Newbie

[Drago]

First time here gang. I've read and reread the sticky's, lots of good Q&A there. I have a couple I didn't see covered. Not to say the info I'm seeking isn't there, it's quite possible I'm just in information overload

I came into this wanting a male Jackson, simply because I like the look but I'm reading that maybe a Jackson maybe isn't the best choice for a first Cham. So the questions...

I read here that Veileds and Panters are the most common, which, if either, is more hearty and easier to take care of?

Same question for a male over a female?

Is there a link as to how you guys go about buying, storing, feeding and possibly breading your own food? Crickets sound like the "go to" staple.

 

[stephen gedman]

welcome

welcome to the forum, ive got a veilled and would recomend one as a starter cham as they r a bit more forgivin & hardier than others, sayin that, u still need to take care , as for stable food i feed mine on locusts as crickets can bite your cham when hes sleepin so if u use them remember to remove the ones he doesnt eat at the end ov the day b4 lights out.

 

[Drago]

How do you guys handle the feeding if you go away for a night or two and have nobody willing to feed them?

Can this even be done with no or very little harm to the Cham?

 

[Kibu]

I am 4 panthers 4 a starter Cham, but veilds work 2, but if u really want a Jacksons go 4 it. I have seen many people use that as starter chams and succeed. Just keep doing what ur doing and research. It always helps to have someone else's opinion, but don't rely on just one. Whenever u have a question feel free to ask on here, but rely on several of the opinions u find, and do what works best 4 u. By the way if u get a Jacksons I wouldn't buy from petsmart 4 the following reasons:

- inadequate care (not going into this)
- unknown sire and dam (may result in genetic disorders from interbreeding)
-the neonates r often waaaay to young to be sold
-most of them have medical issues that employees fail to notice
-waaaay over priced!!! $130 4 one at petsmart vs. a pair 4 $85 from a local breeder

It is fairly simple to leave 4 a couple of days when u have a Cham. U just attach a Valve to a five gallon bucket and fill it halfway w/ water, and hang it up or set it on something above ur Cham cage 4 water. 4 the food I would just leave like 20-30 crickets in the cage if ur Cham is of decent size (6-8 mo). This has worked 4 us 4 a very long time w/ our chams. 4 the lighting have them on a Zilla timer outlet that u can set up to turn lights on and off at certain times.

 

[Drago]

Trust me, I understand the not buying anything alive from a Petsmart or Petco, etc. I'm sure this has been rehashed at nauseam on the forum so I’ll leave it at that.

That said, I would not have a problem buying prepackaged supplies from the box stores as long as I did the research and knew what I wanted before I walked in the door.

I'm glad to hear I can keep a few crickets in the cage for a couple days. I understand the Chams need to be decent size otherwise the crickets can actually turn on the Cham when they go to sleep? Also, I understand it's probably not a good idea to do it all the time, only when necessary because of being away for a couple days/nights.

I do have a period of time in early Sept where I know I will be gone for 4 days (3 nights) so I'm a bit concerned about that. I need to find someone not afraid of crickets lol. My girlfriend is going to freak knowing I'm storing live bugs, she may never step foot in my condo again lol.

 

[Kibu]

Yes the crickets sometimes will nibble on the chams regardless size, but it will most likely cause actual harm in juveniles.

 

[carol5208]

welcome to the forum and future chameleon ownership! All your questions will be answered here and then some! They are awesome animals to own!!. I hate crickets too, but for me they are the lesser of the two evils when it comes to feeding roaches!

 

[Drago]

Oh Geeze, forget roaches. If she knew I intentionally kept them, for sure she would not come over!!

Living in S FL. the big "Palmetto Bugs" are very, very common.

I would not have a problem handling any of these bugs as a food source but she would.

 

[carol5208]

there are actually roach colonies(yes people grow them) called Dubia but surpisingly they do not smell. Got news for ya...the crickets smell no matter how clean you keep their container! They are pooping machines!! I live in Florida also and I keep mine out on my screen patio. When you get your little guy make sure to take himout for natural sunshine. You will find that living in Florida and year round sunshine makes for an easier life keeping a chameleon.

 

[Drago]

Ah, I see you're in Lake Worth, I'm just south of you in Pompano Beach.

Yea, I have a screened in balcony

 

[carol5208]

what town do you live in

 

[Drago]

Pompano Beach. I'm near 95 and Hillsboro Bldv.

 

[carol5208]

oh you are not too far from me then. I am in lake worth. You can get some feeders at Ben Siegels reptiles they are on hillsboro in Deerfield. They have crickets, superworms, hornworms and they get silkworms too but don't always have them. These are some of the most common feeders along with the Dubia Roaches.

 

[Drago]

Nice, I'm going to Google them now and see what their hours are...THANKS!!!

 

[Drago]

LOL - I just drove by the place coming back from Barnes & Noble on Glades. I as looking for books on Chams. Sadly, they only had one in the entire store and it didn't look all that informative.

 

[Kibu]

Was it this one ?

 

[Drago]

No, it was this one...

 

[carol5208]

No, it was this one...

You did not need books...we are your books!! lol! you will learn more on here than ANY book. Trust me on this!!!

 

[Drago]

You did not need books...we are your books!! lol! you will learn more on here than ANY book. Trust me on this!!!

Yea, I did NOT buy it. I'm in info overload anyway reading everything here. Going to take a couple days reading and reading so it all sticks

 

[carol5208]

Yea, I did NOT buy it. I'm in info overload anyway reading everything here. Going to take a couple days reading and reading so it all sticks

yeah, there is alot to take in. I researched for about 3 months til I took the plunge! but as you go along and have question you come on here. Ask and you shall receive(99% of the time anyways)!!!