ok, so we are wanting to get some cameleons - we have several other types of lizards already and the kids and I are fasinated by the cameleons. We are trying to research to see which kind would be best suited for us. We would like to ask opinions from people who already have them. We would like a species that has great coloring - we saw the panthers that have the ankaramy and nosy be varieties. If we do get them, we want two, but I have heard that the males have the better colorings and if that is true, can I keep two males in one large inclosure? Also which breed is better suited for handling (not like every day but sometimes) and has similar coloring to the ankaramy and nosy be panthers. HELP PLEASE, any advice would be great.
New and need HELP
- Thread starter LovinLife
- Start date
Julirs
New Member
My question would be how old are your kids and what is the activity level in your house. Chameleons are easily lethally stressed compared to most other lizards. They are solitary and mostly would prefer never to be handled or even looked at. They are territorial-need large enclosures, and you cannot keep any two together.
laurie
Retired Moderator
Welcome to the forum. I keep several type of lizards but nothing perpared me for the time, work and money of keeping a chameleon. First they are very fragile animals, if you or your children were to hold the chameleon often it could stress them to the point of you losing the chameleon. Also for the record a lot of chameleons bite. And I am talking bite as in need stiches, not a safe thing to hand to a child. Last the chameleon doesn't do well close to other animals, those also stree chameleons, as does seeing another chameleon! I love chameleons, but didn't do the needed research before purchasing my first one. Not good for me or the chameleon.
Last here is a web site you need to read completely to have an idea what you would be getting into. I am not telling you to not purchase a chameleon, but to do so if you are willing to maintain the chameleon as it needs to be maintained. The first chameleon to purchase would be a veiled chameleon, as they are the hardiest, they also are well know to be biters. Sorry.
raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com
Last here is a web site you need to read completely to have an idea what you would be getting into. I am not telling you to not purchase a chameleon, but to do so if you are willing to maintain the chameleon as it needs to be maintained. The first chameleon to purchase would be a veiled chameleon, as they are the hardiest, they also are well know to be biters. Sorry.
raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com
Lancecham
New Member
I agree with Laurie. A veiled would be the best start. They are cheap and hardy. Do all the research first as they are fragile. A ggod veiled to start out with may be a female. Females are generally as a whole much less agrressive than males. Males can be either very nice and just plain mean.
Feel free to PM with with any other questions.
Lance
Feel free to PM with with any other questions.
Lance
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Females may be less aggressive (my most aggressive chameleon is a female) but they are also more work and more difficult for beginners, due to the egg laying.
Chameleons are NOT an animal that goes well with children.
Chameleons are NOT an animal that goes well with children.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Murrdox
New Member
My Tips:
1) Keep researching. You should read through several care sheets like the one that was posted above, http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/ and make sure you know what you are getting into.
2) I would NOT suggest getting two chameleons right away. Chameleons are time consuming and difficult to take care of. I respect that you've owned lizards before, but really with Chameleons it is a whole different ballgame. This is a hobby you want to wade into, not jump into. Stick with one chameleon at first. If it works out well, buy a second in a year, after you have some experience.
3) You cannot house two males together in an enclosure, or even a male and a female.
4) What chameleon you start out with will depend on your budget as well as other factors.
- Jacksons are very gentle chams and acclimate well to people. They won't be as colorful as Panthers and Veileds, but they have horns which are super cool. Their humidity requirement can make them a bit difficult to care for.
- Veileds are not gentle by any means and will bite you. They're colorful and have a magnificent casque. They're inexpensive and a good starter.
- Panthers are some of the most colorful chameleons. They are fairly gentle, but their aggression factor can vary greatly. However, they are very expensive to purchase.
5) No chameleon is "suited" for handling. Different animals will tolerate different degrees of handling. Vieleds will be most likely to bite, followed by Panthers and Jacksons last. Handling your chameleon once a week for 10-20 minute periods of time is unlikely to cause any long term damage, as long as you are gentle and stop handling if the animal gets too stressed.
I hope this helps!
Here are some sites that you might like to read...
http://adcham.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...als.com/vet/index.php?show=8.Gout.Basics.html
http://chameleonnews.com/
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://adcham.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...als.com/vet/index.php?show=8.Gout.Basics.html
http://chameleonnews.com/
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
so veiled are more harty, but also more aggressive and may bite? my kids are ages 4 and 5 so the house is quite when they are in school, but when they are home it does tend to get a little noisy.
I did see that panthers are very expensive - do the veileds require less humidity?? we live in Nevada so its all desert - the jacksons are the least prone to bitting?? do the jacksons have to nice coloring or are they a little plainer?
I did see that panthers are very expensive - do the veileds require less humidity?? we live in Nevada so its all desert - the jacksons are the least prone to bitting?? do the jacksons have to nice coloring or are they a little plainer?
Julirs
New Member
I would never recommend a Jacksons for a first time owner-they need cooler temps and higher humidity. With kids that young I would never recommend a chameleon. Laurie was right-chameleons need time, money, and are alot of work. Chams do not hear, so noise is not an problem, but they are sensitive to vibration and visually stressed by the quick movements and constant activity of small children.
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