Possible Veiled Chameleon...should I?

[ElWray]

I found a Veiled Chameleon for sale, for $80 (Canadian). Around here they are usually about $175.
Its an adult male. Mostly white-ish with green spots, looks really nice.
Just wondering what they are like for pets (to take care of) and if there is anything I should look for, or watch out for...?
I was told I would need the following to start:
- Mesh terrarium
- Lizard carpet
- Main branch for climbing
- Lots of green leaves for hiding/collecting water
- Heat light (100 Watt)

Is there anything else I need right away? If he is still there on Saturday, I would like to get him, but I want to do it right.

(As far as other pets, I also have a water dragon, 2 mice, 2 hermit crabs, a tarantula, a rabbit, 2 cats, a betta fish, and an Emperor scorpion....so as I am new to chameleons, I have, at least SOME experience with critters, and one lizard)

 

[bimac6]

I found a Veiled Chameleon for sale, for $80 (Canadian). Around here they are usually about $175.
Its an adult male. Mostly white-ish with green spots, looks really nice.
Just wondering what they are like for pets (to take care of) and if there is anything I should look for, or watch out for...?
I was told I would need the following to start:
- Mesh terrarium
- Lizard carpet
- Main branch for climbing
- Lots of green leaves for hiding/collecting water
- Heat light (100 Watt)

Is there anything else I need right away? If he is still there on Saturday, I would like to get him, but I want to do it right.

(As far as other pets, I also have a water dragon, 2 mice, 2 hermit crabs, a tarantula, a rabbit, 2 cats, a betta fish, and an Emperor scorpion....so as I am new to chameleons, I have, at least SOME experience with critters, and one lizard)

It's always important to research any pet before you buy it, but I've found chameleons are extra important for some reason.
No reptile carpet, you don't really need a substrate.
I'm not going to go into complete detail because you can find it all with the search button a million times.
You'll need
a mesh cage, yes, big enough for him to roam around, if he's an adult, I'd say a 18 18 36 or 24 24 48.
a heat light, NOT 100 watt, way too hot. use a househouse bulb, 40-60 watt.
a UVB linear tube, 5.0. find reptisun is your best bet. Idk if that's up in Canada but yeah.
a real plant such as a ficus or schleffera, lots of vines, and other types of foliage
a dripping system for him to drink, because chameleons don't drink still water.
and a way of measuring the temperature and humidity.

 

[ghettomike]

i recommend finding out as much info on here as you can before your purchase. I had no idea how much care they needed before i got my f veiled but ive learned alot and it is totally worth it the work and the cost.

 

[pssh]

Welcome! Here is my basic checklist for an adult male veiled chameleon.


Here is my basic checklist for an adult male veiled:

-a screen cage of appropriate size (adult male 24x24x48)
-live plants that are non toxic and have covered organic fertilizer free soil
-a normal incandescent house bulb of appropriate wattage
-a dome to put the house bulb in
-a linear reptisun 5.0 and appropriate hood
-a digital thermometer or temp gun to check temperature
-a digital hygrometer to check humidity (you can buy a 2 in 1 thermometer/hygrometer)
-three supplements: calcium with d3, calcium without d3, and a multivitamin that contains no vit A (make sure all are phos free)
-a pump style spray bottle to spray chameleon
-a dripper of some sort
-drainage for the water so that the cage does not flood
-many horizontal, vertical, and diagonal branches/vines/perches make sure there are many at different levels under the basking branch so he can move around under them to get a certain temp, the closest one to the bulb (6-8 inches under it) should have the maximum temperature a male veiled can handle (85-90 degrees)

All of this can be bought on lllreptile.com but it would be cheaper to buy the uvb hood, normal incandescent house bulb and dome, plants, and digital thermometer from home depot or lowes (unless you are getting a temp gun, then tempgun.com) Veiled chameleons can handle temps as low as 50 degrees (at night) so there is no need to use a night light. *If you do need extra heat, use a space heater or ceramic bulb.

 

[ElWray]

Yeah i have decided on a bigger mesh terrarium for sure, and I know about the water dripper, rather than the dish.
About the substrate...should I not put something on the bottom,or at least under the mesh terrarium, to keep water from getting all over? Or do they have a bottom? (Never had a mesh one before, always glass)
Thanks everyone for all the info. Ive been reading more on this forum, along with other sites on the internet (and emailing breeders for info)

Is $80 a good price for a male? Since Ive been searching, it seems Veilds are the cheaper breeds..although chameleons in general, are difficult to find around here, and when I do see them, they are usually 120-200 plus.

Again, thanks for all the info!!

 

[Goggles]

You should check with Drew and Tamara at Chameleon Nation.
They are great people to deal with and their prices are better than the ones you stated.
Here is their site http://www.trinitychameleons.com/

 

[pssh]

80 is pretty average in my opinion for an adult male.

No substrate is easiest to clean and usually best. If you get an aluminum screen cage hen it should come with a PVC plastic bottom. You can drill holes in that and raise it with something, then put a catching container under the holes. The plants will make the bottom bend enough that the water will go to the center and out the holes.

With reptariums, you can buy a plastic bottom thingy. I don't like those and just bought my own acrylic/PVC/whatever kind of plastic sheet and cut it to size for the bottom. I drilled a few holes and did the same thing above.

 

[ElWray]

Thanks for all the help...but I think Ill wait. I want one, but Im going to focus on my water dragon until its an adult. Plus I want to wait till I have a house with a basement, where I can keep everything...like a small zoo
That way I can slowly build up a good home for a Chameleon, and take care of one from a baby.

Thanks again for all the help, and Ill be back when I decide to get one for sure

 

[Berg]

Thanks for all the help...but I think Ill wait. I want one, but Im going to focus on my water dragon until its an adult. Plus I want to wait till I have a house with a basement, where I can keep everything...like a small zoo
That way I can slowly build up a good home for a Chameleon, and take care of one from a baby.

Thanks again for all the help, and Ill be back when I decide to get one for sure

A basement would be perfect for all the bugs needed to feed the cham... out of sight out of mind... well at least for my wife