im new

thank you for that information. i will say it again, i know i am not ready for a chameleon. i need to do more research. i havent owned a reptile before but i have my heart set on a cham. i have been thinking about it for a long time, and it would not be an impulse purchase. i also realize that chameleons are sensitive and if i cant hold him then thats fine. i will just watch him. again,thank you for the information, but if somebody is informed enough, i think they can raise any animal. (i am not trying to be rude):):D:(:
 
I didn't think you meant to be rude. :)

It's just that there is a WORLD of difference between research and experience. Problems pop up as well as unexpected events. I trust that since you've already done lots of research that you'll do what you think is best. :) Maybe that means getting the cham. I just like to play it safe and get experience before jumping in head first off the deep end.
Every cham is a different case and research only does so much. Owning an easier species will get you a feel of herp keeping before you take on the task of a cham. Definitely do DAYS of research, and I know you will.

Actually, I'd love you to prove me wrong. If you think you really can care for the animal, go for it. There's a first time for everything of course, it's just I tend to "test the water to make sure it's not acid". :p

:)
Good luck, and know that we'll all be expecting pictures when you finally get your new family member! :D
 
thanks soooo much for understanding and being so supportive of whatever i decide to do.:) i really appritiate it. i have been going to my local pet store every day to watch the veild chameleons behavior... (petco has a really bad enclosure for their baby cham, with dirt on the floor and an extremely small enclosure overall) and i think i am going to go for it and get a cham!:D again, thank you for being sooo supportive, and understanding.:D:p


ps. in a few months when i get my baby, i will be sure to keep everything updated.:)
 
i agree with scalestailsandclaws to an extent.

its like playing a videogame game on hardmode before you play easy.

but the fact that youre here getting all the cheat codes and walkthroughs is a good start.

the scary thing is experienced keepers run into complications all the time. so i understand him trying to dissuade you.

you do realize though the cage and all the supplies are going to cost much more than the lizard?

but i still think you should get one when youre ready, you dont need to have previous reptile experience. in fact i think having previous experience with other reptiles give many people a false sense of security. "oh all i have to do is stick it in a tank and throw crickets in once a week" yeah no its quite a bit more involved than that.

i cant tell you how many times ive heard "reptile keepers" at herp shows make remarks about how chameleons only live for 3 months /facepalm. they may have just said "im an uneducated irresponsible keeper that killed my chameleon out of ignorance"
 
yeah, the cage and stuff will be expensive,very expensive. lol you guys are awesome, just to let you know. i think at one point soon, i will be ready. i will have saved up enough money to spoil this little cham, but for now, the best thing i can do if i want to purchase a chameleon is keep in touch with you guys and do some more research. i have also been going to petco just to look at their baby veild(which is in a horrible enclosure that is too small and has dirt on the floor) and watch the behavior.

I agree with both of you, that jumping into something like this would be unfair to the cham, but ill be ready when i do purchase him. :) thanks for all of your help. XD
 
DekuScrub said:
i agree with scalestailsandclaws to an extent.

its like playing a videogame game on hardmode before you play easy.

but the fact that youre here getting all the cheat codes and walkthroughs is a good start.

the scary thing is experienced keepers run into complications all the time. so i understand him trying to dissuade you.

you do realize though the cage and all the supplies are going to cost much more than the lizard?

but i still think you should get one when youre ready, you dont need to have previous reptile experience. in fact i think having previous experience with other reptiles give many people a false sense of security. "oh all i have to do is stick it in a tank and throw crickets in once a week" yeah no its quite a bit more involved than that.

i cant tell you how many times ive heard "reptile keepers" at herp shows make remarks about how chameleons only live for 3 months /facepalm. they may have just said "im an uneducated irresponsible keeper that killed my chameleon out of ignorance"
Click to expand...



Yesyesyesyes, oh yeah, yes!

I agree, and you're way better with metaphors than me. :eek:

I don't think experience gives a false sense of security as long as you recognize the MAJOR differences between chams and pretty much everything else.
 
JessicaBay said:
yeah, the cage and stuff will be expensive,very expensive. lol you guys are awesome, just to let you know. i think at one point soon, i will be ready. i will have saved up enough money to spoil this little cham, but for now, the best thing i can do if i want to purchase a chameleon is keep in touch with you guys and do some more research. i have also been going to petco just to look at their baby veild(which is in a horrible enclosure that is too small and has dirt on the floor) and watch the behavior.

I agree with both of you, that jumping into something like this would be unfair to the cham, but ill be ready when i do purchase him. :) thanks for all of your help. XD
Click to expand...

I wouldn't study the behavior of a Pet-Co chameleon unless you're studying disease, mbd and starvation....
DON'T buy a pet store chameleon! And DON'T buy a baby! Start with one that's a few months, or you'll have a heck of a time finding food for it. I say no younger than four months. I would check the classifieds here, or visit one of the many site sponsors. Make sure to get captive bred to avoid complications with parasites.

I totally wouldn't have guessed that you're in fifth grade. :)
You give me the vibe of a high-school such as myself.

How do you plan to do humidity? I recommend www.mistking.com among many others.
I like automatic misters more than the spray bottle because even if you mist 5 times a day, if you're gone for 6 hours at school your chameleon has still gone almost all day without water.
 
i would never buy from a pet store! they are usually inbred and unhealthy(only so often will you find an animal that has nothing wrong with it at a petstore.)age-wise, i was looking at aroud 3 and a half months to 4 months. is this ok? as for humidity, yeah, you are completely right. i would probably get a timed mister and when i would get home from school, turn it off and manually mist to ensure that it is moist enough for the little chammy.
 
JessicaBay said:
oh and i was thinking about LLL reptile for a place to buy supplies and maybe the chammy itself.
Click to expand...

the only thing about there is that it doesnt say if you are getting a male or a female and i dont want to deal with egg laying for my first cham.
 
Well I'm impressed. You know your stuff. Hehe, definitely get your cham. And LLL is GREAT, but contact them first to ask if they can sex your chameleon. For your cage, I'd go to www.diycages.com Shipping is included in the pricing too. If you want, for a baby cage use a reptarium as they're cheaper than aluminum cages, and then go all out for an adult enclosure.
 
Welcome to the funhouse.:eek: I'd say if you want a chameleon, get a chameleon. Just be sure you're ready for the responsibility of having a dear soul in your care. I had always wanted a chameleon when I was younger, but that was a long time ago. I have finally had an actual "dream come true" for me. Just do what is best for the chameleon. Whether it's buying it and caring for it responsibly or just admiring them from the "other side".
 
Not to sound like a broken record but having worked at a pet store I would see all the time when parents agreed to buy a set up for an animal and when the actual time to pay came they would skimp on what was really needed to care for an animal to keep their kids happy and be able to get all the animal. Make sure your mother knows exactly what she is agreeing to.

Make a list of supplies, maybe post them here to get recommendations and make sure you're not missing anything. Price them out and get her a total for the cost of the CORRECT set up. Also don't forget to include the cost of feeders, supplements, and a vet bills. The cost of the animal is a very small proportion of the total cost of ownership.

I just hear "We don't really need that 80 dollar light fixture, they are just making it up to sell stuff" in my head. I've seen it many times and have refused to sell animals because people wouldn't buy the equipment to care for them, that is rare today.

I think you can get a chameleon and do a good job. Look into a captive bred Senegal if you can find one. They are smaller, usually friendly, and a captive bred one is very hearty and forgiving.
 
thanks for making sure that i am doinbg all the right stuff! i will be sure to make that list! i have never heard of a senegal chameleon before. could you send me a link to some places to purchase one and maybe some information sites? thanx:D
 
One thing to remember, as well, is that if cared for properly your electricity bill is going to spike. The light fixtures are just the beginning. Just something I've noticed the past couple months of owning chameleons.
 
Gee, I wish I had been this mature at this age. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to wait like 10 years before getting my first cham! Good luck to you!
 
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