Trying to decide if I should purchase a chameleon!

[Cathykny]

I recently started to think about purchasing a chameleon. The more I read the more confused I become as to whether or not buying a cham is the right thing to do. Everything about them is so fascinating. At Christmas time I took a trip to Oglebay and they have one in their zoo. I could have watched it for hours. I have always been an animal lover and owned many different types of pets over the years. As of date I own 2 Italian Greyhounds, 1 cat (95% outdoors), 1 Goffin cockatoo, and 7 hermit crabs. I bought the hermies in July, in part for my 4 year old granddaughter who is becoming a huge animal/reptile lover like me. Initially, I wanted to buy a cham, but decided against it after reading how much they really like privacy. While my granddaughter enjoys playing with the hermies on occasions (she is exceptionally gently with them for her age), I am a bit disappointed in them. The main reason being I never see them! I new they were nocturnal animals when I purchased them, but I thought they would at least come out in the mornings and the evenings. They stay hidden until the lights are completely out. Not much fun in that.

So now I am back to longing for a chameleon. I was so excited by the thought just a week ago, until I started to really research them. I keep reading over and over about their desire to be left alone and more importantly that the stress could eventually lead to illness and death. Then I watch a video showing a person putting their hand in their chams cage and it walking right on to it. Or read that if you handle them slowly and from a young age they will get used to it and trust you. Which is it! Or are chams all different in their like/tolerance of being held or within viewing distance of people.

Does anyone have their chameleon in the main room in their house - living room/kitchen? And have they thrived? I realize my situation may be different than yours considering I have other pets. (Would a parrots screeching stress them?) There is one place I could put a chameleon that would be out of heavy traffic but still somewhat visible. The second floor loft. Would that work? How many people have them in a private room. I don't know if this sounds harsh, but what is the point of having an animal that you rarely see because it is closed up in a room and stresses out when you do go in to see it. Obviously they have to be handled sometime because they need to be removed to clean their cage.

I have other concerns/questions about their care, but I'll save that for another time. Thanks in advance. Cathy

 

[carol5208]

It is going to soley hinge of the personality of your chameleon. Some are stressed out by birds and other pets, some are not. I have mine in my computer room right next to my computer and he prefers to hang out on the side of the cage right next to me. Mine is very friendly and I handle him everyday. I also have a cockatiel in the room with him in eye sight but about 10 feet away. He has been fine for two years like this. You really are not going to know until you get your chameleon and start observing the way he acts.

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Hi Cathy and welcome,
I had mine in my dining room, even removed my table! I haven't had any problems being in the main part of the house.
I also am one that handles mine all the time. I even take them on walks when i go to the corner store
The bird noise won't bother them at all, but note what Carol said, the movement might
Keep researching, they require unique care, as do feeders.
I so enjoy all of my chams, its a great hobby...or lifestyle
Anne

 

[shaunaroxanne]

I recently started to think about purchasing a chameleon. The more I read the more confused I become as to whether or not buying a cham is the right thing to do. Everything about them is so fascinating. At Christmas time I took a trip to Oglebay and they have one in their zoo. I could have watched it for hours. I have always been an animal lover and owned many different types of pets over the years. As of date I own 2 Italian Greyhounds, 1 cat (95% outdoors), 1 Goffin cockatoo, and 7 hermit crabs. I bought the hermies in July, in part for my 4 year old granddaughter who is becoming a huge animal/reptile lover like me. Initially, I wanted to buy a cham, but decided against it after reading how much they really like privacy. While my granddaughter enjoys playing with the hermies on occasions (she is exceptionally gently with them for her age), I am a bit disappointed in them. The main reason being I never see them! I new they were nocturnal animals when I purchased them, but I thought they would at least come out in the mornings and the evenings. They stay hidden until the lights are completely out. Not much fun in that.

So now I am back to longing for a chameleon. I was so excited by the thought just a week ago, until I started to really research them. I keep reading over and over about their desire to be left alone and more importantly that the stress could eventually lead to illness and death. Then I watch a video showing a person putting their hand in their chams cage and it walking right on to it. Or read that if you handle them slowly and from a young age they will get used to it and trust you. Which is it! Or are chams all different in their like/tolerance of being held or within viewing distance of people.

Does anyone have their chameleon in the main room in their house - living room/kitchen? And have they thrived? I realize my situation may be different than yours considering I have other pets. (Would a parrots screeching stress them?) There is one place I could put a chameleon that would be out of heavy traffic but still somewhat visible. The second floor loft. Would that work? How many people have them in a private room. I don't know if this sounds harsh, but what is the point of having an animal that you rarely see because it is closed up in a room and stresses out when you do go in to see it. Obviously they have to be handled sometime because they need to be removed to clean their cage.

I have other concerns/questions about their care, but I'll save that for another time. Thanks in advance. Cathy

Mine lives in a classroom during the week with 27 fourth graders. He is friendly, content, and seems to be happy to come out of the enclosure. He even has a mini free range in the room and is not bothered by the kids walking by.

 

[Solid Snake]

Hey Cathy! Welcome to CF!
I will give you my thoughts, maybe they will be helpful.

It is true that chameleons are not an animal that you can "play" with, or handle often.
They are mostly to look at.
While different species of chameleons tend to be more "friendly" than others, every chameleon has its own personality. Some grow to enjoy handling, some will bite you no matter what!
Chameleons are not so touchy that they need to be left all alone all day, and I recomend lots of "supervision". I stare at my chameleons as much as possible. I think the better aquainted with their behavior you are, the better you can judge if somthing is wrong with them. Mine were both skiddish when I recieved them, but they hardly pay attention to me now
Chameleons can be alot of work, and can also be quite expensive.
They have to be misted daily(at least 3 times). Mist systems can be purchased to make your life easier though.
After you have them set up, your main focus and work will be geared towards the feeders they eat(at least in my experience).
Providing a variety of feeders is necessary to keep a chameleon active and healthy.
You can purchase them, which can get expensive, or breed them, which is time consuming.
Crickets
Roaches
Silkworms
Hornworms
Superworms
Waxworms
Butterworms
Flies
Moths
Mantids
...are all things chameleons eat. The first three in that list are the most common, and probably the most nutritional.
You will need to keep at least one of these on hand.

Those are just the random thoughts that are coming to mind.
In all, if you have the time, and the money, keeping a chameleon will be the joy of your life, and you will be ruined forever
They are a very rewarding animal. Realy the only "drawback" IMO is caring for feeders. Which isnt TERRIBLE. Its just my least favorite part about chameleons.
Chameleons are deaf(for all intent and purpose) and your bird will not bother them(auditory wise) Birds are a natural predator for them however, so seeing it may be an issue. Some people have kept them in the same room, but its possible this could stress the chameleon.

If you get a chameleon, you will not be dissapointed!(like with the hermits)
Im sure others will/have comment(ed) as well.
If you have any specific questions, please ask them.

 

[Olimpia]

I've had like 8-9 chameleons by now, and a couple were very grumpy and prefered to be left alone but the majority of them tolerated/tolerate handling really well. Daedalus, my only panther male now, has come to college with me to be on display during a vertebrate anatomy class function and was held by dozens of people without a problem. He's also gone to reptile shows and been shown off as well. I have others that could have gone to something like that as long as no one else touched them, but they would have been content being in that setting for a couple hours. So personality is completely up to the individual! Handling from an early age can help, and sometimes it can't, but it's a lot about luck.

Even the ones that are meaner, (at least this was true for mine) they were content with me as long as I didn't bother them or their cage. So they had no problem with me walking around their room or being anywhere near them as long as I didn't disturb their "territory." And even then, if I opened the cage for feeding or watering, they'd be pretty ok with that as well. But cleaning or getting them out of the cage to go to the vet or something, that's when I'd have to watch for bites lol.

They're a lot of fun though. It's a bit of an expensive hobby but well worth it, I think. I've had a lot of pets and worked with a lot of animals over the years and after my dogs, I never lose my passion for chameleons.

 

[patrickfraser]

Jump in and get wet. I did and I love my pair of veileds. I got them as babies in January and they are already eating out of my hand and don't mind being handled. I have become more of an "observer" than a "handler". I thought I'd get them out more than I do and was worried about stressing them out. It's working out nicely. I have a parrot in the room, but since I got the chameleons I've been keeping him covered. It hides him, but it doesn't stop his squawking. Lucky chameleons.

 

[RPCV]

I've had my cham in our office for the past 2.5 years. A very active room with two cats and a two year boy old free ranging. Not to mention our daughter's rodent running in a wheel about 10 feet away. The cham has grown in this environ since he was a few months old and has never shown any stress issues. However, only I handle it and limit that to about once a week.

As others have indicated, they are a great hobby but take time and expense. Your cham might be just fine in a busy room....or not. Each critter will have a different personality. Do your homework then decide if one's right for you - this site is a great resource.

 

[Cathykny]

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. I sure have a lot to think about. I must say that even though I don't own a chameleon yet, I really enjoy reading the post here. I'll be asking more questions soon. Thanks again.