Research Thread - Which Species!

[Coal]

Hi everyone! I am new to this forum and do not yet have a chameleon. In fact, I'm more of a snake person, but over the past few months, my other half has grown increasingly interested in chameleons to the point now where we're pretty set on getting one. I have posted this on a general reptile forum but thought I would sign up and post it here on a more specialised forum as well, just to get as much info as possible.

Basically, I'm looking for a little comparative information on the different types of chameleons available in the pet trade, to help make a decision on which species is right for us. My other half is not fussy; he just likes chameleons in general, and will be happy with whichever species best meets his needs. For the most part we have looked into Yemen, panther and pygmy chameleons, but other suggestions are welcome.

Hardiness:
We are, as I'm sure you've guessed, completely new to chameleons and in fact lizards in general, so it would be good if we had a more hardy species that would be the most tolerant of a few little mistakes early on. Obviously we'll be doing a great deal of research and will be doing our very best to make sure things are perfect from day one, but we're not infallible.

Space:
We have a fair amount of space available for this so it shouldn't be too limiting, but nevertheless it would be good to have a breakdown of how much space each species requires. We want to provide ample space to the animal, rather than the bare minimum. Info about this on the web seems to be distressingly varied.

Conditions:
It would be great to have a breakdown of how the conditions required by each species differ and some idea of which set of requirements are easiest to meet.

Feeding:
Again, it would be lovely to have a comparison on the optimum diets for each species, partly out of interest and partly because the availability of ideal foodstuffs will influence are choice to a degree.

Availability and Cost:
Our local shop stocks Yemen and panther chameleons regularly, and from what I can tell, Yemens are the cheapest of the chameleon species in terms of the price for the animal itself. As I said, we want the species that's best for my other half's needs, so we're not going to get the cheapest simply because it's the cheapest, but all else being equal we will let cost factor into our decision. Similarly, we're willing to travel within reason for the species he chooses, but other things being equal we'd rather not.

One more thing - Gender:
Just a quick question really; is there any difference in the hardiness, temperaments and care requirements of males and females? If there's no difference then my other half doesn't care, but it would be good to know.

So, with all that said, what do you guys think is the best chameleon for him? Feel free also to ask any other questions about what we can and can not provide that you think are pertinent, and all opinions are welcome

 

[Carlton]

There are so many questions here so I'd suggest reading the articles under the "Chameleon care-start here" button on the forum home page. It will give you access to available species' characteristics, caresheets, colors, temperament (given that they are individuals and your mileage may vary), and requirements. By reading these I think you'll be better able to at least eliminate one or more based on what you can provide. One important thing to consider is the climate patterns in your area. For example, if you live in the Mojave Desert, keeping a jackson's will require a more expensive setup as you'll need to work harder to keep it cool and humid. In the same area a veiled or panther would work better.

And, BTW, veileds may be offered more cheaply than others, but that's in large part because they have been successfully established in the pet trade longer than others. It doesn't mean they are less desired, but that they are sturdy and their needs are understood well. They also tend to be the most forgiving of newbie mistakes and are not as touchy (nutrition and habitat). That being said, you wouldn't necessarily want to buy the cheapest one either. They can be mass produced, sold too young, and may not be as carefully raised as an older more expensive breeder animal.

So, take some time and read the species info here and then come back with more specific questions. We'll be glad to help!

 

[kplatvoet]

Welcome to the forum!
I'd agree that the first place to start is in the resources section-and compare the care sheets. Check the classified section as well- if your local place is a chain you'll most likely get a healthier chameleon from a breeder - and make sure it's captive bred as that makes a big difference - I don't know much about pygmies but think they are less hardy.
There's not much difference in diets between species - the more varied diet you give them the better they seem to to (IMO) proper gut loading with fresh fruits and veggies makes a big difference- I get my dry gut load from members here and found that it made a big difference. The standard size cage for a full grown veiled or panther is 24 X 24 x 48. You can go bigger but not smaller- though you might want a smaller one to start a young chameleon in.
Your set-up is probably going to cost you more than the chameleon -It's better to get the right stuff first - pet stores will sell you substrate or the wrong lighting - you can check here before you buy anything and members will be happy to make suggestions -
A females will require a laying bin - for ease of care go with a male.

 

[Rango3d]

Welcome.
I'll keep this short. Veileds are pretty but can be a lot more mood then most species.
Jackson's have horns if you like that. Very calm but require more humidity and cooler temps.
Panthers are similar to veileds in terms of care. Best part is if you want a blue 1 or a red 1 or a pink 1 or a rainbowed 1, yeah they got that color.

I'm glad to see your doing your homework before buying.

 

[Coal]

Hi everyone, thanks very much for the responses! We have been doing a lot of reading around the different care sheets for the individual species, and I think we are starting to lean more towards a Yemen, but as I said we're not going to actually be buying for at least another six months so there's plenty of time to decide and do lots of research

One thing that I've been wondering about is lifespan. I didn't realise before starting to look into them is that chameleons have what I would consider to be a short life expectancy for a reptile, and that males tend to live longer than females? I was just wondering how much of a difference there is between males and females and also between species, as we'd prefer a longer lived one if possible.

Luckily our local reptile shop is not a chain but a standalone speciality exotics shop, and it breeds its own panthers and Yemens. It also has not-for-sale pet adults on display which, to my admittedly very untrained eye, look in good nick

 

[Rango3d]

I knew some one how owned a male veiled/Yemen that died at a ripe old age of 10 years old.
I think it's all on how they are raised and cared for.
And yes males live a lot long the girls.