Least favorite thing about keeping chams

[littlevillage]

I would have to say space. I want more & more chams, but don't have the room because their cages have to be so big.
I worry about them all the time but in a strange way that is kind of rewarding for me. It's hard to explain, I guess it's a motherly thing.....have to have something to worry about & someone who still needs me. The munchkins are getting older, they don't need me as much.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

There is no "bad part" to keeping chameleons (in my opinion).
All of the things mentioned are part of the experience and I wouldn't trade any of them.
I love having some chams on board for my adventure (life)

-Brad

 

[wendysjungle]

Being a new cham mommy, I haven't found a lot I don't like yet (well, except switching out THREE plants to get to a nontoxic one!). After all these years owning parrots, Joyce seems low maintenance by comparison: She does not throw her meals all over the house, she does not began demanding "Come here. Mama, come here! HEY!! COME HERE!!!" the minute I walk in the door, and she does not need new toys every month to replace the ones she has destroyed.

So far, the misting is a bit of a pain. I already knew I hated crickets because I have to feed them to the frogs and gecko in my office as well. I did find out my big macaw also hates crickets. The minute they start chirping, she yells "HEY, SHUT UP!!!!!"

 

[Dankmeleon]

I find that if we try to look at things differently, we can learn more, than new members approaching it like hey let me hear only the good things.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Being a new cham mommy, I haven't found a lot I don't like yet (well, except switching out THREE plants to get to a nontoxic one!). After all these years owning parrots, Joyce seems low maintenance by comparison: She does not throw her meals all over the house, she does not began demanding "Come here. Mama, come here! HEY!! COME HERE!!!" the minute I walk in the door, and she does not need new toys every month to replace the ones she has destroyed.

So far, the misting is a bit of a pain. I already knew I hated crickets because I have to feed them to the frogs and gecko in my office as well. I did find out my big macaw also hates crickets. The minute they start chirping, she yells "HEY, SHUT UP!!!!!"

I have great confidence that you will be a good chameleon keeper (possibly addict)
I am always telling people to treat chameleons more like parrots than lizards ... their husbandry actually falls between somewhere.... I always think that bird keepers have a definite advantage over reptile keepers in the beginning with chameleons.

-Brad

 

[Dankmeleon]

so do people with green thumbs

 

[lbesok]

Very nicely put Justin! I feel ya, my chameleons make me VERY happy. Except I myself don't like the poop, getting pooped on, cleaning up the gum ball sized Melleri turds, and worst of all finding live parasites in it

I dont have any complaints here.
It's all about getting in a rythm.
I havent found a perfect one, but it's getting really close.
I enjoy everything about keeping my chameleons.
I love all feeders!
If you are complaining about crickets making noise, then why not buy them a bit younger?
Yes, crickets do stink, but would you have it any other way?
Roaches can smell too!
It isn't as strong, but if your like me I rotate feeders each week.
If the roach flats sit for a week, and you start turning them over to find small guys to feed- HOLY SMOKES!
It's just a quick whiff, but it still isn't very pleasant.
Superworms aren't any better.
If you dont change the bran once every two weeks, then you end up with a stinky garage.
Plants will die on occasion, but Joe and I have it down!
Just buy a few extra plants.
I have been extremely lucky with parasites, so no complaints there.

The costs are worth the reward in my opinion.
If you ever get the chance to buy a chameleon at a very youg age and raise it to adulthood then I would jump on it.
That is even if your not breeding.
If you want a pet that dosent cost money, then you need to stop looking for a pet.
I had my male Veiled for over a year before I decided to breed my own pair.

The only complaint here is.... space!
I'm just trying to make sure I have enough room to have baby cages without being cramped.

 

[Professor Booty]

I would have to say (in addition to crickets) that having a cham has given me a new dislike for water and how it gets everywhere and really destroys things.

Agreed in full. I will never be 100% satisfied with my drainage setup. Water still gets into and collects at places it should never be.

 

[chrisandpugs]

Hi everybody,
I can deal with poop, cleaning the cage...etc. but the thing that bothers me the most is when your Chameleon goes on a hunger strike all of a sudden!!
You go thru all your checks such as: lighting, humidity levels, possible feeder contamination, same insect boredom, slight constipation, and it's a waiting game even though your Chameleon seems to look alert and healthy! Would love to get "inside" the mind of a Chameleon and ask, "What set you off from eating all of a sudden!!"

Christine

 

[Sepioteuthis]

1. plant parasites and not being able to use any chemicals to get rid of them
2. the still limited knowedge of veterinary medicine (compared to more 'normal' pets

 

[bucky]

Well...vet bills,idk bout you guys but that kills me! I hate it ,but i also hate the sound of crickets crawling in the cup feeder,or if they jump out having to find them when i hear them at night

 

[Sage]

1: The cleaning!
2:The misting and money

 

[danielle609]

The only thing that I truely hate is when I wake up to a cricket crawling on my face because I have yet to find a way to truely keep the crickets confined. My mom hates the crickets...but she also didn't like it a while back when I had a cornsnake that escaped and wraped itself around the shower head...and guess who got to the shower first...LOL...Hillarious!! But I wouldn't trade my chams for anything! I learned early in the game to get medium crix. After my first box of 1000 large crix and 3 weeks of endless chirping night I realized that wasn't going to work out. I have been told the med crix are better anyways because they don't have such a thick exoskeleton(or whatever you call it ) and they have more protein. I am not sure how true that is but I believe anything!