My mom won't let me have a chameleon because she thinks that when I go off to college in a couple years that she will have to take care of him. The schools I want to apply for do not force Freshman to live on campus the first year. I have read other forums saying that the majority of the time, if you don't tell a landlord that it is an exotic, then you can keep them living with you. I don't plan on partying or anything like that so I will have plenty of time to take care of it. I am curious to as if all of this is true. Can I bring it to live in an apartment with me? I just need some reassurance before I try to bargain with her. I have been wanting a chameleon for a couple years now and have done A LOT of research. Please Help. Thanks!
Need Help with Getting a Cham!!!
- Thread starter CHer23
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Ninkylou
New Member
Every apartment is different, but you aren't going to know what's available and what the rules will be until the time comes for you to go off to college. Not telling the landlord that you have an exotic pet could get you evicted if the landlord has to enter your apartment for some reason (they most often have the right to do that with notice, or in any emergency situation). I live in an apartment but my pets are all on my lease. The office staff even receive my live feeders in the office, but not every place is like mine. I think many have a 'No exotics' clause in their leases.
Also there are pretty significant ongoing costs to care for your cham and unless you know you will have a steady income during college committing to those costs now may not be in the best interest of an animal or you in the future if you have to choose your dinner over your pets dinner. Vet costs, live food, plants etc add up fast.
I hate to burst your bubble, but maybe you should wait until you are settled into a permanent living situation before you get your cham. I know its tough to wait, but probably not as tough as having to give one up if you find you can't bring him with you.
Also there are pretty significant ongoing costs to care for your cham and unless you know you will have a steady income during college committing to those costs now may not be in the best interest of an animal or you in the future if you have to choose your dinner over your pets dinner. Vet costs, live food, plants etc add up fast.
I hate to burst your bubble, but maybe you should wait until you are settled into a permanent living situation before you get your cham. I know its tough to wait, but probably not as tough as having to give one up if you find you can't bring him with you.
I actually do already have a job that I can do even when I go off to college. My family owns a business and by the time I go off to college I will be on their payroll so I am not really worried about the costs. I would never let myself put an animal in such a situation because I love animals, but I think them having the right home is even more important. I was just more curious as to whether or not any apartments allowed chameleons. Also, I never stated that I wouldn't tell them I had it. I would just tell them that it was a harmless lizard.
Ninkylou
New Member
Sorry if I misunderstood. I read if you don't tell a landlord that it is an exotic, then you can keep them living with you. as you not telling them. They are in fact a harmless lizard! Thats why my building doesn't care.
I don't understand what you were looking for in response to your posting. There are apartments that say no exotics and there are some that say yes. I would do your homework now and see if the places you are looking to move to think its ok.
I was really just saying to be sure that you can continue to care of the animal when you life situation changes before you make the commitment. I would say that to anyone before they get any animal. There are always going to be times when unplanned situations occur, but in your case you know what's going to change and you have the opportunity to plan ahead. it would be a good bargaining tool with your mom if you were able to say that you contacted some different places and confirmed that you can bring the cham with you.
I know with my kids, I want to know that they have done their research. If one of mine told me they had called a few apartments and confirmed they could bring it it would go a long way to me saying ok, because they are planning ahead.
Good luck!
I don't understand what you were looking for in response to your posting. There are apartments that say no exotics and there are some that say yes. I would do your homework now and see if the places you are looking to move to think its ok.
I was really just saying to be sure that you can continue to care of the animal when you life situation changes before you make the commitment. I would say that to anyone before they get any animal. There are always going to be times when unplanned situations occur, but in your case you know what's going to change and you have the opportunity to plan ahead. it would be a good bargaining tool with your mom if you were able to say that you contacted some different places and confirmed that you can bring the cham with you.
I know with my kids, I want to know that they have done their research. If one of mine told me they had called a few apartments and confirmed they could bring it it would go a long way to me saying ok, because they are planning ahead.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your help! I am going to try to email a few apartments and see if they allow them. Maybe even print out the good ones to show her.
How much attention time do chameleons need? Now, she is saying that I won't have enough time for a chameleon. I know that they don't want to be handled too often and I would have everything automated except for feeding of course. I am just asking if what I am saying is true. Also, I am not saying I would never hold it or let it out, but wouldn't socializing with it once a day be more then sufficient?
kplatvoet
Member
If your certain you want a chameleon then you've most likely come to the right place - start out with the cost of owning a chameleon- and the care sheets- Parents are bound to come up with mostly good reasons why you shouldn't get one - but you would be more likely to convince me if I was your parent if you showed me you know what your getting yourself into- an automated misting system is about 200 - (for a good one not one that is going to go crazy and soak your floors -(monsoon) a light timer can be had for 15 bucks- crickets and bugs - there is a good list in the Resources section. Show your mother a budget - find a vet and show her your research.
Your right about handling chameleons - they don't like it - for some socializing once a week is more than enough but cage cleaning and checking to make sure his/her poop looks good getting fecal's done does take up time - cleaning up a chameleon cage is not as bad as cleaning a cricket bin- and keeping the bugs fed and happy is part of the deal. (I'd keep the crickets out of the conversation with your mom -and don't mention roaches) (best way to do that is to make sure you have the money to get them without borrowing it from mom )
With my kids - my son doesn't want to take care of an animal and doesn't have one - my daughter has a bearded dragon she makes vet appointments buys it's food and doesn't just expect me to feed him she make salad for the bugs when she's making the lizard his breakfast.
Your right about handling chameleons - they don't like it - for some socializing once a week is more than enough but cage cleaning and checking to make sure his/her poop looks good getting fecal's done does take up time - cleaning up a chameleon cage is not as bad as cleaning a cricket bin- and keeping the bugs fed and happy is part of the deal. (I'd keep the crickets out of the conversation with your mom -and don't mention roaches) (best way to do that is to make sure you have the money to get them without borrowing it from mom )
With my kids - my son doesn't want to take care of an animal and doesn't have one - my daughter has a bearded dragon she makes vet appointments buys it's food and doesn't just expect me to feed him she make salad for the bugs when she's making the lizard his breakfast.
awsumpauly
New Member
Chameleons do require quite a bit of time and care and are no beginners pet. However, you say that you have done quite a bit of research, so as long as you know everything you need, all the specific care requirements for the type of cham you are looking at, and are willing to spend quite a bit of money on the initial setup and recurring costs for food, plants, new supplies, vet checkups, etc. you should be fine. It is true that they dont necessarily require much handling if any, though you do always have to keep a watchful eye out for any possible diseases or other threats to your cham.
I have just recently found a vet that is about 35 minutes away. I am curious about vet visit costs. How much is a normal vet visit and does it happen often? Also, I figured that I should save up about $800 for proper equipment along with the chameleon and food. Would that be a good amount? Thanks!
awsumpauly
New Member
$800 dollars is definately a good amount for a nice cham setup unless you are planning on getting a very expensive cham, I've seen the different species range from about $20 (pygmies) up to a few hundred (panthers) and even some in the thousands but those are the rare ones only for professionals so I doubt you are looking at one of those. About the vet thing, I havent had to take mine in yet (knock on wood) but most people do annually. I believe this website just finished up a poll on annual vet expenses so you might want to check that out.
I have just recently found a vet that is about 35 minutes away. I am curious about vet visit costs. How much is a normal vet visit and does it happen often? Also, I figured that I should save up about $800 for proper equipment along with the chameleon and food. Would that be a good amount? Thanks!
I plan on getting a veiled because that it what they sell at Petsmart and Petco. I have also heard that they are good starter chameleons.
Andee
Chameleon Enthusiast
Veileds are likely to be a lot less friendly than panther chams. And I do not believe they do not like being handled a lot. This depends on the cham. My panther Ryker would go insane if I didn't take him out at least three times a week, he's very social always has been and likes to be where you are even in his inside free range.
Panthers can be very social if you get the right one. Veileds can be too, but most of the ones at petco and petsmart are females and then you will have to deal with eggs. I would never get a female veiled because the likelihood of her being grumpy as she gets older into her hormonal stages is quite high.
Panthers can be very social if you get the right one. Veileds can be too, but most of the ones at petco and petsmart are females and then you will have to deal with eggs. I would never get a female veiled because the likelihood of her being grumpy as she gets older into her hormonal stages is quite high.
awsumpauly
New Member
I agree that veileds, though normally the most common, are typically quite unfriendly. My friend has one that was fine for about a month but then started hissing and trying to bite him whenever he tried to take it out which was very upsetting. Panthers can be quite a bit more friendly but also quite a bit more expensive. If you are looking for relatively cheap and also friendly (and reasonably small, the panthers get pretty big), I would suggest senegal, pygmy, rudis, or carpet. You probably cant find any of these in your local petstore but there are lots of great websites that you can get these from like flchams (a bit more expensive than the others and usually limited stock) and backwater reptiles (I have successfully bought 3 chams from these guys, they are great).
Ninkylou
New Member
I will attest to the grumpy female veiled....she hisses and bites at me whenever I go into the enclosure.
Andee
Chameleon Enthusiast
I hear good things about carpet chameleons and they usually run around 90 dollars so I think >.> though I'm not positive XD' ... I think their care is somewhat similar to panthers too, though once again not sure. I would look it up, or ask someone on the forum, forums probably the safer bet. Ijust love carpets because they are so beautiful! And relatively small <3
kplatvoet
Member
Look in the classified on this forum- a petsmart or petco chameleon could end up costing you more money in the long run-
I found one in the area and ended up not paying for shipping - you can save by hundreds by not listening to what pet smart tells you you need and posting pictures of your set up and researching before you buy.
I found one in the area and ended up not paying for shipping - you can save by hundreds by not listening to what pet smart tells you you need and posting pictures of your set up and researching before you buy.
awsumpauly
New Member
The carpet cham is relatively small. Mines only about 4 or 5 inches not including the tail. Fairly easy to take care of, doesnt require too big of a cage (mines only about 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft), and she has really great colors (especially when compared to veileds, as they are normally only within the range of green). Also, she was fairly cheap, I got her from backwaterreptiles for only about 80 or 90 dollars. Also, she is very friendly
Tay And A
Member
Personally I would tell anyone: do not buy a chameleon from a pet store, especially ones such as petco or pets mart. They do not properly take care of their chameleons and it would be a shame to get a sick Cham. Buy from a breeder here on the forums. The cost is relatively the same. For instance pet stores usually charge $79.99 for a veiled Cham. I charge $40 plus $50 shipping. For just $10 more you are getting a healthy chameleon and all the free care advise you will need.
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