planning on getting 1st chameleon

[pastelsoda]

Hello, I plan on getting my first chameleon, or actually 1st reptile to be exact.
Even though its my first reptile pet I will be owning, I do currently have a reef tank, and other pets, so I am pretty experienced in owning pets and caring for them.

But anyways, the local petshop has veiled chameleons, which are like very small maybe 1-2 inches? They say they are couple months old, or there is petco which sells bigger veiled chameleons for 30 dollars more so $89.99.
But I know and heard petco does pretty bad job when it comes to caring for animals, at least in the aquarium department of every petco I been to are pretty bad.

Questions:
1. But anyways..which do you think is more beginner friendly? Or is it all the same when it comes to size wise.

2. If i want to try to hand tame it much as possible would the youngest be the best? or does that not matter also?

3. I have read the care sheets, but Im curious on how to like handle the crickets and worms? Like if I buy a bag of crickets where should I put them at?
Also do I take out couple out from the bag everyday to feed the cricket? Im confused in this part, Im not sure if I'm making any sense either lol

4. What cage, equipment would you recommend me to buy along with the veiled chameleon?

5. Also should I go for male or female?

 

[brandychams]

well lets start with the feeders if your going to have a lot of crickets at one time youll want a good size tote to keep them in cut large holes in the sides for air flow and hot glue metal screen over them use egg crates for the crickets to hide cricket feed and a water source they cant drown in

if your going to do a little at a time you can buy a cricket keeper to put them in but make sure you gutload them before feeding off that means you feed the feeders good high calcium foods like kale, collard greens, melons, the list goes on, there are lots of good blogs on this check sandrachams its great, i usually buy large quantities for my tote and use the cricket keepers to gutload with

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the Chameleon Forums. This is a great place to learn about chameleons. My advise to you is to do your homework BEFORE you get your chameleon. I keep veileds and they are such a pleasure to work with. I would recommend starting with a male about 4 to 6 months old.

I'm attaching my blog for new keepers for you below. It will show you what you need to get started. Links to pictures and where you can buy each item.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ung-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment835

 

[brandychams]

next id buy young theres less chance of existing medical problems

and theres a lot youll need, a small screen cage for the first few months and a large one for later, a 5.0 reptisun uvb bulb and fixture a basking light and fixture, lots of fake and real plants vines and sticks, cacium phosphorous and d3 free to use almost every feeding, calcium with d3 for twice a month and a multivitamin like herptivite for twice a month and either a dripper or a mister for water

 

[hinoco1225]

Hello, I plan on getting my first chameleon, or actually 1st reptile to be exact.
Even though its my first reptile pet I will be owning, I do currently have a reef tank, and other pets, so I am pretty experienced in owning pets and caring for them.

But anyways, the local petshop has veiled chameleons, which are like very small maybe 1-2 inches? They say they are couple months old, or there is petco which sells bigger veiled chameleons for 30 dollars more so $89.99.
But I know and heard petco does pretty bad job when it comes to caring for animals, at least in the aquarium department of every petco I been to are pretty bad.

Questions:
1. But anyways..which do you think is more beginner friendly? Or is it all the same when it comes to size wise.

2. If i want to try to hand tame it much as possible would the youngest be the best? or does that not matter also?

3. I have read the care sheets, but Im curious on how to like handle the crickets and worms? Like if I buy a bag of crickets where should I put them at?
Also do I take out couple out from the bag everyday to feed the cricket? Im confused in this part, Im not sure if I'm making any sense either lol

4. What cage, equipment would you recommend me to buy along with the veiled chameleon?

5. Also should I go for male or female?

Here is a great blog written by an experienced member that will help you get started: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

To answer your questions...

1. An older chameleon is probably going to be a little more hardy, however, you are correct that Petco is not exactly known for proper husbandry. If you do everything right, you should be ok to get one of the younger ones from the local place. Veiled chams are more hardy than most other species, so they are a good cham to start with.

2. The difference between a 2 month old and a 3 month old (I doubt Petco's are much older than that) is not going to be too significant, however, I would be wary of the ones from Petco as far as relating to people goes. More than likely, they are handled too often by too many different people, so they are probably stressed by humans in general. On the other hand, they are still young enough that this view of humans might be able to be reversed. I will say, however, that many chams don't like human interaction and you should not depend on being able to tame it. Also, many chameleons who are nice as babies and will still turn mean as they go through puberty. Of course it is possible to tame them and there are chameleons that actually enjoy being handled, but that is not incredibly common. If you are not going to be happy if your cham turns out not to like you, you may want to reconsider getting one. They are not generally recommended as starter reptiles. That being said, if you are set on getting one and aware that it may turn out to be apathetic or even mean to you (and you will be ok with that), then I certainly support your decision.

3. You should buy a Kricket Keeper (or something similar) for the crickets. This makes it easier to keep them alive, and it also makes it easier to get them out in order to feed them to your cham. You can get one at Petco, Petsmart, online, or your local pet store might have them as well. (Definitely don't leave crickets in the bag they put them in when you buy them.) I'm not really sure what you meant when you said, "Also do I take out couple out from the bag everyday to feed the cricket?"

4. Where do you live? The humidity levels in your area will affect whether I recommend a screen cage or a tall, well-ventilated terrarium. Other than the cage, you will need: a 5.0 Reptisun or Repti Glo tube UVB light and fixture, a white heat bulb and dome, plenty of plants and foliage (preferably washed live plants), a spray bottle for misting (or an automatic misting system), supplements (calcium without D3, calcium with D3, and a reptile multivitamin), cricket food and water, and two thermometers and a hygrometer (preferably all digital). Other optional items you might want to consider are a dripper and a timer. Chameleons are expensive. I can give you more details about this stuff if you have more questions about any of it. I can't think of anything else right now - can anybody think of anything I'm forgetting?

5. Typically, beginners go with males so they won't have to worry about their female laying eggs (which chameleons usually do whether they are bred or not). On the other hand, if you have any thoughts of eventually having both a male and female in order to breed, you might want to consider getting the female first, since males are ready to breed sooner than females' bodies are ready to lay eggs. Here is a blog about egg-laying so you have an idea what you're in for if you get a female: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/345-egg-laying-laying-bin.html.

Ok... I think that is sufficient for now.

 

[hinoco1225]

Welcome to the Chameleon Forums. This is a great place to learn about chameleons. My advise to you is to do your homework BEFORE you get your chameleon. I keep veileds and they are such a pleasure to work with. I would recommend starting with a male about 4 to 6 months old.

I'm attaching my blog for new keepers for you below. It will show you what you need to get started. Links to pictures and where you can buy each item.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...ung-veiled-panther-chameleons.html#comment835

Wow... You beat me to posting your blog as I was typing a really long response.

To pastelsoda: I second the notion that you should do your research and get your vivarium set up BEFORE you buy your chameleon.

 

[pastelsoda]

Thanks guys for the great info's I ll be sure to research more before I pick it up Thank you again

and I live in San Jose california, in the bay area. Really dry here during summer lol

 

[pastelsoda]

Also which plants are safe for chameleons?

 

[hinoco1225]

and I live in San Jose california, in the bay area. Really dry here during summer lol

Really, either a tall terrarium or a screen enclosure will be good. A terrarium will hold in the humidity better. Of course many people believe screen enclosures are best because they provide optimal ventilation, but tall terrariums still provide adequate ventilation (as long as they are the kind with vents at the top and bottom). On the other hand, a screen enclosure will be a bit more forgiving of being cleaned out less often because glass terrariums will be a breeding ground for bacteria if they aren't cleaned out every few days. Once a week is adequate for cleaning out a screen enclosure.

Keep in mind that a small enclosure is best for babies (16x16x20 or 16x16x30), but an adult male veiled will need at least a 24x24x36 or 24x24x48, depending on how big he gets. So you will need to move him into a bigger cage in a few months.

Also which plants are safe for chameleons?

There are a lot of plants that are safe, but the four that are usually most recommended are pothos, schefflera, ficus, and hibiscus. Pothos is a hanging plant whereas the others are bushes or trees. I personally have had the most luck with ficus and pothos, although some people feel differently. Personally, I've had two scheffleras that I couldn't keep alive.

One important thing to remember is that any live plants you get need to be washed in order to remove any pesticides. Just use Dawn dish soap to make a bucket of warm, soapy water and dump the plant in upside-down (try not to let the roots get in it though). Then wash the leaves and finish by spraying it off with a hose. Repot with organic potting soil. Then you're good.

 

[pastelsoda]

Thank you, I managed to pick him up last night, and picked up 2 ficus plant and some fake plants, and other stuff that he needs. Anyway so far he is moving around here and there, mostly at top of the cage.

I put in like 2-3 crickets yesterday along with him last night, and did not see him eat any, so just went to bed after. Woke up today, did not check if he ate any crickets or not, but I put in extra 3 more crickets in there.

The cage is like 20 inch tall, but its pretty long, I think 24x18x18? *by exo-terra* Do you think I got the cage that is too long for this little chameleon?
(The cage was on sale for 40 dollars, instead of 100 dollar on petco, so I thought it was a good deal, do you think i should get a smaller one?

If the cricket just hangs out in the cage, will she eventually eat the crickets?

Its a female chameleon, around 3 months old, its like 2 inch ish, not including the tail. But I did notice she was shedding today morning.

 

[Olimpia]

Since you have a female, read this blog as well: http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/keeping-female-veiled.html

Also, here's a list of jsut about everything you'll need to keep her with a price estimate: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/olimpia/522-average-cost-owning-chameleon.html

 

[hinoco1225]

Thank you, I managed to pick him up last night, and picked up 2 ficus plant and some fake plants, and other stuff that he needs. Anyway so far he is moving around here and there, mostly at top of the cage.

I put in like 2-3 crickets yesterday along with him last night, and did not see him eat any, so just went to bed after. Woke up today, did not check if he ate any crickets or not, but I put in extra 3 more crickets in there.

The cage is like 20 inch tall, but its pretty long, I think 24x18x18? *by exo-terra* Do you think I got the cage that is too long for this little chameleon?
(The cage was on sale for 40 dollars, instead of 100 dollar on petco, so I thought it was a good deal, do you think i should get a smaller one?

If the cricket just hangs out in the cage, will she eventually eat the crickets?

Its a female chameleon, around 3 months old, its like 2 inch ish, not including the tail. But I did notice she was shedding today morning.

Don't feed at night. Only give her crickets first thing in the morning and maybe a few more in the early afternoon. Chameleons need UVB and heat to properly digest their food, so you should make sure she eats when there are still several hours left before her lights go off for the night.

You do have the 5.0 tube UVB and calcium supplements, correct? Those are absolutely critical for your chameleon's health.

I'm not sure I understand the dimensions of your cage. Is it 24 inches tall or long? It should be taller than it is long since chameleons are tree-dwelling animals. A 24x18x18 is a bit large for a baby, especially if she is very small, so you should probably try cup-feeding her until she grows a little more to ensure she gets her food. She should be eating about 15-18 crickets a day at this point, but if you throw in more than she can handle at once and don't pay attention, the crickets could actually gang up on the cham and eat her. I know that sounds crazy, but sadly, it sometimes happens with very small babies.

 

[pastelsoda]

15-18 crickets? Thats quite a lot lol, do you think the chameleon will eat like mealworms? or something? Or just crickets.

But put the crickets in a cup ? And yes 24 long, 18 x 18 height

 

[Olimpia]

What is the enclosure? It's fine as long as it's not a glass aquarium for fish. Although it'll work for a little while, but it's not recommended for more than perhaps a month or so at her age. You'd really need a terrarium or screen cage.

The chameleon can eat crickets, roaches, silkworms, hornworms, butterworms, superworms, and a few other things. Mealworms aren't worth much nutritionally, I wouldn't even suggest them. All these things can be ordered online, and it's actually cheaper ordering insects in bulk sizes rather than going to the pet store.

You can cup feed your chameleon, which means putting food in an opaque container (like an empty plastic container of yogurt or margerine if she's very small) and putting crickets in there so she can pick them out of a small space, instead of hunting all over for them. Pick a container just big enough so that most crickets won't jump out of there. One or two always will, but that's no big deal.

 

[pastelsoda]

its a screen mash, I have the cricket keeper..but the one thats just fully covered, and does not have those plastic tubings.

Anyways, I currently have like 20? crickets in there, Do you think I can just take off the top of that and use that instead of putting crickets in the cups?

 

[pastelsoda]

bumping the post

 

[hinoco1225]

15-18 crickets? Thats quite a lot lol, do you think the chameleon will eat like mealworms? or something? Or just crickets.

But put the crickets in a cup ? And yes 24 long, 18 x 18 height

Yes, baby chams grow really fast and need plenty of food. When mine were babies I fed them around 15 a day (sometimes as little as 11-12, sometimes as much as 18), but I have seen plenty of people say they feed babies 20-25 a day! I personally think that is too much.

Cup-feeding is a good option for you because it will help you make sure she gets all the crickets. I would feed her around 10 first thing in the morning, and a few more in the early afternoon if you can. Also, cup-feeding (if you are holding the cup) and hand-feeding can help form a bond between you and your cham.

Chams typically love worms, but you have to be really careful about them. Mealworms have a hard outer shell that is difficult for chams to digest, so if you feed her too many it can cause her to become impacted, which is bad news. Other types of worms are not as hard to digest, but also are not very nutritional for your cham. They should be fed as treats, not meals. Once a week is pretty much the cap to safely feed mealworms, and other worms should be fed no more than a couple of times a week. Crickets and dubia are staple (everyday) feeders.

 

[hinoco1225]

its a screen mash, I have the cricket keeper..but the one thats just fully covered, and does not have those plastic tubings.

Anyways, I currently have like 20? crickets in there, Do you think I can just take off the top of that and use that instead of putting crickets in the cups?

You could do that, but you need to take them out anyway to dust them. You are dusting the crickets with calcium, right? If not, you need to get some immediately. I cannot stress the critical importance of calcium for growing baby reptiles enough. You need plain phosphorus-free calcium without D3 to dust her crickets with every day. It is also highly recommended that you get calcium with D3 to use twice a month and a reptile multivitamin for once a month.