VeiledOwner87
New Member
so i am on this facebook forum for herp keepers in my city and it's district. There is a person on there who has just recently gotten a chameleon, and because of my interest and pics, more people are getting interested, which i dont think is a good thing lol. anyways, i took it upon myself to write a discussion topic on chameleons, their care and essentials you need. i didnt peak or copy and paste anybody's information, what i wrote is everything i've learned since keeping chameleons and all i've learned on here. so i guess this is the test, how much have i learned. its is aiming more towards panthers and veileds because that is generally all i see coming out of this city, so i did a quick care sheet on the two as well. it is a super long post, but if you guys are willing, help me out and critique it, showing me where i went wrong so i can edit. regardless though, i think this is a major boost for educating my community seeing as there are pet store employees and owners on the group page as well. I wrote it, but i look at it as all of OUR voices being heard for proper chameleon care!
here it is.
CARE AND HUSBANDRY for CHAMELEONS
Chameleons are one of the toughest reptiles to care for in captivity. There are many things that need to be taken in consideration before buying one. The two most popular species of chameleons in the trade here in Ontario, and usually readily offered at pet stores and expo shows are Chamaeleo Calyptratus (the Veiled Chameleon) and Furcifer Pardalis (the Panther Chameleon). You will also be able to find smaller species once in a while such as Rhampholeon Brevicadatus (the Bearded Pygmy Chameleon) which is not considered a true chameleon, but a false chameleon due to their size.
In thinking about getting a chameleon, you need to consider the following in order to properly care for it:
- space
- time
- dedication
- money (proper supplies, vet bills, a variety of different foods)
Chameleons are vulnerable reptiles that need all of these, and a vet visit in almost any case of illness is the most important thing you can offer. Chameleons are easily prone to stress, and like all animals, stress = death.
Stress can be caused by:
- to much handling
- constant hands in the cage (moving things around, trying to pick it up)
- the sight of other animals, especially other chameleons. with multiple chameleons and reptiles in one room, it is important to provide visual barriers between the cages ( garbage bag sheet, card board, etc)
- high traffic areas where the cage is located (ie: living room)
- loud vibrations, music (chameleons do not have ears, but their hearing is based on Decibals (Db) the pick up on vibrations and will then do what they have to do to defend or escape, and doing either will cause stress.
it is important to see if any of these will be an issue in the "considering of buying process"
ACCLIMATION:
The process of chameleon acclimation is very crucial to get your cham off to a nice healthy start in your care. Unfortunatly, not too many petstores properly care for chameleons because of their lack of knowledge. Many times I have seen chameleons extreamly lethargic, with symptoms of sleeping during the day, sunken eyes due to dehydration, and very slim due to loss of appetite. I have also seen cases of chameleons and other reptiles with MBD (metabolic bone disease). If you see a chameleon with these conditions like this, DO NOT purchase. Vet bills will be very costly. Dehydration is a common thing for recieving any new chameleon. Buying one of these reptiles at a store, an expo, or even having them shipped will have a result in dehydration.
When acclimating your chameleon you need to provide as much water as it can drink and at its own pace. A good 5 minute mistdown a couple times a day is needed not only for acclimating, but in the regular process of captivating it. Chameleons need higher hydration. In regards to water, a dripper is commonly used to provide dripping drinking water at all times and can be fixed to 1 drop of water a second to last you hours. Chameleons DO NOT drink from water dishes. They need moving water to do this with. Waterfalls are NOT a good idea nor a healthy one either, because the filtration in waterfalls isnt sufficient enough to clean the water, it grows bacteria very quickly, and chameleons tend to poop in waterfalls frequently. It is NOT healthy.
Feeding is also very important for acclimating, but is due to the condition, sex and weight of the animal. (ie, at any point in a females age past the starting point of sexual maturity, it is important along with the factor of temperature, not to over feed a female, or feed it every day. this is will enable an infertile clutch of eggs to be produced and in great amounts, which can lead to easy egg binding, stress or just take a great toll off of the chameleon's life)
*NOTE* always offer food, but being placed from one place into a completely new place will be very confusing, a chameleon may eat very little or none at all for the first day or two, to even a week. this IS normal.
The last and another important aspect of acclimation is privacy. It is simple enough to know that a chameleon will not process into it's new home any quicker, and will stay stressed and refrain from drinking or eating if you are watching it, in the same room, or trying to handle it. LET IT BE!.
here it is.
CARE AND HUSBANDRY for CHAMELEONS
Chameleons are one of the toughest reptiles to care for in captivity. There are many things that need to be taken in consideration before buying one. The two most popular species of chameleons in the trade here in Ontario, and usually readily offered at pet stores and expo shows are Chamaeleo Calyptratus (the Veiled Chameleon) and Furcifer Pardalis (the Panther Chameleon). You will also be able to find smaller species once in a while such as Rhampholeon Brevicadatus (the Bearded Pygmy Chameleon) which is not considered a true chameleon, but a false chameleon due to their size.
In thinking about getting a chameleon, you need to consider the following in order to properly care for it:
- space
- time
- dedication
- money (proper supplies, vet bills, a variety of different foods)
Chameleons are vulnerable reptiles that need all of these, and a vet visit in almost any case of illness is the most important thing you can offer. Chameleons are easily prone to stress, and like all animals, stress = death.
Stress can be caused by:
- to much handling
- constant hands in the cage (moving things around, trying to pick it up)
- the sight of other animals, especially other chameleons. with multiple chameleons and reptiles in one room, it is important to provide visual barriers between the cages ( garbage bag sheet, card board, etc)
- high traffic areas where the cage is located (ie: living room)
- loud vibrations, music (chameleons do not have ears, but their hearing is based on Decibals (Db) the pick up on vibrations and will then do what they have to do to defend or escape, and doing either will cause stress.
it is important to see if any of these will be an issue in the "considering of buying process"
ACCLIMATION:
The process of chameleon acclimation is very crucial to get your cham off to a nice healthy start in your care. Unfortunatly, not too many petstores properly care for chameleons because of their lack of knowledge. Many times I have seen chameleons extreamly lethargic, with symptoms of sleeping during the day, sunken eyes due to dehydration, and very slim due to loss of appetite. I have also seen cases of chameleons and other reptiles with MBD (metabolic bone disease). If you see a chameleon with these conditions like this, DO NOT purchase. Vet bills will be very costly. Dehydration is a common thing for recieving any new chameleon. Buying one of these reptiles at a store, an expo, or even having them shipped will have a result in dehydration.
When acclimating your chameleon you need to provide as much water as it can drink and at its own pace. A good 5 minute mistdown a couple times a day is needed not only for acclimating, but in the regular process of captivating it. Chameleons need higher hydration. In regards to water, a dripper is commonly used to provide dripping drinking water at all times and can be fixed to 1 drop of water a second to last you hours. Chameleons DO NOT drink from water dishes. They need moving water to do this with. Waterfalls are NOT a good idea nor a healthy one either, because the filtration in waterfalls isnt sufficient enough to clean the water, it grows bacteria very quickly, and chameleons tend to poop in waterfalls frequently. It is NOT healthy.
Feeding is also very important for acclimating, but is due to the condition, sex and weight of the animal. (ie, at any point in a females age past the starting point of sexual maturity, it is important along with the factor of temperature, not to over feed a female, or feed it every day. this is will enable an infertile clutch of eggs to be produced and in great amounts, which can lead to easy egg binding, stress or just take a great toll off of the chameleon's life)
*NOTE* always offer food, but being placed from one place into a completely new place will be very confusing, a chameleon may eat very little or none at all for the first day or two, to even a week. this IS normal.
The last and another important aspect of acclimation is privacy. It is simple enough to know that a chameleon will not process into it's new home any quicker, and will stay stressed and refrain from drinking or eating if you are watching it, in the same room, or trying to handle it. LET IT BE!.
