Rookie chameleon owner

I

irishgal

New Member
Well I work a local pet store and I recently took a liking to our chameleons. I've bought an exo terra terrarium and a nice fogger system. I'm slowly purchasing everything that the habitat requires.
I am not interested in buying one of the chameleons from my store as we do not know their breeding conditions and have had many veileds arrive at our store sick or dying.
So my main question would be where would be the best place to purchase a chameleon?
And also as a rookie, what species would be the best one to start with?
Would appreciate any advice you can give me :)
 
Welcome to the forums. It's nice to see you researching BEFORE you buy a chameleon. I would highly recommend a male veiled or panther for your first chameleon. They do best in screen enclosures. I would also recommend buying from a small breeder like Dez or Sang. I'll attach their links below along with my blog for new keepers of veileds and panthers. It will give you all the info you need to keep a little one healthy and happy.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html
Dez: http://www.chamalotchameleons.com/
Sang: http://www.komeleons.com/
 
Thanks for the links jannb! I was informed the exo terra was a really nice set up. I bought it too long ago to return it so is there any way to make it work?
 
irishgal said:
Thanks for the links jannb! I was informed the exo terra was a really nice set up. I bought it too long ago to return it so is there any way to make it work?
Click to expand...

I would sale it on craigslist and get a screen cage. Veileds and panthers both do well in screen.
 
irishgal said:
Just curious, why do they do better in a screened enclosure?
Click to expand...

They need allot of ventilation, they can see their-self in glass and become stressed, it's about impossible to put drainage in glass and too much water can build up with all the misting and dripping that you have to do and your Cham can get illnesses caused by to much water such as respiratory infections, fungus and ect.
 
I noticed with the baby veiled at the pet store I worked at that when it was kept in an enclosure with only two screened sides, that it kept a lot of heat and the Cham was overheated and thus spent a lot of time at the bottom of the cage. All screen enclosures are definitely the best.
 
Welcome to the forum!

The dispute on screen versus glass enclosures has many different opinions/facts backing. I have an exoterra terrarium AND a screen enclosure. I much prefer the screen (it is larger and the temperature gradient is better and more varied), but I made the glass enclosure work for my Jackson's for 5 months or so. It was a lot of work, with no drainage system I had to change the paper towel daily (or even twice daily) to ensure no sitting water, I felt the need to keep the front door of the glass terrarium open for ventilation for parts of the day...

I agree that screens are better for your chameleon and easier for you, but a glass enclosure with a mesh room can (this is my opinion) be made to work.

I actually really wanted to experiment with drilling ventilation holes in my exoterra terrarium...

Edit: also covered all sides with paper towel (taped on the outside) to make his reflection to a minimum. ;)
 
unfortunately where I am right now (a very tiny one bedroom apartment) I wouldn't be able to get the screened enclosure. So I might have to hold off on buying a chameleon I guess
 
irishgal said:
unfortunately where I am right now (a very tiny one bedroom apartment) I wouldn't be able to get the screened enclosure. So I might have to hold off on buying a chameleon I guess
Click to expand...

The enclosure needs to be taller than wide. You may be able to fit a 2 x 2 x 4 enclosure on top of an end table and not take up much room at all!
 
well I went to work after learning that I needed the screened enclosure and did some looking around. we have a zoo med habitat that is screened it looks nice and I think I could work with it! thanks everyone for the advice :)
 
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