Veiled Chameleon - All info appreciated...

[LizardWizard]

Hi

Am interested in Veiled Chameleons & am basically looking for any info anyone can give regarding keeping them

I.e - do they make good pets? If so, why?
Are they expensive to keep?
Are they aggressive?
What is the best sort of enclosure?
What are the common problems that arise - e.g., medical problems or just general difficulties with keeping this type of pet.

Or any other info you can think of that someone thinking about choosing this sort of pet might need to know....

Thanks!

 

[Virgil1972]

Here is a link to the veiled care sheet.
Here is a link to the resources section.
I recommend reading that stuff to get a better idea about veiled chameleons.

 

[LizardWizard]

Here is a link to the veiled care sheet.
Here is a link to the resources section.
I recommend reading that stuff to get a better idea about veiled chameleons.

Here is a link to the veiled care sheet.
Here is a link to the resources section.
I recommend reading that stuff to get a better idea about veiled chameleons.

Thanks that's great!

 

[Chamaniac]

One thing I've learned from my short time on this forum is that there are rarely new questions. The search function in the upper right of the page works great and often answers my questions right away. Good luck with your research!

 

[LizardWizard]

One thing I've learned from my short time on this forum is that there are rarely new questions. The search function in the upper right of the page works great and often answers my questions right away. Good luck with your research!

Thank you, I admit I posted as I was feeling a bit daunted at the sheer volume of info on here and wasn't sure how easy it was to navigate. Have more specific questions now after reading the information sheets but will try the search function first.

 

[Chamaniac]

Thank you, I admit I posted as I was feeling a bit daunted at the sheer volume of info on here and wasn't sure how easy it was to navigate. Have more specific questions now after reading the information sheets but will try the search function first.

Sorry if I sounded like you shouldn't be posting! I agree there is definitely a vast amount of information, I just know how most forum Search features operate and it's easier to ask the questions. Fire away, there are many helpful members here!

 

[Graves923]

One bit of advice I can give is do not take short cuts in care or supplies! Its always best and more cost efficient to save up for all the proper supplies and equipment before acquiring the chameleon. We see all too often on here that a new member posts about seeing the chameleon in the pet store and buying things that the store suggests on the spot. Most of the time, the pet store employee doesn't know whats best for the chameleon and will suggest generic reptile relate items. Take the time to research everything from the lighting requirements to supplementation and anything else you might have a question about.

The care sheet that was linked in the post above will detail everything youll need to keep a healthy veiled! There is a lot of info to read through and absorb so do not be afraid to ask a question if you cant find a post related to it.

 

[LizardWizard]

Sorry if I sounded like you shouldn't be posting! I agree there is definitely a vast amount of information, I just know how most forum Search features operate and it's easier to ask the questions. Fire away, there are many helpful members here!

Oh no, sorry, I didn't take it that way at all, it was a really helpful comment

 

[LizardWizard]

If anyone wants to share any stories about their veiled chameleons I'd be interested to hear about them - I.e why did choose to keep veiled chameleons over any other creature?
did you find any problems that you weren't expecting when you first started keeping them?
I've heard they're really difficult to keep and require a lot of care and attention, is this true?
Also do any vets treat them or would I have to take them to a specific one?

Sorry if these questions seem really dumb, I just want to make sure I get as much info as I can!

Thanks!

 

[Replife]

If anyone wants to share any stories about their veiled chameleons I'd be interested to hear about them - I.e why did choose to keep veiled chameleons over any other creature?
did you find any problems that you weren't expecting when you first started keeping them?
I've heard they're really difficult to keep and require a lot of care and attention, is this true?
Also do any vets treat them or would I have to take them to a specific one?

Sorry if these questions seem really dumb, I just want to make sure I get as much info as I can!

Thanks!

I chose a veiled chameleon because I was one of those people that did no research prior to buying the animal and assumed it was a beginner chameleon ( no such thing). I walk through the pet store seen something i liked and took it home. (Please ppl dont be like me) after getting Peter (my Cham) I stared doing tons of research and found a few great ppl on this form that shared all there knowledge and experience with me. Quickly proving almost nothing the pet store told me was accurate. I was under the impression Leaving the pet store that day that the hundred-dollar kit I had was going to be all I needed ..wrong....turns out I was going to have to spend $200 on lights,$200 on an enclosure, $200 on a misting system ,$100 on plants ,$75 on supplies to build a drainage system and $50 on supplements.also I keep a wide variety of feeders this ain't cheap...but no I would not say there hard to keep but one would need some reptile experience in my opinion.. so most likely any vet would try to treat your chameleon but yes you will need to find an exotic animals vet

 

[Jordan.gibbs]

Veileds are known to be grumpy and have tempers, and they generally do not make great "holding" pets. They are mostly a hands off, watch pet. You can hold them from time to time, but they don't enjoy it.

That being said, the initial investment can be costly, but once you get everything, additional costs will be vet visits ($50-100/year, maybe more), food, and pure water. Plus any upgrades you do with your setup.

As everyone said, getting the chameleon is the cheap part, the proper setup is what will cost a lot initially.

 

[Classy]

If anyone wants to share any stories about their veiled chameleons I'd be interested to hear about them - I.e why did choose to keep veiled chameleons over any other creature?
did you find any problems that you weren't expecting when you first started keeping them?
I've heard they're really difficult to keep and require a lot of care and attention, is this true?
Also do any vets treat them or would I have to take them to a specific one?

Sorry if these questions seem really dumb, I just want to make sure I get as much info as I can!

Thanks!

A normal vet will not treat your chameleon properly. You will need to go to a specialty vet for reptiles. Yes, they are difficult, but they are not as challenging people will make them out to be. They do require a lot of attention though.

 

[LizardWizard]

Thanks everyone, this is exactly the sort of stuff I wanted to know, the whole thing about cost of set up was really interesting.

what sort of questions did you all have when you first started looking into keeping Veileds?

 

[kinyonga]

You asked..."do they make good pets? If so, why?" They are not like a cat or dog that you can pat and cuddle with. Many of them will tolerate you and look at you as a safe tree to sit on and may recognize the food contains er when you feed them. Some won't even tolerate you. I had one male veiled that would literally run down the branch after me....mouth wide open.

You asked "Are they expensive to keep?". They definitely aren't cheap. There are always insects to buy and look after, UVB lights, supplements, etc.

You asked "Are they aggressive?"... I think I answered that above.

You asked..."What is the best sort of enclosure?"... In part it depends on your living conditions. Do you have air-conditioning, live in a cold area of a hot area, etc.

You asked..."What are the common problems that arise - e.g., medical problems or just general difficulties with keeping this type of pet"... If the husbandry is not right your chameleon can end up with MBD, infections, organ damage, mouth rot and if it's a female reproductive issues.

You saud..."any other info you can think of that someone thinking about choosing this sort of pet might need to know"....if you get a female she can produce eggs without being mated so you need to be ready for it somshe won't die eggbound. If you want to go on holidays you will need a good babysitter for it and if it has health issues you will need a vet who deals with chameleons on a regular basis. I've likely missed things.

 

[Graves923]

I choose a veiled after doing research and seeing they are one of the hardier species and can be more forgiving for a beginner keeper.

Is he a good pet? Yes and no. No, because he absolutely hates me since I am the bad guy who had to give him meds a while back. Now, anytime I open his cage, I get a mouth full of teeth coming my way. But, when my girlfriend opens his cage, He comes "running" to her so he can climb on her shoulder or head and chill. They can have interesting personalities.

Yes, because they are interesting to watch grow into adults. With each skin shed you see a change in color and pattern, from the bright greens of a juvenile to the dramatic yellows/blues/greens/blacks in the adults. Learning about these creatures is another aspect of keeping that I enjoy. Anytime I see a new behavior or notice something that the cham does, I find myself googling the behavior of on here searching.

If you are prepared well before receiving your first came then unexpected problems will be minimal. Proper enclosure with plenty of foliage to hide in and various vines of all thicknesses, proper lighting with UVB and basking, supplements, feeders and gutloads for feeders. Write down a schedule that you can keep to for feeding, supplements, and cage maintenance. The cham will get into a routine and will hopefully be less stressed out once they get into said routine.

Keeping the cage clean is another big thing you can do to prevent any bacterial or fungal infections on the chameleon.

One thing that I underestimated about these chameleons is how fast the grow... I bought my veiled from FLchams with an approx. age of 3-4 months old. He is now about 11 months old and already in his adult cage. I started with a medium reptibreeze cage which measured 30" tall x 16" wide and deep. He outgrew it quick! After about 4 months in my care is when I started to notice him trying to wonder out of his cage more often and just started looking cramped in the cage.

They can be difficult to care for but once you have an understanding of what to do and why certain things are done it get easier. Hydration is a big thing some new keepers dont understand fully. I've seen some people use a fogger instead of a mister because they think the misting is for humidity. Then they are wondering why there cham is dehydrated and not drinking from the water dish... Not even 10 minutes of google searching will explain how they most likely will not notice standing water.

While I'm on the topic of misting, Invest in a Mistking system or Climist system!!! I wish I did when I first started. You can program the system to mist when you want and for how long which makes it easier for you in the long run. Instead of remembering when to mist the cage you just have to remember to fill the reservoir every day or so. I went the hand misting route at first because it was cheaper... I regretted it after the first week of keeping my cham. It was annoying having to run home on my lunch breaks just to mist the cage or making sure my girlfriend was home to mist while I was at work. Now I dont even think about it.

One last thing, Find a reputable exotics vet near you. In the health section of the forums there is a stickied thread with lists of many vets that treat chameleons throughout the US and other countries. It might take sometime to find one in your area but its best to have the info just in case something were to happen while you are caring for your chameleon.

 

[Classy]

Thanks everyone, this is exactly the sort of stuff I wanted to know, the whole thing about cost of set up was really interesting.

what sort of questions did you all have when you first started looking into keeping Veileds?

Are you buying the Veiled because it is the most hardy? If so, the panther chameleon is also hardy too.

 

[Katacara]

My first advice is not to get your cham from a pet store!!!! They will most likely come with health problems because they get them from cham farms that do not treat their chams properly so right from the start they can be born with MBD! Then the store does not keep them correctly so they could have respiratory problems and infections all their lives and that is IF they live! Many die very quickly, there are so many sad stories here of people bringing home a pet store cham, doing everything possible for them and they still pass away. So stick to a trusted breeder!! They may cost a bit more, I don't know but if they do it is worth it to have a healthy cham!!!!

Chams are a "all or nothing" kind of pet, meaning you really need to commit to giving them everything they need or you cham will have problems. If this will be your first reptile experience than definitely do the research first! There are so many wonderful people here that are always willing to help, use us and soak up all the info you can.

And not to take away from chams (because they are awesome!!) but if you think a cham might be a little to much for you right now or you are looking for a pet you can handle a lot and cuddle and you still want a reptile friend you may want to consider a bearded dragon. There is a great forum for them as well I would be happy to give you if our would like.

Whatever you decide I wish you and your new family member the best of luck!!!

 

[MSMorgan]

LW,

Yes to all of the above posts; Sage advice. I've had my male veiled for 2 1/2 years and find him extremely rewarding. There's a lot that goes into proper set up, nutrition and occasional maintenance, but he is truly a member of the family. He is loved and admired by all who come to visit us at the house. Read, read and read some more. Ask questions and do your homework before you jump in. If you've made the decision, then go slow and get your enclosure, foliage, lighting, misting, drainage and all supplies up and running before getting your new little guy.
A word of advice, don't cheap out on your set up for your little wingless dragon. Get the best you can buy at the start and you'll thank yourself later. If you don't have the $, save up and get an emergency vet fund set up. As others have said, find a dedicated reptile vet. Others may waste your time and money. One last piece of advice; the search bar at the top right is a savior. Type in what you want to know and you will usually get something related to what you searched. If not, ask. We were all beginners at one point.