First time getting a chameleon

[brooksay]

My first reptile I ever got was a leopard gecko when i was like 13 years old and it acually lived for 2 1/2 years, when i turned 17 i got a bearded dragon and it just died about 6 months ago and im about to turn 21 so it was pretty old itself. But I've decided i want to get a chameleon and have never raised one. I've heard that certain types can be hard to raise and others can be pretty simple. I in no way am looking for one that i don't have to give attention and play with, in fact its the opposite. I was basically wondering which type of chameleon is good for your first one? Apparently, through reading many threads i've found out all of you guys are pretty experienced and educated about chameleons. The lady at the petsmart told me that the jackson's chameleon are a good chameleon, but then again she does just work at petsmart; and could be an expert, but could also just be trying to get a commission. Basically I'm looking for a type of chameleon that isn't ridiculously expensive, but at the same time one that can change to vibrant colors, or one that is just always cool colors. The main thing I'm looking for is a chameleon that will be chill with hanging out in my hand and climbing around on my shoulders and head like my leapord gecko loved. The bearded dragon was cool as an adolescent, but when he got full grown he was a straight up dick and would hiss and try to bight my friends... definitely don't want a chameleon that gets ornery.

also where can you get good deals on chameleons and from someone who won't sell you one that is sick, because my leopard gecko was, not to my knowledge at the time because i was 13, on the verge of death when i bought him; and was extremely hard to keep alive for the first 4 weeks i had him.

~ Thanks for any response, anything is appreciated
Brooks Smith

 

[drcrossfire]

sounds like you want a veiled chameleon-- they are the most forgiving and inexpensive.

 

[brooksay]

appreciate the feedback so quickly

thanks alot, thats actually the kind i was looking to get, they are sooooo cool looking and I actually played with one at the petsmart near me the other day, do you think it is a good idea to buy one from them. or would it be a better idea to go through a breeder? I feel like their prices at petsmart were alot more than what people ask on these forums and it would be alot cooler to raise it from a real young age. Is getting a hatchling a bad or good idea? I just don't wanna do anything wrong when pets die its almost like losing a family member.

sorry for all the questions im just really excited

~Brooks Smith

 

[drcrossfire]

You want to get one that is at least a few months old. I would recommend going to a breeder on the sponsor list, or in the classifieds. If you buy it from petsmart it encourages them to get more, and generally... they dont give them the attention they deserve

 

[brooksay]

about raising a veiled

what all would i need as for an environment for a male veiled... like literally everything, because i have my heart set on getting one and want to start figuring out what i need to get. Ill be getting a nice paycheck in june and wanna get a pretty colored one, but until then i'd like to start getting the habitat set up. and are there better/worse breeds of veileds, i really would like a beautiful colored one if i'm gonna devote alot of money and time to it, i might as well spend a couple more bucks up front on a nice looking one. I realized after reading that a terrarium that i used for the leopard gecko and the bearded dragon was glass and more horizontal so i need to figure out what sized and should it be a mesh/screen terrarium?

is it bad to get them shipped? I can't find a dealer in Atlanta, and pretty much no one in Ga even sells veileds, there are some people on craigslist but they have either babies/unhealthy looking ones/ or old really expensive ones... don't know why i would wanna pay alot of money for an old one... wouldn't they just die?

thanks for all your help dude

~Brooks Smith

 

[Drew V]

your gunna want a screen cage 24"x24"x48" seems to be the minimum recommended cage size for a full grown veiled, so you might as well start out with that size and not have to buy another later. That will prob run you about $100 then
a dome light for basking,
a florescent light fixture for your 5.0 UVB bulb
(both of which you probably have if you've had reptiles)
a dripper (though u can just make one)
either a hand mister or an automatic one (depending on budget)
3 supplements (calcium, Calcium w D3, multivitamin)
a thermometer with a prob for measuring basking temps.
and of course plants, vines

As for the chameleon itself, i have seen some breeders that have Veiled with lots of yellows just look around on the forum sponsors pages.

Also just wanted to chime in and say Chams aren't usually the most .. friendly creatures, there are exceptions, but mostly they like being left alone. And veiled are notoriously .. bitey

 

[AllFallDown]

And veiled are notoriously .. bitey

Yep! Love that word, bitey.

My avatar is a picture of my bitey veiled by the way. Love him to lack of death despite the fact that lately he has tried to take my hand off ever time I reach in!

 

[Drago]

Which are easier to take care of? Male or female? Does it matter?

 

[jannb]

Which are easier to take care of? Male or female? Does it matter?

Start with a male. Females lay egg and that can be tricky. Veileds can be nice and friendly. It all depends on how you keep them and treat them. Mine have all been little teddy bears.

My blog for new keeper linked below.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[Drago]

Start with a male. Females lay egg and that can be tricky.

Kinda what I figured, thank you for the info.