New guy here with some questions

C

cham dude

New Member
I'm looking at starting this hobby and looking for some advice. I haven't bought anything yet, just doin research. Here are my questions:
1. Enclosure, should I build one or buy it? I found a new Reptibreeze 2'x2'x4' for $80 or should I just build one? I am pretty handy with wood working and it wouldn't be too hard to build if I could find some plans.
2. What to put in the enclosure?
3. What do I NEED, and what is nice to have.
4. What type of Chameleon do I get? I like the red Panthers and my wife likes the veiled. Pros and Cons of each. I went to a couple of reptile pet shops today and neither of them had any Chams and they didn't know too much about them.

I have been reading a couple of books and I have got some of the basics down. I just don't want to spend a bunch of money on stuff that I don't need. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Adam
 
Welcome!

1. If you think you're handy, then definitely build your final, adult cage. However, unless you buy an adult cham you will need a smaller cage for the first few months while your cham grows in size. In that case, I recommend just buying that one. As an adult cage you'll need a minumum of 2' x 2' x 4'h cage, but I actually recommend that if you build something you add another foot or two to the width of the cage. But if you build then you can go as big as you want.

2. Hopefully this will help:
cageillustration.jpg


3. You NEED: 1. UVB bulb- A reptisun 5.0 linear bulb is best. 2. A regular household bulb (like 40-60w) to keep a warm hot spot of 80-85*F. You will also need to have live plants in the cage to keep humidity up as well as provide cover and places to hide. Branches or vines will provide additional pathways to move around the cage. And finally, a temperature and humidity guage to keep track of what the levels are doing in your cage.

You will also need to mist quite heavily, so I recommend getting a pesticide pump from Lowe's or Home Depot that can spray continuously. That way you're not squeezing a spray bottle until your fingers get sore. And because of all the water, you might have to prop the cage up on a stand of some sort and drill holes so that the excess water falls into a bucket or something. This is what I labeled as drainage.

4. Both are great starter chameleons. Veileds need lightly higher temps and don't like it quite as humid. Panthers have a reputation for being slightly more delicate, but I don't think the difference is major. Both can be just as mean or just as nice, so their personalities are just luck of the draw. When it comes down to it, it'll be just personal preference.

Hope that helps!
 
Welcome to the forums, Olimpia gave you some awesome advice, you should look at the site sponsors here in regards to acquiring your chameleon, the breeders on here have a good track record of supplying healthy chameleons and it is very important to start your experience off right

Before you order your chameleon it is suggested that you have everything setup before he/she gets there, including supplements that you will need to dust your feeders with. The recommended schedule is as follows
Reptivite Calcium = Daily
Reptivite Calcium w/d3 = twice a month
Herpivite vitamins and minerals = twice a month

One of the things that is not essential but makes the upkeep so much easier especially if you may acquire more chameleons in the future is a misting system

Mistking and Aquazamp are the most common people use here on the forum and you can do a search to read about the comparisons on the 2, there have been endless debates and opinions
 
So, what kind of plants should I get. And thanks for the quick responses. Also I am looking at FL Chams for a possible source.
 
Anything that isn't poisonous if eaten, really. Veileds have a habbit of nibbling on plants so you want them to be safe. The same thing for panthers, in case they hit a leaf by accident or get curious. The most popular choices are: ficus, umbrella plant (schefflera), pothos, and hibiscus. The hibiscus tend to be sort of hard to keep under normal cage lighting, so I've never had luck with them.
 
krknieriem said:
Before you order your chameleon it is suggested that you have everything setup before he/she gets there, including supplements that you will need to dust your feeders with. The recommended schedule is as follows
Reptivite Calcium = Daily
Reptivite Calcium w/d3 = twice a month
Herpivite vitamins and minerals = twice a month
Click to expand...

That's an absolute horrible dusting schedule.
You're suggesting he dusts with a vitamin supplement daily?
 
Dont get hisbiscus, I just killed 2 of those. They dont seem to hold up indoors

Pathos is very hardy and I am just trying out a shefflera and so far so good

It doesnt matter where you get them from but you are going to want to replant them with organic soil and put rocks the cham cant ingest over the soil

If you dont replant you may bring knats into your home
 
There are several sponsors that sell both species of chameleon that you are looking for. I am sure that they all have some quality babies for sale. That being said, after researching for the past month, I have decided to spend my money with the Kammers......www.chameleonsonly.com. They are both very knowledgable and will answer anything that you throw at them, question wise. I too, am "sorta" new to owning chameleons since I haven't had one since about 1995. This forum is a true WEALTH of knowledge and you can learn so much by just doing searches and reading.

The "choice" as to which kind you are wanting to keep is between you and your wife........but you are in the RIGHT place to ask your questions.

Welcome............

Winterhawk1960
 
where were u when i needed advice? :DDD

Olimpia said:
Welcome!

1. If you think you're handy, then definitely build your final, adult cage. However, unless you buy an adult cham you will need a smaller cage for the first few months while your cham grows in size. In that case, I recommend just buying that one. As an adult cage you'll need a minumum of 2' x 2' x 4'h cage, but I actually recommend that if you build something you add another foot or two to the width of the cage. But if you build then you can go as big as you want.

2. Hopefully this will help:
cageillustration.jpg


3. You NEED: 1. UVB bulb- A reptisun 5.0 linear bulb is best. 2. A regular household bulb (like 40-60w) to keep a warm hot spot of 80-85*F. You will also need to have live plants in the cage to keep humidity up as well as provide cover and places to hide. Branches or vines will provide additional pathways to move around the cage. And finally, a temperature and humidity guage to keep track of what the levels are doing in your cage.

You will also need to mist quite heavily, so I recommend getting a pesticide pump from Lowe's or Home Depot that can spray continuously. That way you're not squeezing a spray bottle until your fingers get sore. And because of all the water, you might have to prop the cage up on a stand of some sort and drill holes so that the excess water falls into a bucket or something. This is what I labeled as drainage.

4. Both are great starter chameleons. Veileds need lightly higher temps and don't like it quite as humid. Panthers have a reputation for being slightly more delicate, but I don't think the difference is major. Both can be just as mean or just as nice, so their personalities are just luck of the draw. When it comes down to it, it'll be just personal preference.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

everything he said hit the nail on the head. id recommened a male to start because thiers alot more challenges with females because of egg laying. male veileds go threw a very very mean stage where they dont like being handled at all. panthers go threw it to just usually not as bad. actually most male chams go threw this stage its kinda like chameleon puperty lol i know my cham is going threw it now and hisses if i even come in the room with him. but they do get over it and with time and luck any cham will get use to handleing. i got my cham from lllreptile and he came healthy as a horse. it could have just bn my luck tho. personally id go with the veiled just cuz thier cheaper and alittle less sensative but its up to you if u want a panther more its not that big of a risk thier both great starter chameleons if your willing to put in the time. i two am new to chameleons keeping and just started about 10days ago so i know completely how you feel. plants that i use and my cham loves are golden pothes, dwarf umbrella, and red begonia. just realize that chams that plants need extra care to make sure the plants are safe try the safeplant list on flchams.com and also remember that tomato fruit and plant all tho safe for humans is deadly to chams. good luck PM if u need help and ill do my best to help you. also upload pics when you get your cham. keep learning as much as you can so your chameleon experience will be a good one.
 
Ok, thanks everyone for the responses. Just curious, but what does the average power bill increase with one cage? I already have 2 reef tanks with metal halides and lots of water pumps, and a $400 a month power bill. Just wondering the power part of this hobby.
 
Also, I've never screened anything, do I just mitre a slot in the frame and put the rubber spline in the grove? And what diameter of mitre bit do I use?
 
Hey, you might have decided to diy, but I wanted to add my 2 cents regarding the repibreeze 2x2x4...DO NOT BUY ONE!, they are absolute crap with a big design flaw, I know this from personal experience. Cheap is not better.
Try diy sponsor here, much better quality
Now I will go read your thread!
Anne
 
What does this mean in your signature?: 3.0 ambilobe,1.0 nosy be .1 Holsteiner mare, 1.0 amazing 5 yo! I know the species, but what are the numbers?
 
Psi said:
That's an absolute horrible dusting schedule.
You're suggesting he dusts with a vitamin supplement daily?
Click to expand...

agreed reptivite even with out d3 is full of other vitamin and such,, unless u mean zoomed just plain calcium
as well if you are useing reptivite w/d3 and you only d3 source you will need to use it more often due to very low levels of d3 compared to other d3 formulas
jmo
hoj
 
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