Good first chameleon for an experienced herp nut?

[Lensy]

Hi there. I am just wondering if anyone can recommend a good first chameleon for someone who has lifelong experience with other herps. I have kept lots of turtles, treefrogs and geckos, some anoles and toads, and a few snakes (I don't keep snakes anymore because I can't stand killing mice). The chameleon which is the most attractive to me is the veiled chameleon that is so commonly sold. I'd really like a female. I'd name her Venus. I have a large (very tall) enclosure set up which used to house a ball python (several years ago) and now it is just growing plants... And housing a moderate mantid infestation. I have several live ficus' which I have heard are good for chams. If there is any advice anyone can give me on which species would suit me best, please let me know. Any advice is appreciated.

I am very, very nervous when on forums because I don't like the way 90% of forums treat new members. If this is one of those forums, I will leave lol.

 

[lainezor]

is the cage screen? Chameleons need screen cages. I suggest getting a veiled chameleon especially since you said you liked them I have heard they are easier to care for. My very first pet was a tarantula and then accumulated 4 more tarantulas. My first ever reptile was a panther chameleon, I had no idea what I was getting into. Since I got him I have had 3 leopard geckos (2 of which were rescues and unfortunately one passed away after much of a fight and many vet trips), 1 bearded dragon and I got a veiled chameleon. I am glad to hear you have previous herp experience because I was entirely clueless with poor Floyd and he had a pretty stressful start but now he's thriving.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

Welcome, I hope you find that this forum is far better than many others. It has been in my experience.

Veiled Chameleons are a great option for the first time chameleon owner!. They are far more forgiving of less than perfect conditions than many other chameleons. I actually have 2 veiled and love them both. They are amazing animals.

Females can bee a bit more tricky due to the laying of eggs (which they do whether fertile or not). As an experienced herp keeper, I would suspect you would have a pretty easy go of it. Read up on all of the information you can about their care and requirements and you will do great!

This is a great place to start:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/veiled/

Good luck and ask as many questions as you need to. These animals are amazing and INCREDIBLY addicting.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

 

[Lensy]

The cage is mostly screen. The bottom is glass for probably 8" up to facilitate live plants. It is 6' tall by 3' wide in both directions. There is a drain hole in one bottom corner, and the cage is imperceptibly slanted in that direction to encourage any excess water to go that way. I already have an automatic mister that sprays down from above to prevent it hitting the lights.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

It sounds like you are very much on the right track with the cage. Keep up the good work and you will have a VERY happy chameleon.

PS- that cage is an AWESOME size for and adult Veiled!

 

[Progrmor]

As meantioned, females are a bit harder but in my opinion much more elegant than the males

 

[FlChamMom]

Definitely sounds like a cool setup. Personally I have always stuck to boys because of the egg laying but with your experience it should be fine. There is even a video on how to set up a laying bin here. I have heard the girls can be really sweet!

 

[pssh]

These forums are some of the best I have ever seen. It is very welcoming and friendly compared to nearly every other forum I've ever joined. A lot of them made me feel like the members looked down on me or like I was incapable of being a keeper, but this forum is nothing like that.

Veileds and panthers are the most recommended starter chameleons, so a veiled would be great. Like already said, females are a little more complicated because they can lay eggs, however, measures can be taken to try and prevent or reduce egg laying for a healthier and longer-lived chameleon. Even if she does lay eggs, as long as you have the correct set up for her and follow all the guidelines/recommendations, then she will lay without issues. Very rarely does a female have problems if everything is set up and done properly.

Your cage sounds awesome already! I'm kind of jealous. It might be a bit too big for a baby so you will likely need to get a smaller cage, or partition off part of the one you have. If you get a juvi or adult, then it should be fine though. I suggest that you just start reading all the care sheets and looking around the forums. If you have any questions, just ask and members will help you. A few tips to make your first chameleon a great experience: 1. Buy a CB animal that is at least 2.5-3 months old. 2. Buy only from a reputable breeder (sponsors here are great people who really care) 3. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you need to.

 

[Lensy]

Wow, thanks for all of the kind (and speedy) responses!

The only smaller cage I have with nothing in it is a 20 gallon glass tank. It wouldn't be a big deal for me to buy a smaller screen cage but I think I'd rather just buy a bigger chameleon.

I have had other reptiles lay "dud" eggs before, especially the ball pythons and anoles, they were egg machines. I've never dealt with an egg-bound animal before though. With some of the herps I have had, constipation could be dealt with easily by a warm water soak with a pinch of Epsom salt but this wouldn't do anything for an egg-bound animal. I like the looks of the female veiled the very best, and the fact that they are smaller, but I wouldn't be opposed to getting a male, if you guys think that would be a better choice for a first-time chameleon owner. The panthers are also very pretty but the veiled is my favorite. I may not be able to get one at all until April, as I live in Minnesota (very, very cold here) and there is no large airport nearby, so I do have a lot of time to prepare.

What I am wondering is, how prone are chameleons to substrate-induced impactions compared to other herps? The cage I am talking about has well-established live plants growing in the bottom in organic soil. There is a lot of moss cover over most of it, but there are still areas that are open substrate. I can rig up a feeding tube and aim it into the branches if that would be better. I just figured I'd ask. I don't want to kill anything. x_x

 

[camimom]

No glass cages. They dont provide enough air circulation.

Egg bound females can require vet visits, so thats something to keep in mind.

Veileds are known for eating plant material, so we recommend either a bare cage floor, or in your case, that you cover all dirt access areas with large river rocks.

Veileds can and often will eat vegitation, so dirt is a big no no with them.

Under most circumstances, you wont find an adult veiled for sale, most people keep them for breeding or they are an established pet.

ALso, the dirt floor leads to concerns that your bugs will hide in the dirt and your cham will ingest dirt and bug at the same time, thus opening the door to impaction.

Crickest tend to crawl everywhere, so most of us cup feed our chams. I personally use plastic containers the size of shoe boxes for my roaches when if feed the chammie kids. ( i dont feed crickest much, as they tend to escape and end up in my shower)

Supplements and good gutloading are a must. as well as UVB and good lighting.

No lights at night, even if temps drop to the 50s.

If you start with a baby, that cage will be very big for them, but you can get a smaller cage off amazon for around 40-50 bucks to house it in until the cham is big enough for the larger cage.

 

[Lensy]

I am not a big fan of crickets either. I like dubia roaches and various worms. I have some praying mantis that a couple of my critters really like when they are small, but once they grow too big nothing can eat them.

As for the substrate, if I were to cut pieces of "cage carpet" and lay it over the dirt, would that be enough to keep the cham from getting into it? With the size of my ficus and the extravagance of the entire set up, there is just no way in heck I would ever be willing to tear it apart. There is not even much dirt open. It is mostly covered with live moss.

 

[absolutbill]

Could you rig up some screen that would go over the substrate, but have holes cut in it to accomidate the tree trunks? That way the trees still get water from the mister, but the screen can prevent any impaction. You can easily do the same thing with screening to make a smaller cage from the large cage that you have if you get a baby. Simply attach it, giving the cham about 36" of height or so to the top of the cage to take advantage of the lighting and misting. Then, as she grows you can lower the screen giving her more and more space. Just an idea for you.

Most of the veileds on here are babies, but with your background you should be just fine. I won't go into the egg-binding on here, since it's been covered, but if your cham does end up egg-bound it is a trip to the vet where they will give her injections (have a brain cramp at the moment as to what they inject her with...). Just follow the steps for a laying bin and have it available to her one she is about 6 months old or so. Also, by lowering her basking temperature, and lowering her food intake slightly you can help to prevent infertile egg production. All this is covered in detail in the care sheets. You've got plenty of time to research and ask questions, and we are all here to help - welcome!!!