Hello all. a Newbie here! :)

[jrosler04]

Hi everyone!

I am Jess. I am from Southern ohio. I am 25 & work in the home healthcare field. I have lots of critters already ranging from dogs (mostly great danes), to cats, a scarlet macaw, a horse, hermit crabs, guinea pigs, etc.

I do animal rescue, so I get lots of critters in on foster basis as well!


I have always wanted a chameleon as a pet, and I have decided that now that my work schedule is normal & I can afford one, I would like to begin learning to see if they are even the right pet for me.. and also, if I decide I can handle the care, I will need to know proper care & what species would be best.

I see too many animals surrendered at the rescue to just leap in & then decide I am in over my head...

anyways, I will be lurking around a LOT, and asking tons of questions, so be prepared!!

 

[suzi]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Justin Ward]

glad you decided to do your research, it makes everything easier and not so stressful in the long run...i think jannb has a blog for new cham owners and im sure she will chime in with the link, but use the search option bc there is a wealth of knowledge on here...let us know if you have any questions, and welcome to the forum

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Hi Jess, welcome!
There are several people here from Ohio, maybe you will find you live close to some.
There are amazing, knowledgeable people here with big hearts willing to help anyone who is open to listening and learning.
good luck with your information search, and I hope you do indeed decide a Chameleon is right for you
Several of us also have horses and birds, incl me!
Ask away, anne

 

[drcrossfire]

Welcome to the best addiction ever !

We are all here to help ya with whatever you need!

 

[laurie]

Hello Jess, from Ohio. Welcome to the forum. It always thrills me when people do the research prior to buying the pet, no matter what kind of pet. You will meet a lot of knowledgeable. helpful people here , there are some great keepers in Ohio & one lousy one. We get all kinds here. If we can help ask away & any time you need more information, I am just a PM away.

 

[molson101]

It depends what you like. The main three are Veiled, Panther and Jackson's Chameleons. If you like the big helmet and very green type then its a Veiled. If you like Horns then you want a Jackson's. And if you like lots of colours then you want a Panther. For all of them the minimum cage size when there adults is 24x24x48 Screen Cage. A Basking Lamp of 50 Watts. And a Reptisun 5.0 for UVB. For supplementation you need Cacium without D3 every feeding. Calcium with D3 2x a Month. And Hertivite/Multivitamin Once to Twice a Month. All the temperatures and Humidity are different so it depends what you want.


There is also Pygmy Chameleons that need alot smaller requirements but they are brown and not as attractive but they are very cute. They do not need a Screen Cage.

 

[jrosler04]

I am really not sure on which species I want.. I have seen the different species & I can generally identify them... I have always wanted one, but..

My mom is DEATHLY afraid of snakes, and she says they look like a snake & she is terrified of them, so i've had to hold off! lol

Are there any species that are better about being handled than other species?

I did fall in love with a HUGE male Veiled @ a petstore locally & he was cheap... $150 for him, the screen cage & everything, I just didn't feel I was ready, and he wasn't friendly at all! He came right to the edge the moment he saw you, but touch that zipper & he was hissing up a storm... I knew I hadn't done enough research, and I kinda want to start off with something younger...

I REALLY love the colors of a panther, but I also liked the veiled, I'm sure if they are like my guinea pigs & hermit crabs, I won't be able to stop with just 1!!

 

[carol5208]

Welcome to the forums and please ask away! Don't be shy, that is what we are here for! I am sure your mom will fall in love with your chameleon! How could she not??!!! A panther is a great choice!