New to the forums and thinking about getting a chameleon

[alycious]

Hi everyone! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I signed up yesterday but have been a lurker here for a while to learn about chameleons and their care.

I live in PA and have been wanting to get a chameleon (in my research I've decided that I'd love to get a male ambilobe) for a few years now. I think the thing holding me back is the cost and I hate to admit it, but the feeding of bugs lol. I obviously realize that bugs are the main staple for a cham's diet but I want a cham more than I dislike bugs so that will be easy (I hope) to get over My husband will need a bit more convincing. He's worse than me when it comes to bugs! But I've been doing my research and I know that you suggest having experience with other herps before getting a cham, so perhaps I will do that in the meantime.

I've been scouring the internet for resources and this seems to be the best place for information. And if I ever decide to make the commitment, I'd most likely be purchasing from Screameleons or Kammerflage Kreations but I'm open to hearing your recommendations as well as any advice you have for a complete newbie to chameleons.

I'm happy to be here!

 

[laurie]

Welcome to our world. Glad you "came out of the closet". i would tell you if a chameleon is what you want it is what you should get. The male ambilobe you want is a perfect first cham - go for it.

 

[ChameleonFan1989]

Welcome to Chameleon Forums Panther chameleons are a good first chameleon.

I recommend you click these links in these threads to get you started on basic care, suppliments etc

https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/

 

[sandrachameleon]

welcome alycious
Maybe you could get a couple crickets and superworms from the local pet shop and practise feeding, touching them etc. I think you'll find you can get over the bug thing - even my partner, who is greatly afraid of spiders and heavily dislikes all creepy crawlies, is able to cope with them now (wearing gloves and using a spoon/tongs)

 

[chameleonkev]

Il warn you now, there so addictive, as soon as I brought my first panther i loved him and was eyeing up my next Cham, great rep to keep, there just so interesting

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

Welcome to the best site for resources the only thing I bought from petsmart is a cricket shaker. It is great for dusting and I rarely touch the crix I just shake them off in there and fridge to slow them down and I've trained my cham to eat out of a bowl that I just dump them in with carrots to munch on. Wax worms are a great treat to start trying to hand feed in a couple weeks of owning its amazing mine just started warming up me. And I'm learning to like bugs and plants as well lol.

 

[alycious]

you know i was wondering if those cricket shaker things would do the trick. then i wouldn't have to touch them too much. that sounds like a good idea

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

Yes it works nice and saves supplements. I just shake the egg crates inside it and they all fall in its easy peasy. Look out for escapees! lol

 

[reptilover]

you know i was wondering if those cricket shaker things would do the trick. then i wouldn't have to touch them too much. that sounds like a good idea

U gotta be cautious to only put enough supplement in the shakers to put a very LIGHT coating on each cricket to much supplement can be dangerous. I use a mason jar. I tip the crickets out of there bin into the jar add just a light pinch of supplement and swirl it around. Then dump it In. Cheap and efficient and no cricket touching at all

Though I bet ull touch em when u learn they will eat from ur hand

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

U gotta be cautious to only put enough supplement in the shakers to put a very LIGHT coating on each cricket to much supplement can be dangerous. I use a mason jar. I tip the crickets out of there bin into the jar add just a light pinch of supplement and swirl it around. Then dump it In. Cheap and efficient and no cricket touching at all

Though I bet ull touch em when u learn they will eat from ur hand

That's a good alternative. I only dust a few feeders a day and believe it helps with seeming like there is variety ha but a happy cham likes more than just one or two types of feeders. I just introduced Phoenix worms to mine and she loves zappin those things up lol and they're apparently high in calcium.