I want a chameleon.

kyle0417

kyle0417

Established Member
I've had three reptiles before, but never a chameleon. I am 16 years old and this reptile would be under my care fully. I assisted in taking care of two box turtles and one ball python. I've been reading up on it, and it seems like a chameleon requires a lot of maintenance-but I'm ready for it. I have quite a few questions that I'd like to ask.

1. What kind of chameleon would be best for a beginner like me?

1.5 (added this in after making the thread) Where would be a good place to buy a chameleon? (i.e. at a pet store, online, or at a reptile expo)

2. Would school be an issue when taking care of a chameleon? (as in, would the thing be okay if I weren't there for 7ish hours a day)

3. What should I feed it? (I know that they like crickets, but I'm concerned about the stink, the noise, and the chance of them escaping-I'm also aware of dusting, I've done quite a bit of research.)

4. How would I keep the enclosure humid? Does misting it and using a dripper keep it humid enough for the chameleon to be comfortable?

5. What are some things that I can do to make it feel comfortable with my presence?

6. Are they sensitive to noise?

7. How do I clean the enclosure? (I've seen people put a towel on the bottom of it and replace the towel every couple of days-will that do the job and keep it nice and clean?)

8. Where should I buy an enclosure? How much would it cost, ballpark?



Thanks for answering--if you do, that is. I know that there are easier reptiles out there, but I really like chameleons. I think they're dope looking :cool: and I like their tongues. :D
 
I hope you do a lot of research before you get one because judging by the questions you're asking you have a lot to learn to keep one well.
You need to ensure that the cage is a suitable size for the chameleon, that you have a proper basking area to help with digestion and a source of UVB to let it produce D3. You need proper supplements and you need to feed/gutload the insects well and provide a variety of insects so your chameleon has nutritious balanced diet. Some species of females reproduce even without mating so you either need to learn about that or get a male to avoid having to deal with it. You need to provide a proper source of water, non toxic well washed plants to five it somewhere to hide. You need drainage so thast water won't lay stagnant and appropriate sized branches for it to walk on. I've probably missed a few things I should have told you and all of the above needs more details.


You asked..." What kind of chameleon would be best for a beginner like me?"...most people start off with a male veiled or panther chameleon.

You asked..."Where would be a good place to buy a chameleon? (i.e. at a pet store, online, or at a reptile expo)"...don't buy from places like Petco. It's better to deal with a reputable breeder. There are lots on this forum.

You said..."Would school be an issue when taking care of a chameleon? (as in, would the thing be okay if I weren't there for 7ish hours a day)"...no it wouldn't. You can set up a lot of things to be automatic and work around school hours. However you'll only be able to go away for a couple of days without getting a pet sitter.

You asked..."What should I feed it? (I know that they like crickets, but I'm concerned about the stink, the noise, and the chance of them escaping-I'm also aware of dusting, I've done quite a bit of research.)"...you can feed it crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, silkworms, black soldier fly larvae, (captive raised) hornworms, once in a while waxworms, etc. Short explanation for supplements...dust with a phosphorous-free calcium powder at almost every feeding and a phosphorous-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month, vitamin powder twice a month. Feed/gutload crickets, roaches, superworms, locusts with dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, escarole, carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, etc and a bit of fruit such as apples, pears, berries, melon. For lighting...long linear tube UVB light like Repti-sun 5.0 and regular incandescent white household bulb for basking of a wattage to produce the right basking temperature for the species and age of chameleon you chose.

You said..."How would I keep the enclosure humid? Does misting it and using a dripper keep it humid enough for the chameleon to be comfortable?"...yes...and live plants help too. Plastic plants are not recommended.

You said..."Are they sensitive to noise?"...no...their hearing range is limited. However vibrations might bother some of them.

You asked..."How do I clean the enclosure? (I've seen people put a towel on the bottom of it and replace the towel every couple of days-will that do the job and keep it nice and clean?)"...you have to be careful with substrates. Some can cause impaction. Bare floor is usually best for beginners. Please search on line for info about cleaning.

I would recommend looking at a lot of posts on this site to learn more. Here are some to start you off...
The green ones in this forum...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/health-clinic.7/
Green ones in this forum...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/general-discussion.6/
One more...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/supplementation-mbd-1.2451/

Hope this has helped.
 
I have quite a few questions that I'd like to ask.
OK, but much of the information you will need is located in basic care articles located under the forum's Resources tab.
1. What kind of chameleon would be best for a beginner like me?
Probably the most forgiving species to start off with is a captive bred veiled chameleon. Second would be a panther, though they are more expensive.
1.5 (added this in after making the thread) Where would be a good place to buy a chameleon? (i.e. at a pet store, online, or at a reptile expo)
Not at a "local" pet shop unless there is a reptile specialty store that you can check out before buying. You will want to question their husbandry information to prove that they know what they are talking about and that their animals are healthy. Believe us when we say that most pet shops are totally clueless about cham care.

Buying from specialist breeders is probably the best option as they know their animals better, are in it for the species they work with, they may offer health guarantees and support after the sale. Some places to start off checking include sponsors of this forum. They care and are acceptably knowledgeable.

Expos may or may not have many chams to choose from. Also, the chams may have traveled some distance to be there, they are stressed by the expo conditions, and you can also get flippers who buy them wholesale from importers without acclimating them before the shows. They are hoping they sell before they start dying from accumulated stress and poor treatment.

2. Would school be an issue when taking care of a chameleon? (as in, would the thing be okay if I weren't there for 7ish hours a day)
You would have to automate your cham's setup (lighting, misting, drippers, feeding, etc) to deal with that schedule. It can be done, but will cost a bit more. I would be more concerned about your ability to pay for everything your cham is going to require...both the initial setup, the ongoing expenses of food, supplies, and vet care. You need to think about all this before buying your cham. Chams are NOT cheap to keep. Much more than caring for a bp or a box turtle.
3. What should I feed it? (I know that they like crickets, but I'm concerned about the stink, the noise, and the chance of them escaping-I'm also aware of dusting, I've done quite a bit of research.)
A good cham diet requires more variety than crix. You will need to learn to care for and purchase other feeders including superworms, roaches, silkworms, hornworms, blue bottle flies, etc. All these live feeders need to be cared for as well as your cham, so you need the proper foods for them as well.
4. How would I keep the enclosure humid? Does misting it and using a dripper keep it humid enough for the chameleon to be comfortable?
How much misting you'll need depends a lot on your local climate and your house. If you live in a dry region or your house tends to be dry (you need to use an AC in summer or use forced air heat in winter) you will have to mist more than if you live in a humid climate. Hard to predict, as every setup and every room is different. Drippers don't tend to raise humidity very much at all. If you can't be home to hand mist you will need some way to mist automatically with something like a Mist King setup.
5. What are some things that I can do to make it feel comfortable with my presence?
At first, minimize how much commotion takes place around its cage. Don't set it up in a busy part of the house. Chams want to be hidden from view, so put a lot of live plants in the cage to provide hiding areas. Keep your activities and chores around the cage to a schedule so the cham learns what to expect and when to expect it. As your cham settles into its new home (can take a few weeks depending on the individual cham), you can get it used to you by offering it favorite feeders in a hand held cup, then eventually by hand alone. Learn how to pick the cham up....let it climb onto your hand by itself. Don't over handle. Every cham is an individual and it can be hard to predict how tolerant any one of them will be.
6. Are they sensitive to noise?
Chams don't hear well, so they are mostly sensitive to low frequency noise....like the bass from speakers.
7. How do I clean the enclosure? (I've seen people put a towel on the bottom of it and replace the towel every couple of days-will that do the job and keep it nice and clean?)
Chams don't tend to be messy. Paper towels on the cage floor work fine. It will absorb overspray to prevent a buildup of stagnant water.
8. Where should I buy an enclosure? How much would it cost, ballpark?
Caging for adults isn't available most pet supply places. Many of us make our own cages. There are a couple of commercial cages that work for chams....Dragon Strand cages are great, and many of us use Exoterra semi-screened terrariums. You don't want a totally enclosed glass tank (especially being a beginner) as the air exchange can be harder to control. A totally screen cage can be harder to keep humid. Again, there are lots of caging ideas located in the Caging and Supplies sub forum and the basic husbandry articles.


Thanks for answering--if you do, that is. I know that there are easier reptiles out there, but I really like chameleons. I think they're dope looking :cool: and I like their tongues. :D[/QUOTE]
 
At 16 you are just ending your high school years and possibly going onto college. Many colleges won't allow pets, so will you leave yours behind if that's the case? Also, in later high school years your time tends to be taken up with homework, jobs, and just the reality of being a teenager who wants to go out with their friends, etc. I'm not trying to be harsh but we've seen a LOT of chameleons that are being re-homed after just a few months or a year because their owner doesn't have enough time for them, or are going off to college and can't take them with them. Please, I'd strongly encourage you to do your research, and then after high school (and college if you are planning on going), when you are more stable and not going to move around, then you can re-visit getting a chameleon.
 
kinyonga said:
I hope you do a lot of research before you get one because judging by the questions you're asking you have a lot to learn to keep one well.
You need to ensure that the cage is a suitable size for the chameleon, that you have a proper basking area to help with digestion and a source of UVB to let it produce D3. You need proper supplements and you need to feed/gutload the insects well and provide a variety of insects so your chameleon has nutritious balanced diet. Some species of females reproduce even without mating so you either need to learn about that or get a male to avoid having to deal with it. You need to provide a proper source of water, non toxic well washed plants to five it somewhere to hide. You need drainage so thast water won't lay stagnant and appropriate sized branches for it to walk on. I've probably missed a few things I should have told you and all of the above needs more details.


You asked..." What kind of chameleon would be best for a beginner like me?"...most people start off with a male veiled or panther chameleon.

You asked..."Where would be a good place to buy a chameleon? (i.e. at a pet store, online, or at a reptile expo)"...don't buy from places like Petco. It's better to deal with a reputable breeder. There are lots on this forum.

You said..."Would school be an issue when taking care of a chameleon? (as in, would the thing be okay if I weren't there for 7ish hours a day)"...no it wouldn't. You can set up a lot of things to be automatic and work around school hours. However you'll only be able to go away for a couple of days without getting a pet sitter.

You asked..."What should I feed it? (I know that they like crickets, but I'm concerned about the stink, the noise, and the chance of them escaping-I'm also aware of dusting, I've done quite a bit of research.)"...you can feed it crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, silkworms, black soldier fly larvae, (captive raised) hornworms, once in a while waxworms, etc. Short explanation for supplements...dust with a phosphorous-free calcium powder at almost every feeding and a phosphorous-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month, vitamin powder twice a month. Feed/gutload crickets, roaches, superworms, locusts with dandelion greens, kale, collards, endive, escarole, carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, etc and a bit of fruit such as apples, pears, berries, melon. For lighting...long linear tube UVB light like Repti-sun 5.0 and regular incandescent white household bulb for basking of a wattage to produce the right basking temperature for the species and age of chameleon you chose.

You said..."How would I keep the enclosure humid? Does misting it and using a dripper keep it humid enough for the chameleon to be comfortable?"...yes...and live plants help too. Plastic plants are not recommended.

You said..."Are they sensitive to noise?"...no...their hearing range is limited. However vibrations might bother some of them.

You asked..."How do I clean the enclosure? (I've seen people put a towel on the bottom of it and replace the towel every couple of days-will that do the job and keep it nice and clean?)"...you have to be careful with substrates. Some can cause impaction. Bare floor is usually best for beginners. Please search on line for info about cleaning.

I would recommend looking at a lot of posts on this site to learn more. Here are some to start you off...
The green ones in this forum...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/health-clinic.7/
Green ones in this forum...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/forums/general-discussion.6/
One more...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/supplementation-mbd-1.2451/

Hope this has helped.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response! I'll be sure to keep all of that in mind. It's a lot to take in, but I'm confident in myself and in my abilities to raise one of these guys.
 
absolutbill said:
At 16 you are just ending your high school years and possibly going onto college. Many colleges won't allow pets, so will you leave yours behind if that's the case? Also, in later high school years your time tends to be taken up with homework, jobs, and just the reality of being a teenager who wants to go out with their friends, etc. I'm not trying to be harsh but we've seen a LOT of chameleons that are being re-homed after just a few months or a year because their owner doesn't have enough time for them, or are going off to college and can't take them with them. Please, I'd strongly encourage you to do your research, and then after high school (and college if you are planning on going), when you are more stable and not going to move around, then you can re-visit getting a chameleon.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your concern, but I think I have the time. I don't really hang out with people outside of school, and when I'm away I'll have a family to take care of it for me. I'm going to a nearby community college once I get out of high school, so I won't be on a college campus.
 
It looks like your doing your research and have been able to pose good questions. I don't have much experience so I will defer to the care sheets and the above members but I did want to share an observation.

I have had my panther for two weeks and I would pretty much put all of his different behaviors in the categories of fight, flight or freeze. I know my panther is still in an acclimation period but I would not even consider handling him at this point. I looked up chameleon care a few years ago and the consensus then seemed to be minimal handling. I wanted a buddy then, so I went with a conure. I recently have read some different topics that have some heated discussions about the amount of handling chameleons like/tolerate and I suggest you read those. My question for you is what type of interaction do you want to have with your chameleon and would you be satisfied if he only tolerated you putting in food for him? I may be wrong but if you want a sure thing about having a pet you can post some cool pics crawling all over you, you may want to look for something else.
 
DavidL said:
It looks like your doing your research and have been able to pose good questions. I don't have much experience so I will defer to the care sheets and the above members but I did want to share an observation.

I have had my panther for two weeks and I would pretty much put all of his different behaviors in the categories of fight, flight or freeze. I know my panther is still in an acclimation period but I would not even consider handling him at this point. I looked up chameleon care a few years ago and the consensus then seemed to be minimal handling. I wanted a buddy then, so I went with a conure. I recently have read some different topics that have some heated discussions about the amount of handling chameleons like/tolerate and I suggest you read those. My question for you is what type of interaction do you want to have with your chameleon and would you be satisfied if he only tolerated you putting in food for him? I may be wrong but if you want a sure thing about having a pet you can post some cool pics crawling all over you, you may want to look for something else.
Click to expand...
I agree. Chameleons are not meant for "socializing" when your friends come over. You seem to know what you are doing, but you need to understand that chameleons are high maintenance, and can make your wallet disappear. So definitely have a plan or feeders too. They need a variety of feeders, so you will need money and space for your feeders as well.
 
kyle0417 said:
I've had three reptiles before, but never a chameleon. I am 16 years old and this reptile would be under my care fully. I assisted in taking care of two box turtles and one ball python. I've been reading up on it, and it seems like a chameleon requires a lot of maintenance-but I'm ready for it. I have quite a few questions that I'd like to ask.

1. What kind of chameleon would be best for a beginner like me?

1.5 (added this in after making the thread) Where would be a good place to buy a chameleon? (i.e. at a pet store, online, or at a reptile expo)

2. Would school be an issue when taking care of a chameleon? (as in, would the thing be okay if I weren't there for 7ish hours a day)

3. What should I feed it? (I know that they like crickets, but I'm concerned about the stink, the noise, and the chance of them escaping-I'm also aware of dusting, I've done quite a bit of research.)

4. How would I keep the enclosure humid? Does misting it and using a dripper keep it humid enough for the chameleon to be comfortable?

5. What are some things that I can do to make it feel comfortable with my presence?

6. Are they sensitive to noise?

7. How do I clean the enclosure? (I've seen people put a towel on the bottom of it and replace the towel every couple of days-will that do the job and keep it nice and clean?)

8. Where should I buy an enclosure? How much would it cost, ballpark?



Thanks for answering--if you do, that is. I know that there are easier reptiles out there, but I really like chameleons. I think they're dope looking :cool: and I like their tongues. :D
Click to expand...
Are you close to Taylor Mich.
 
Among all te other very important stuff mentioned above, I would say one issue will trump them all in your case. You need to have a wide variety of feeders in order to keep your cham healthy. Being that your still living at home, would your parents be cool with you keeping and raising insects? The best foods are probably roaches. Would your parents be ok with having them in the house? Its best to keep and breed your own insects in order to ensure they are healthy and that you have an adequate supply. It can sometimes be difficult to obtain a good variety of feeder insects inthe winter.
 
Scottsquatch said:
Among all te other very important stuff mentioned above, I would say one issue will trump them all in your case. You need to have a wide variety of feeders in order to keep your cham healthy. Being that your still living at home, would your parents be cool with you keeping and raising insects? The best foods are probably roaches. Would your parents be ok with having them in the house? Its best to keep and breed your own insects in order to ensure they are healthy and that you have an adequate supply. It can sometimes be difficult to obtain a good variety of feeder insects inthe winter.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. I would also like to add that maintenance of feeders as well is a pain. They also smell really bad, and you would DEFINITELY need to clear that with your parents.
 
Scottsquatch said:
Among all te other very important stuff mentioned above, I would say one issue will trump them all in your case. You need to have a wide variety of feeders in order to keep your cham healthy. Being that your still living at home, would your parents be cool with you keeping and raising insects? The best foods are probably roaches. Would your parents be ok with having them in the house? Its best to keep and breed your own insects in order to ensure they are healthy and that you have an adequate supply. It can sometimes be difficult to obtain a good variety of feeder insects inthe winter.
Click to expand...
Well, my dad said "I used to have a chameleon" so I'm guessing he's aware of what we'll need for it. The chameleon would stay in my room (which is actually warmer than the rest of the house) and the insects would stay in our laundry room, which is in the back of the house.
 
kyle0417 said:
Will do. Can I trust the breeders there? I might get my chameleon there.
Click to expand...
Not sure , but ask questions. My son lives in Livonia so while I’m up there I stop for a few hours and visit my grandchild.
Now figure out what species you’d like and go from there. I have a Panther and this is my first chameleon ever. I wish I would of gotten one years ago. I only had him since the beginning of April and the excitement has never stopped. :love:
 
Monta said:
Not sure , but ask questions. My son lives in Livonia so while I’m up there I stop for a few hours and visit my grandchild.
Now figure out what species you’d like and go from there. I have a Panther and this is my first chameleon ever. I wish I would of gotten one years ago. I only had him since the beginning of April and the excitement has never stopped. :love:
Click to expand...
Well, since I'm a beginner, I'm probably going to get a veiled chameleon. That seems to be the starter choice for most people, and it's not nearly as cost effective as a panther chameleon is. (Panther Chameleons on backwaterreptiles are 300 dollars!)
 
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