Thinking about getting a Chameleon

[swrichar]

hey guys,
I have had a crested gecko for about a year now and have been pretty successful with him. I am now looking at getting a chameleon, but some of the things i have read online seem pretty discouraging. Truly how hard are these guys to take care of and if it truly is managable what species would be good to start out with?

 

[jannb]

This site will give you some good info on raising a chameleon. BTW Welcome to the forums. Jann
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

 

[kuskye25]

i had to spend about 24 hours total time researching, and i still learn new stuff every now and again, 8 months into it, and spent about $200 in tons of stuff, most things i built to save money. i go all out and try to be as professional as it gets though, any help you need just ask and someone will help if not me.

if you know how to professionally care for fish id say its easier then that, esp when you have as many tanks of fish as i have, haha...

 

[coultrain]

welcome, i also had crested geckos first(still have them). when i got my first chameleon,which was a veild, it was a little diffrent but not that much harder than crested gecko.i would go for a veild for the first chameleon there are more easier than other chams. but do your research first.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Properly caring for a chameleon can be demanding. To be successfull, you have to be willing to do your research (considerably more than 24hours worth), ask for input and help (this is a good place for questions), have the time necessary, like bugs (you'll want a wide variety of feeder insects for a chameleon, and often its best to raise your own), be willing to pay way more for the right environmental set up than for the animal, have money in the bank in case a vet is needed, and have a plan for those days you wont be home such as vacations.

That you are asking questions before buying one means you're on the right road!

Do check the raising kitty site for a good overview of what it takes to care for a vield. Panthers have similar needs. Other sites worth a visit to are:

http://www.adcham.com/
http://www.chameleonnews.com/
http://www.chameleonsonline.com/
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/

Pay special attention to humidity, heat, UVB, nutrition (insect variety, gutloading, supplements), and their social preferences (generally, they like to be left alone). Also become aware of some of the health issues possible, and the common mistakes made (which lead generally to the common health problems). Once you've read all that over, use this sites search function to see if there are answers to questions you may have. And Skim through posts in all the forum sections - the further back you start the more you will learn! Have fun doing your research.

 

[panthercham]

Welcome to the forum

I got my first cham (panther) as a Birthday gift in 2007 and it was a complete shock and change in direction for me. I now have 4 panthers and find it the most rewarding hobby ever.

I made my fair share of mistakes with cham number 1 and he was most forgiving and survived.....thank goodness!! Chams need a lot of attention and care but when you know what you are doing 95% of it it easy and i would not swap it for anything. (5% I attribute to illness and after care of cham)

I would start with a veiled or a panther just depending on personal choice and dont be afraid to ask question on the forum...its a great way to learn and a fantastic community

 

[kuskye25]

(considerably more than 24hours worth.)

that 24 hours was weeks of reasearch and still learning like i said, pretty normal for an exotic animal, and ive had a cham now for 8 months, its almost the least of my worries, a few good care sheets and some basic research sums it up, then you learn from there... haha in 24 hours, 4 week course, of learning i got my A+ and net+ certs in computers, a bit more info i think then could ever be covered about a chameleon.... then i went on for my MCSA 340 more hours and hundreds of thousands of things to learn.

 

[summoner12]

Welcome and good luck.

that 24 hours was weeks of reasearch and still learning like i said, pretty normal for an exotic animal, and ive had a cham now for 8 months, its almost the least of my worries, a few good care sheets and some basic research sums it up, then you learn from there... haha in 24 hours, 4 week course, of learning i got my A+ and net+ certs in computers, a bit more info i think then could ever be covered about a chameleon.... then i went on for my MCSA 340 more hours and hundreds of thousands of things to learn.

I think you still need to keep learning.... because if you think you've found enough info you haven't learned there is always more out there.

Reading through the forum and performing searches will help a lot in your quest for info of chams.

 

[kuskye25]

I think you still need to keep learning.... because if you think you've found enough info you haven't learned there is always more out there.

Reading through the forum and performing searches will help a lot in your quest for info of chams.

i never said to stop learning though thats the thing...

 

[summoner12]

i never said to stop learning though thats the thing...

From my understanding A+ certs are fairly basic in the IT world. Chams in the reptile world are conderably more difficult than most reptiles.

 

[kuskye25]

From my understanding A+ certs are fairly basic in the IT world. Chams in the reptile world are conderably more difficult than most reptiles.

no a+/net+ isnt easy, if you dont build and maintain networks you wont pass.... ever... go try...

he said he had experience with gekcos and we helped him, research and time is all you can do as i explained earlier.....

he jsut asked if it was harder then what he had, and i answered, ligitimately, and truthfully, just people didnt get it, thinking i meant 1 day of reseach, i never said that...

sorry man chamelones arent the hardest thing alive to take care of properly jes, its not like its a kid... its the last ill say of it cause im sick of beating a dead horse here.... bye