Football Master
Member
I was wondering if any of you have in opinion on the easiest beginner chameleon.I want a chameleon but i don't know which one I'm going to get.This will be my first chameleon
Chameleon
- Thread starter Football Master
- Start date
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Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
Panthers and Veileds are both great "starter" chams. But whatever you get will be a rewarding pet - trust me on this. I originally got a Jacksons because I wasn't that picky about the type of chameleon i wanted, and he needed a home on CraigsList. If he had been a panther, a veiled, or even something else, I would have loved him just as much. He was such an amazing animal.
It can be luck of the draw with personalities - you could get a crabby chameleon not matter the type. Find a breeder that spends a lot of personal time raising the babies so that they are well acclimated to people. We have so many good breeders here on the forum - spend the extra money to get a well raised animal and don't be afraid of shipping. You will be so much better off than buying one from a big box pet store.
It can be luck of the draw with personalities - you could get a crabby chameleon not matter the type. Find a breeder that spends a lot of personal time raising the babies so that they are well acclimated to people. We have so many good breeders here on the forum - spend the extra money to get a well raised animal and don't be afraid of shipping. You will be so much better off than buying one from a big box pet store.
Football Master
Member
Do you think it will be good if i buy a chameleon from FLchams
cyberlocc
Chameleon Enthusiast
FLChams is not currently operating. They are not responding to emails or Facebook, there Phone is disconnected. I would not purchase anything from them at this time as it is no ones guess what is going on over there.
I would try on here from a member or from Chameleons Only, personally.
I would try on here from a member or from Chameleons Only, personally.
Football Master
Member
Ok thanks for telling me
Football Master
Member
Do you think a carpet chameleon will be easy because i like the colors and how small they are.
Damicofam6
Established Member
from what i have heard and seen carpet chameleons and very hard to take care of. I have a panther and it is my first cham and he is great, loves to come out of his cage and is very colorful. I would say to go for a panther but they are a bit more expensive than a veiled. check out the care sheets on the forum and there will be kind of like an overview of each chameleon.
cyberlocc
Chameleon Enthusiast
first off I wouldn't say any chameleon is "Easy", second carpets I think are fairly hardy. will they be as easy as a veiled or panther no (or as hardy, again no). they also have short lives. However yes I think you can do it.
Football Master
Member
Thanks everybody for the information
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
The availability of carpets might be somewhat limited. I think there are only a few breeders working with them currently. Whatever you get, hold out for a Captive Bred (CB, CBB, CH) animal. Don't invest in a Wild Caught (WC) chameleon as your first chameleon. If the seller can't guarantee it is captive bred, don't buy it.
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Carpets are short lived and are most likely to be wild caught, meaning they will need lots of effort getting them free of parasites and hydrated. A male veiled, jacksons, or panther is your best bet, but think of chameleons like oscars. An Oscar or koi may come to you for food and interact with you, but you wouldn't take the fish out of its home and play with it or walk down the street with it. Chameleons aren't hands on pets and although they can come to enjoy interacting with their keepers, it is for the best that they are seldom handled and left to be admired where they are.
jpowell86
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'm going to have to disagree with everyone...don't hate me guys..but I think a CB carpet chameleon is a GREAT first chameleon. They are incredibly hardy, don't require the amount of space that the veileds and panthers do and really have nice temperaments. They were one of the first species I ever kept back in the day and they are super simple.
I get a little shocked when people describe them as difficult. If you talk to most of the people that have kept them, they will agree with me about their hardiness as a species.
Now I will agree with everyone on their availability. But, you can contact Kevin Stanford or Nick Henn, @NHenn, about this species. I know Kevin breeds them and I think Nick would probably be able to point you in the right direction if he doesn't have any.
I would agree that if it is your first cham, that you need to stick with species that aren't montane. They require a different level of care that most first time keepers don't quite understand or can implement. Just IMO!
I get a little shocked when people describe them as difficult. If you talk to most of the people that have kept them, they will agree with me about their hardiness as a species.
Now I will agree with everyone on their availability. But, you can contact Kevin Stanford or Nick Henn, @NHenn, about this species. I know Kevin breeds them and I think Nick would probably be able to point you in the right direction if he doesn't have any.
I would agree that if it is your first cham, that you need to stick with species that aren't montane. They require a different level of care that most first time keepers don't quite understand or can implement. Just IMO!
cyberlocc
Chameleon Enthusiast
NHenn
Avid Member
I couldn't agree more. The carpet chameleon gets a negative rep from most that haven't owned them because the only information about carpets is from years ago when yes they were very difficult to keep alive, along with all the other species of chameleons because we just didn't know what was necessary in their care and obtaining that information was even more difficult. This was when you would place a wild caught carpet chameleon in a 10 gallon fish tank and when they passed a week later you assumed they must be a "difficult" species. I still remember over 20 years ago thinking that veiled chameleons were difficult. The fact is, that was only because I didn't know what their required husbandry was at the time which in turn made them seem difficult in my eyes.
Now with that said, I would recommend getting a male over a female for the first time and you must absolutely be 100% positive they are CB animals. Females can prove tricky at the egg laying time and their life span is generally shorter than males so that is why I would suggest finding a nice male to start with. They are just as beautiful and will develop some amazing colors and patterns. As for finding CB animals, you will most likely have to speak with Frank Payne who can be found on Facebook under "Living Art by Frank Payne". Frank is a good friend of both Kevin and myself and has been breeding for years. Both Kevin and I are currently out of offspring for the time being but Frank might still have one or two males that he would be willing to let go. To my knowledge the three of us are the only ones currently in the US breeding carpet chameleons so they are not always available but they are well worth the wait!
