Hello people !

[CombiChrist]

Well hello there !

After registering it's time to introduce myself I'd think. I'm CombiChrist, or at least that's my nick on the net. In real life people tend to call me Lucien

My hobbies are tarantulas and piranhas. I don't keep piranhas anymore, at least not live specimens. Just dried ones and some in formalin for future investigations. The lots of water changes were the main reason for stopping with the aquarium hobby, too much pain in the back.
So after keeping some snakes and scorpions for a while I finally found another passion, tarantulas. I started with 18 to overcome the biggest fear and after that I switched to the one genus that really got my passion, the Theraphosa species. The biggest tarantulas alive.

So I never have kept a chameleon, nor while I for a while. However the girlfriend used to keep one, a Chamaeleo calyptratus. She doesn't have it anymore but she's starting to consider getting a new one within a couple of years.
And since I consider them very fascinating myself (and of course because she tolerates my spiders ), I'd say a chameleon might become a shared passion.

So all in all it might take another year before we actually get one, but I allready registered so I have plenty of time to do the homework

 

[jackscham]

Hello Combichrist.

Welcome to the forum! There is alot of information available here, and even more helpful members. It's nice to see that you are doing your research first!

 

[jessica]

Welcome to the forum! Just to warn you Chameleons are addictive too

 

[Hoj]

Welcome. i am very new to Chameleon husbandry and i have to say this site has been the most usefull source of info. the members are very knowledgeable and quick to help be sure to post some pics of you tarantulas in the other pets section and let us know wheen you get your cham.

 

[CombiChrist]

Thanks and indeed, doing some homework first is always a good start. At least it makes you know whát you're starting with.

@Jessica : great, just what I needed... anóther addiction to animals

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the forum! Its a good place to learn about chameleons!

Here's some information to start you off.......
Exposure to proper UVB, appropriate temperatures, supplements, a supply of well-fed/gutloaded insects, water and an appropriate cage set-up are all important for the well-being of your chameleon.

Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects before you feed them to the chameleon with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. (Some UVB lights have been known to cause health issues, so the most often recommended one is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light.) D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you and your parents to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200604210...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Yay! A fellow T lover I currently have a very small collection of 5 T's and 1 Scorpion but man do I love my little guys. Welcome!

 

[CombiChrist]

@Hoj : just posted some pics and of course you guys (and girls) will be the first to know when we get ourselves a cham !

@kinyonga : wow, with replies like that you don't need to search anymore
Just kidding, thanks for the information ! Looks like I indeed will have to do some research in advance for this'll be the first time UV lights are required. Can I use the cricket gel instead of calcium powder though ? I always use it to feed my cockroaches in order to feed my spiders extra calcium

@Pretty : what kinds do you keep, and what scorp ? I used to have some different species, but the Pandinus imperator was about the only one that I considerered interesting...

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I have an A. versicolor, G. rosea, B. auratum, A. avicularia (sling), and a P. irminia (sling). I had an O.B.T. little guy but I sold him. I regret it... My scorpion is a Dune Scorpion.

 

[PedroANDAshley]

Welcome I'm really glad you decided to join the forum and do your research c: there are just so many people that buy chameleons with out doing any research and of ends up fatal for the chameleon:c The search engine is a great place to find answers to your questions c:

 

[CombiChrist]

Nice collection
How's your G.rosea ? I had one but despite all the stories, it was the most nervous and defensive one I had before I switched to the Theraphosas !

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I agree, my G. rosea is very skitish and will put her fangs out for display with no hesitation. I think she is the most defensive... My B. autatum is just a hair flicker ALL the way. His butt is COMPLETELY bald, lol! So he has a pink booty... My A. versicolor, she is just a little piggy. If I even try and touch her, she thinks it's feeding time and will attack with the quickness. She bit me once but got my finger nail, I felt her fangs hit my nail and scrape off. Lol! On the other hand, my A. avic. is SUCH a sweet heart. How are your T's? As far as temperment go.

 

[CombiChrist]

My T's, well they are real Theraphosas... very nervous and defensive, with the worst urticating hairs. And the fangs of 2cm don't really invite to handle

 

[suzanneheil]

Well hello there !

After registering it's time to introduce myself I'd think. I'm CombiChrist, or at least that's my nick on the net. In real life people tend to call me Lucien

My hobbies are tarantulas and piranhas. I don't keep piranhas anymore, at least not live specimens. Just dried ones and some in formalin for future investigations. The lots of water changes were the main reason for stopping with the aquarium hobby, too much pain in the back.
So after keeping some snakes and scorpions for a while I finally found another passion, tarantulas. I started with 18 to overcome the biggest fear and after that I switched to the one genus that really got my passion, the Theraphosa species. The biggest tarantulas alive.

So I never have kept a chameleon, nor while I for a while. However the girlfriend used to keep one, a Chamaeleo calyptratus. She doesn't have it anymore but she's starting to consider getting a new one within a couple of years.
And since I consider them very fascinating myself (and of course because she tolerates my spiders ), I'd say a chameleon might become a shared passion.

So all in all it might take another year before we actually get one, but I allready registered so I have plenty of time to do the homework

Homework for us both.. my dear.. hoi..

 

[CombiChrist]

Well look what the cat just dragged in...
It's the lady I reffered to in my initial post hahaha !

I'll welcome you in your own introduction post

 

[Ricardo]

Welcome to the addiction!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

My T's, well they are real Theraphosas... very nervous and defensive, with the worst urticating hairs. And the fangs of 2cm don't really invite to handle

I agree, my larger T's are no handle pets i'm too much of a wuss... I DO however handle my 2 little slings, a bite from them would not be as bad as an adults and again, my A. avic. is a sweety and will just crawl on my hand without bolting. My P. irimia is very skitish and will dart off. Once they get to a larger size, I won't handle them.

 

[James45]

Welcome to the addiction. Oh and nice name also good band