChameleonworldMuji, but I don't think he breeds them any more. You could try Chameleoco - if they don't have any they may know someone who has

Yes funnily enough could have got a nice male myself recently. Someone close to where i live was selling a beautiful male. But timing was wrong, so passed info to someone in the uk that has two females. Hopefully we might see some CB ones in the not too distant future.

 

[Maddie1234]

Yes funnily enough could have got a nice male myself recently. Someone close to where i live was selling a beautiful male. But timing was wrong, so passed info to someone in the uk that has two females. Hopefully we might see some CB ones in the not too distant future.

Maddie, I don't mean to be rude, but you are asking a lot of really basic questions. It makes me worry that you are not quite prepared. Chameleons are very high maintenance animals - far more than other reptiles. It may cost you a few hundred pounds getting all the equipment and supplies together. Plus you need to have a veterinarian that specializes in chameleons and a fund for vet costs which can get very expensive. Lights, supplements, misting systems, insects... It adds us quickly.

Have you read through all the general care information on the forum? If you go to the main page of chameleon forums, at the right side is a box called "Start Here". There is all the basic information you need to get started. There isn't a care sheet for carpet chams, but if you do some searching, I sure someone here has specific advice.

I just don't want your to get in over your head. Chameleons are fantastic, really special animals, but they are a " lookin but don't touch " animal for the most part and can be rather delicate in health.

The reason I'm asking these questions is that I care sheets don't tell you that

 

[Galaxy]

Just an idea here, but if you want to make sure you have all the bases covered for getting a chameleon, fill out the questions people use to request help in the clinic with what you PLAN to have for your chameleon.

It would work as a guide for what you'll need, point you in the directions for what you need to research and tell everyone here what you already know.

That way, we can help you out by pointing out anything that will need fixing before there is a problem once you get the chameleon.

Here are the questions:

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
Handling - How often do you plan to handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description -((I'd study what the droppings and urates are supposed to look like on this one!))

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

 

[ridgebax1]

The reason I'm asking these questions is that I care sheets don't tell you that

Actually Maddie yes they do. Your questions are very basic and are addressed in the care sheets for the individual species of chameleon. I know that neither species about which you asked are covered there but many of the same husbandry techniques apply across species. As was mentioned caring for a chameleon is an expensive hobby. Proper equipment is expensive and the care for these animals is fairly demanding. Also as was mentioned, for someone who is inexperienced as you seem to be, a panther or veiled chameleon would be a better choice for a first time chameleon owner. They are a little more forgiving if you have some trouble maintaining humidity or temperature and even diet. Not that they wouldn't eventually get sick if something was done incorrectly on a consistent basis. I mention this because my first chameleon was cared for according to the instructions given me by the pet store that sold him to me. He lived with me for 18 months before he became ill and died because I did not provide the proper supplementation. My second and third chameleons both died within weeks of each other even though they had been well cared for, with proper temps/humidity, diet and lighting. So even though one does everything correctly problems can still arise to the detriment of the chameleon. Please follow the advise you have been given and look at the care sheets and perhaps start off with an easier species.

 

[Devokid]

If you really want to get a chameleon, you (& possibly the chameleon) would be better off getting an easier to keep species. Carpet chameleons can be quite shy & fragile. Definitely not a first chameleon species to keep in my opinion. And quite difficult to obtain in the uk.
Personally i'd go for a nice male panther. Especially if you want to handle them as part of your interaction. Most of them actually appear to enjoy being handled, once settled in & used to their keepers. Plenty of info around on their care too.

I disagree. Provided that they are CB, carpets are just as easy, maybe even more so, than Panthers. They are a little more shy and not as easily tamed, but they are a very hardy cham. I believe that she wanted a small chameleon as space was a concern.

 

[Maddie1234]

Thank you

You are the only one who understands

 

[TruBlu]

Yes but you don't have a clue and you need dissuading away from purchasing an animal that might well die in your care

 

[Maddie1234]

Am doing research

 

[nick barta]

You are not ready for a chameleon, in my opinion.

Your responses show defensiveness-"You are the only one who understands"
"I am asking because the care sheets don't show that."

You ignore advice and answering questions-

"Fill out the husbandry sheet."

"Have you gone to the General Care Start Here box on the right top of the forum."

"How old are you?"

"I wonder if you know about gut loading, supplementing, temperature, and lighting?"

If you don't want advice that helps, but only advice to confirm what you are doing is correct, you are not going to keep a chameleon alive, and will spend hundreds of pounds to make the mistake. And the chameleon will pay the biggest price….

Why not wait for several months, save up the money to buy the chameleon, 2 types of lighting and bulbs, cage, plants, supplements, vitamins, several feeder insects, and a vet bill fund, and see if you can prepare for the event before you do the buying of the chameleon?

Good advice does not always match what we want to hear, but it is beneficial to listen.


Nick

 

[zlew]

Well said