newbie here

[alwayzz]

hello all
as stated i am a newbie i have always been a chameleon fan and decided to add one to the family. I have been buying my setup little by little because as you all pry know things do get expensive. I do have a couple more small things to add before i get my new little friend, however I wanted to ask you all what you may think would be a good "starter" chameleon for me? Is having a male/female easier? would it be better to get more than one, or do they do better solo cause I heard they are better off solo but please correct me if I'm wrong. Also is it necessery to have the night infred blubs along with the daytime? And i've been reading that screen cages are better but here in colo. it gets rather cold I would think it would be harder for it to stay warm, i do have a exo-terra open front glass cage, I hope will it be fine in that.I do have a waterfall in the cage but now that I have been reading more on this website it looks as if I should get rid of it, but i thought adding the Aquatize and Biotize to the water with regular cleanings would be okay. Plus misting in the morn.might bee fine. I wanted the waterfall because it has a fogger on a timer and I thought it would be good for the humitity.(yet again correct me if I'm wrong) As for substrates I have moss covering the ground for humitity also but can easily change that out when i notice it getting dirty. I do know certin types of chams. are harder and want to build up some experience before i venture into something I wasn't prepared for. I am an avid animal lover and would never want to be one of those people who get one only to have the wrong setup for the lil guy and have him get sick because of my naieviety (<-- I don't think that's spelled right). I am open to any advice and am defenitaly willing to learn off you "experts." thanks all for taken the time to read and respond.

 

[Rocky]

i got a veiled a few months ago as my first and he has been really easy to take care of. One thing i learned is that you can get stuff off the internet a lot cheaper than at pet stores. The chameleons are cheaper here as well. Check out either the sponsors here for pretty good deals

 

[royden]

Welcome to the boards!

As for starter chameleon, I say just buy what you want, as long as you're committed to the care. Everyone says veileds are the good starter cham, but I think panthers are a great too.

Depends on the investment.

Don't start with a parsons or melleri!

Good luck!

 

[jannb]

Get a male so you don't have to deal with egg laying. Solo is the way to go. Screen cage is best and no night heat unless it falls to 60 or below at night. If you are thinking about a Veiled read this: http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
You will fine a ton of much needed information here. Jann

 

[Jeremy l]

welcome to the fourm, none are easy to take care of they require alot of time and good husbentry. the two chams i, and im sure others will agree on are the panther, and veild chams. get a male if its your 1st cham. females require a little more work. make sure you have a screen cage for these two types of chams. there are alot of good people here to help you out so if you have any questions please ask.

once again welcome

jeremy

 

[opihiman]

Welcome to the forums.

would it be better to get more than one, or do they do better solo cause I heard they are better off solo but please correct me if I'm wrong.
Chams are pretty much solitary creatures. In the wild they get together for mating and then part their separate ways. I you do decide to get 2, they should be kept separate to avoid unneeded stress.

Also is it necessery to have the night infred blubs along with the daytime?
Depending on your ambient temperatures, viv location , and the needs of your cham, you may need the IR Light. However most keeper will use a reg incandescent bulb to produce the needed heat.

What you will need is a UV B light. and not the curly bulb type. The most recommended light her will be a flourenct tube light UVB 5.0 or something compatible.


And i've been reading that screen cages are better but here in colo. it gets rather cold I would think it would be harder for it to stay warm, i do have a exo-terra open front glass cage,
there is hot debate when ever this question is asked. Keepers ahve been successful using glass types of viv. Most keepers here will recommend screened. But what one keeper explained is that the worse thing to have is moist stagnant air as this is more than likely to lead to a Upper resp Infection. so if you can figure out some way of getting adequet ventilation to allow the viv to dry out in between misting and still maintain your humidity and temp. you should be fine.

Personally I think the your location will make the biggest difference. for example if you live in a very cold and dry area you may be able use a glass viv to help to maintain your environment. I am in Hawaii where the ambient environment is perfect for my chams. so a screen viv works well.

The best thing I could recommend is choose your cham and see if you can replicate it normal conditions and maintain it where you are located. this would also include prevention of the stagnant air thing

I do have a waterfall in the cage but now that I have been reading more on this website it looks as if I should get rid of it, but i thought adding the Aquatize and Biotize to the water with regular cleanings would be okay.
..... fogger on a timer and I thought it would be good for the humitity.

waterfalls look cool and even I bought one. The biggest problem with them will be the need to sanitize and clean the darn thing every day. true you could put the disinfectors but you still would have a pond perfect for bacteria. also with the little cracks that your pond will have, you will end up with a new home for crickets and other food insects to hide and make a house in. I would recommend agains the waterfall and fog mist thing.

As for substrates I have moss covering the ground for humitity also but can easily change that out when i notice it getting dirty.

here is another debatable subject right now. Most keepers will say no substrate due to the possibility of impaction not mention the possibly of festering bacteria, and the smell that will be generated. Now the other side of the coin will say that substrate is possible if you have fully created an ecology to maintain it. search for a thread bye "dyesub Dave" re substrate. very intresting re a well thought out ecology to have substrate in his viv. for a beginer the answer would probably be no if you asking me .

Hope that have fun with your pet.

HOPE THIS HELPs TOO

OPI

 

[kinyonga]

Here are some good sites to read to learn more....
http://www.adcham.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...als.com/vet/index.php?show=8.Gout.Basics.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/uvinviv.htm
https://www.chameleonforums.com/supplementation-mbd-1-a-2451/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

 

[alwayzz]

thanks

thanks to all you who have responded I've gotten some good info. off of you all. the websites were helpful so i'm pry gonna make a few changes then and keep looking for my cham that i want. so thanks again

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Hey!
The "Raising Kitty" site is mine and I am also in Colorado.
Screen is the way to go here.
No waterfall or fogger (sorry)
No red lamp or night time heat source.
Start with a veiled ... you're going to end up getting more eventually anyway....

-Brad

 

[keecoi]

welcome! As for me,I started with a veiled and I agree with brad, you'll probably end up with more eventually.and I second all what others said.again,welcome!

 

[dodolah]

welcome aboard.
Everybody has given you great advice!

Be careful of catching the dreaded virus of chamaeleophilia.
I am among the others are the victim

 

[alwayzz]

thanks for the welcome all

I will defentaly post some pics when i do finally get my cham. you've all been a big help.