Degree of Difficulty

[JohnnyD]

I bought three panthers to start my obsession. They are doing very well thanks to this forum and hours of reading and research, they are pampered and living a great life. I want to add a few more very soon. Besides veiled what species would be the next level as far as degree of difficulty to care for without going to the extreme. How would you rank the husbandry concerns of various species.

 

[Monties1982]

How do you define "going to the extreme"?

 

[gpmo]

Panther to Parsonii would be extremes

Gpmo (him)

p.s. Monties its nice seeing another person from Norther Colorado we are over in Ft. Collins

 

[JohnnyD]

Some species I have heard are extremely difficult to care for/keep alive as compared to others. Panthers and veileds are often refered to as more forgiving of mistakes where as others are not. I don't really want veileds but welcome the challenge of a new species but don't want the most sensative or fragile specimens.

 

[Elizadolots]

Whatever type you decide on, I'd go for captive bred. I think wild caught chameleons have a degree of difficulty built in.

Are all of your veileds male? If not, then a female would be a natural "step up in difficulty" (not a gigantic step, I admit) and bring with it the possibility of breeding, which would be an entirely new adventure.

 

[JohnnyD]

I have 1.2 Ambilobe now. I want to try something other than veileds. Maybe someone with multi species experience could give a little advice.

 

[Elizadolots]

Do you have any size restrictions? That might play a part in what people suggest.

 

[JohnnyD]

No, I can make room.

 

[pssh]

Jacksons? Good starter montane.

 

[CNorton]

Yeah, Kara is right. Jacksons are the next level up on a degree of difficulty IMO. But on that same level I believe are carpets, fischer's, senegals, and verrucosus....several others. Just be very sure they are captive bred! I personally would recommend fischer's!

 

[Elizadolots]

From what I've seen, there are more captive bred Jackson's out there than any other typically wild caught chameleon.

You might want to check the classified forum here to see if one of the members has babies available.

FFSTRescue recently posted about a surprise batch of Rudis. Rudis are absolutely adorable and absolutely not Veileds... You might want to check with him.

 

[chamyndst8]

Parsons chameleon, but there super expensive. Or get a lizard outside of the chameleon family, like a gila monster.

 

[JohnnyD]

Jacksons are what I was thinking before I posted this thread. Thanks.

 

[James45]

jackson's are a good choice. quite the little characters they are