Jackson's, Veiled, and Panther Chameleon handleability?

[Fluffball176]

I've been looking at Chameleons for the past few days and I might get one. Before I decide to do my research on one I'd like to know what kind I'd like to get: Jackson's, Veiled, or Panther. I figure that Chameleons aren't the best of reptiles when it comes to handling and taming but I'd like to know what of the three can be tamed down the best and handled.


If none of the three are much good when it comes to handling then what would your recommended choice of the three be?

 

[gngorman]

If you want an animal to play with and pet you need to get a cat or dog, not a chameleon... chams should not be handled unless necessary. It will stress them out to much and may kill them slowly. Now some are alot nicer and will come to you with the proper training( ie hand feeding). But do not grab them let them walk onto your hand by themselves when they are comfortable. Veileds are known to be more aggresive than other species, but they are really great that is what i have. Panthers and Jackson's seem to be more laid back and tolerant to handling when THEY want to be handled. If you want to go by looks veileds have a large casque on their heads and some pretty wowing colors, but nothing like a panther cham. Panthers range in a wide variety of colors... really any color you want and the colors are more pronounced so if you want pretty colors go with a veiled or panther. Jackson males have 3 large horns like that of a triceretops. The normally stay a dark green to brownish color, but the horns are awesome. Hope i could help

 

[Fluffball176]

I'm a reptiles owner, I know what to expect when I get a lizard. I'd just like to know the Chameleon that would tolerate handling the best, I'm not looking for something that I would be getting out and handling daily.

I've read a magazine article that said how easily Jackson's can get stressed, all reptiles can with over-handling.

 

[Richie 733]

I've been looking at Chameleons for the past few days and I might get one. Before I decide to do my research on one I'd like to know what kind I'd like to get: Jackson's, Veiled, or Panther. I figure that Chameleons aren't the best of reptiles when it comes to handling and taming but I'd like to know what of the three can be tamed down the best and handled.


If none of the three are much good when it comes to handling then what would your recommended choice of the three be?

i think the best of the 3 is the pather i ordered my frist one yesterday

 

[Fluffball176]

Just let me ask it like this; what of the three would tolerate handling the most, and how often (in days) should it be handled?

 

[PaulZarate]

They're all pretty hardy animals. But I would go with the panther, event though it's a little more work it's so worth it. Panther chameleons come in beautiful colors, such a variety and you can find one to closely match yourself. I would go with the panther. But it's up to you, they're all great chams.

 

[Fluffball176]

I'd like a little work, and I like the Panther. My only concern is with handling. I've gathered from what I've read so (here and an article or two) far that they don't like being handled, but I don't want something that I would treat like a fish. I'd like to know at least how often (every few days?) I COULD handle one.

 

[Chase]

I've been looking at Chameleons for the past few days and I might get one. Before I decide to do my research on one I'd like to know what kind I'd like to get: Jackson's, Veiled, or Panther. I figure that Chameleons aren't the best of reptiles when it comes to handling and taming but I'd like to know what of the three can be tamed down the best and handled.


If none of the three are much good when it comes to handling then what would your recommended choice of the three be?

I've never owned a Panther Cham, but my Jacksons is definately more laid back than my Veiled. I stick my hand in my Veiled's cage and almost lose my fingers. I'd say Jacksons, but they can be kinda tricky (less tolerant to fluxuating schedule). Veileds and Panthers would be what I suggest you look at. Here are caresheets for all three.

http://www.pantherchameleoncaresheet.com/
http://www.veiledchameleoncaresheet.com/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://www.jacksonschameleoncaresheet.com

 

[Fluffball176]

I've never owned a Panther Cham, but my Jacksons is definately more laid back than my Veiled. I stick my hand in my Veiled's cage and almost lose my fingers. I'd say Jacksons, but they can be kinda tricky (less tolerant to fluxuating schedule). Veileds and Panthers would be what I suggest you look at. Here are caresheets for all three.

http://www.pantherchameleoncaresheet.com/
http://www.veiledchameleoncaresheet.com/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/
http://www.jacksonschameleoncaresheet.com

Alright, thanks for the links. I'll be sure to read them soon. I might cross Veiled off of my list now, if they really are that aggressive.

 

[pssh]

Eh, any of those species can be agressive, just as any can be very tollerant. You honestly won't know until they are adults as their personalitlies change as they grow and mature.

I would never handle my chameleons more than once a week unless they chose to walk out onto my hand all by themselves. I have a veiled who acts pretty tough around his territory but once you take him out he's no longer agressive at all. I also have a female panther who is tollerant of me looking at her and occational hand feeding but she is so scared of my hand and me. She's never even fired up before (that I've seen anyways.)

Even though I love her to death, veileds will always be my favorite bcause they are just so dang forward. I've never seen a veiled that doesn't have a strong personality. (plus they're bigger than panthers on average!)

EDIT: actually my veiled can get agressive outside of the cage, but only at the camera, his greatest foe!

 

[Miss Lily]

I would go with the one that appeals to you most and do plenty of research into their care, such as temps and humidity, etc. I have two veileds and both are exceptionally 'people friendly'. My female I have had since she was 3 months old and at 6 months she went through a stage where you couldn't even look at her or she'd puff up and didn't want to come out. I respected her wishes and left her alone whilst continuing to hand feed every day.

For the couple of months she has swung back completely to the opposite extreme. These days I only have to look at her or walk past her viv and she run to the front and scratches at the door to come out! They are both very sweet and chilled out as far as veileds go! I can't believe that I just 'got lucky' - I think it has a lot to do with how confident you are with them.

I have a friend who rescues veileds that are regarded as 'nasty' by their owners (probably just showing typical veiled behaviour). She has turned several around from gaping, hissing, scared creatures into chams that are happy to be around people and can be handled. She uses handfeeding and a LOT of patience over several months, but is always successful!

 

[Fluffball176]

Thanks for that advice . With my Leo and Beardie I just handled them daily for 10 minutes for about a week and they tamed nicely. I knew that wouldn't work for something so easily stressed so I'll try hand feeding and patience.

Veileds are the cheapest to buy in pet trade, no? I'm not looking to spend as little as possible for the enclosure I would just like a price range of the three.

 

[jamncristian]

veileds are the cheapest and panthers are the most expensive. it feels so cool when you hold your cham until you get your finger bitten (OUCH!!) Ive seen panthers teeth are serrated so i woud be very careful

 

[Fluffball176]

Do Jacksons or Veiled have serrated teeth?

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Its the luck of the draw as far as handleing and personalities go. But i would say that i think jacksons are the most laid back of all three. Given that I have a panther. I've had all 3 at one time or another and I always go back to panthers. I just love the colors and you never know how the offspring will turn out if you decide to breed later. Just my preference. I think you should research all 3 then decide. They are all awesome, I've never had a cham I didn't like. Even the aggresive veiled I had was cool.

 

[pssh]

They can all break skin, let's just leave it at that. Even at 2-3 months old my veiled could break skin. He missed the camera and took a swing at my finger. I thought it was great.

 

[AReptile]

You think its great and it terrifies me lmao! Been bitten by large dogs, and attacked by cats and i have no problem with them, no fear of their teeth or claws. Yet I'm dreading the day i slip up and my cham bites my hand =(

 

[pssh]

I love the 'this-is-my-cage!' attitude. It's one of the main reasons why I like veileds most. Plus it's easier to tell when something is wrong (or at least potentially wrong.)

 

[Olimpia]

Chameleons will never be as friendly as leos or beardies, but they are much better than fish. My Jackson's is a wil caught male, and even he has grown to trust me enough to tolerate handling. But I respect that he isn't comfortable with me as much as our beardies are, so I don't take him out unless I have to and if I have to move him it's a quick and efficient thing. And instead of having him climb on my like I would do with my leos, I'll have a special perch for him and I'll do stuff with him hanging out on this perch so that he can do stuff besides just explore his cage. And maybe the best "bonding" moment we have is when I hand mist him with warm water - he just loves it, and will stand there and drink up the water with his eyes closed and it's the time he looks as if he trusts me completely. It's probably not the most exciting thing in the world, to stand there holding a spray bottle for 3 minutes, but it's sweet.

They are essentially animals that are best seen and not touched, but that doesn't make them any less fantastic to have in the house. They are just so different from any of my other animals that just watching them walk around in the plants in their cages is fun.

My panther is still way too little and skiddish to give a temperment opinion on though. But he's a cutie too.

 

[Elizadolots]

Am I wrong in thinking that Jacksons are commonly regarded as less aggressive than veileds?

Of course, any chameleon can be aggressive and any chameleon can be unlikely to bite, regardless of type.