New and EXCITED! :)

[Jeffw]

Hi everyone! This site seems wonderful for Chameleon lovers and I cant wait to get started. There is a baby chameleon at my local pet store that I want to adopt, because I've been reading about them for about 3 weeks now and how they are taking care of them isn't too healthy I would imagine. They have him in a glass cage and trying to have him drink water out of a bowl. They also feed him crickets that are too big for him so I'm just trying to get everything ready to adopt him!

The first time I actually saw a lizard face to face was at my sisters house, they had an iguana, and he didn't live in a cage or anything, my sister built multiple shelves on the walls of her house for him to live on and he was so dominant. Even the dogs didn't bother him at all. But my favorite is still the Chameleon. But I know books won't answer all my questions so I hope whatever I ask someone on here will be able to answer!

Thanks!, Jeff

 

[Ekproject]

Welcome!! Everyone on here is always more than willing to help. We all started there.

 

[sdheli420]

Welcome!! Everyone on here is always more than willing to help. We all started there.

+1 to that.(well i started posting recently..wish i would have known about this when i first started at 13!!!)..

all i have to say is you are starting out the best possible way!

 

[Justin Ward]

welcome to the forums...you should take out some time and read around on here, there is a wealth of knowledge to be absorbed on this site and we are always here to help you out if you have any questions...the search feature is also very helpful, use it and it will become your best friend

 

[KTown333]

Welcome Jeff! Cant wait to see some pics if you get the baby. Good thing you are reading up and taking the time to learn a bit. Keep it up!

 

[Basilisk09]

Welcome! I joined just last month, and as a fellow new member, I must agree with everyone here. This place is a living encyclopedia on chameleons, and ANNNNYTHING AT ALL you could be inquiring about is either in the archives or can be answered by a ton of chameleon owners. I've learned too much already in my month here

 

[Shawntea]

welcome. Glad to see you are taking the time to read up and learn bfore you buy. I just started here too, and after two weeks of reading and asking questions I brought my pygmys home. Good luck!

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to learn about chameleons. I keep veileds and right now have panthers too. I have a blog for new keepers that you might find helpful if you plan to get a veiled or panther. I'll attach it for you below.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the world of chameleons!

Here is some information about supplementing, etc. and the reasoning behind it and a few websites that I hope you will find useful...

Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

Since many of the feeder insects have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites for you to read...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[laurie]

Hello and welcome to the forum. The 2 lovely ladies posting before me covered pretty much everything, so I will just add that I am always happy to help and just a pm away.

My husband is from Indiana, Greensburg to be exact. Where are you from?

 

[Leroux2008]

Welcome =D Glad you took an interest! I am a recent joiner also, I love this place =] there is so much you can learn from all the experienced owners here.

 

[drcrossfire]

Welcome! This is definitely the friendliest reptile forum on the net! A great "community"!!!

 

[Sodbuster]

Welcome to the forums. Like everyone has already stated this is a great place to learn. Basically everyone on here knows a Crap load about chameleons and stuff and are always willing to help

 

[suzi]

Welcome fellow "kam" lover!