SeanMoynihan
New Member
I want a chameleon but my mum and dad said nothing else is being plugged in so I was wondering what chameleons do not need uvb? I know Pygmy chmaleons don't but are there any others???
What species don't need uvb?
- Thread starter SeanMoynihan
- Start date
Theveiled
Avid Member
Pygmys dont need a UVB? Most chameleons including the most popular (veileds, panthers, jacksons) need UVB or they will get mbd. I think most (if not all as I am not sure about pygmys) need UVB or they will get sick. If you cant have a UVB or heat because the cham would need that too, maybe (dont want to sound rude) you should rethink about getting a chameleon. Please dont be angry about what I said but chameleons need plugs for lights.
Furciferocious
Member
I don't know about pygmies and UVB, but you will also need plant grow lights, a basking light, and an automatic mister. Then there are the heat requirements for your feeder insects. Unless you live where the chameleon can be outside year 'round, I think there will always be a need to plug stuff in with chameleons.
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
While there is some debate whether or not pygmies need UVB, I suspect that most successful and experienced pygmy keepers do provide low level UVB. Here's a short but good recent thread on the subject:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/pygmy-chameleons-vs-uvb.148324/
Aside from UVB, you would still have to have a basking light and maybe a plug in for a misting system. You can't run a cham enclosure without SOMETHING needing to be plugged in. Most reptiles are going to require some sort of electrical device, whether it's lights, heating, or whatever. Sounds like this would not be a good situation for trying to keep a healthy reptile.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/pygmy-chameleons-vs-uvb.148324/
Aside from UVB, you would still have to have a basking light and maybe a plug in for a misting system. You can't run a cham enclosure without SOMETHING needing to be plugged in. Most reptiles are going to require some sort of electrical device, whether it's lights, heating, or whatever. Sounds like this would not be a good situation for trying to keep a healthy reptile.
Theveiled
Avid Member
Yes I forgot about the mister!
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
I agree with all of the above and I want to add that it sounds like your parents are being a bit more than ridiculous on the matter of things being plugged in. The amount of wattage you would use is so negligible that there wouldn't be more than $5-$10 a month increase in electric, if that. Parents can be real pills, yeesh!
You absolutely need UVB, full spectrum daylight bulbs, and/or basking bulbs for ALL species of day active reptiles, IMO. Chameleons aren't like other reptiles that will survive under less than ideal circumstances.
There are plenty of species you could keep with not more than 100 watts of light and the occasional mister going off, which would consume next to nothing. 100 watts is less than 2 household bulbs in energy consumption. You can find out exactly how much your set-up will cost in energy use by finding out your kilowatt rate and using the numerous online tables for figuring it out. Example: you use 150 watts of energy, for 14 hours a day X 31 days in a month, at 50 cents a kilowatt. You'd be raising the electric bill by $31 a month. Most electric rates are 35 cents or less, per kilowatt hour and you could do a 12 hour photoperiod, as well as stick to 100 watts of light, depending on what you keep.
You absolutely need UVB, full spectrum daylight bulbs, and/or basking bulbs for ALL species of day active reptiles, IMO. Chameleons aren't like other reptiles that will survive under less than ideal circumstances.
There are plenty of species you could keep with not more than 100 watts of light and the occasional mister going off, which would consume next to nothing. 100 watts is less than 2 household bulbs in energy consumption. You can find out exactly how much your set-up will cost in energy use by finding out your kilowatt rate and using the numerous online tables for figuring it out. Example: you use 150 watts of energy, for 14 hours a day X 31 days in a month, at 50 cents a kilowatt. You'd be raising the electric bill by $31 a month. Most electric rates are 35 cents or less, per kilowatt hour and you could do a 12 hour photoperiod, as well as stick to 100 watts of light, depending on what you keep.
Last edited:
SeanMoynihan
New Member
What could I say to my mum and dad to make them understand??? Because they just say they don't want anything else plugged in
SeanMoynihan
New Member
Btw I want a dwarf jacksons chameleon as I know somewhere that sells babies
Theveiled
Avid Member
Make sure if your parents let you get a chameleon to do a lot of research. Personally I did over 6 months of research and preparing before I got my veiled. Jacksons need more humidity/hydration which means a longer misting time. You would probably want a mistking. I do not have one but I wish I got one when I was looking for a mister. I am saving up for one and they are a much better mister than any other mister avaliable IMO. Chameleons are a lot of money. You need a cage, branches and plants for in the cage, expensive lights, a mister, a variety of live bugs and I would recommend a vet checkup and fecal. If you get one be prepared to spend hundreds maybe even a thousand (I haven't spent that much yet) to keep him or her happy and healthy.
greatgatsby319
Member
I have a smaller species of chameleon (trioceros sternfeldi) and I'm not sure if she's technically considered a pygmy or dwarf but when I got her it was highly recommended that I have a lamp with low level UVB. Like many others have said, the lamp is not the only thing you need to plug in. I may not be the best influence because I had a very similar situation with my parents. They're just anti-reptile in general. I bought her anyway and had her for three weeks without them noticing. That was my compelling argument for keeping her. Hopefully you don't have to do something like that and can meet a happy medium with your folks. 
Last edited:
wavingsnail
Established Member
Maybe just get a crested gecko instead.
cyberlocc
Chameleon Enthusiast
In all honestly, if that is there reaction to plugging something in. I would look at different species, chameleons are expensive and so is there care. This is not a starter reptile nor a cheap one, I hate to hear there reaction when you tell them you need to keep various species of bugs in the house. Which also need lights/some form of heat.
This is a sign chameleons are not for you, at this time in your life.
This is a sign chameleons are not for you, at this time in your life.
SeanMoynihan
New Member
I already keep reptiles that why I wanted a chameleon because it is something a bit harder than all the others.
SeanMoynihan
New Member
My parents said I can have a jacksons chameleon. Does anyone have any good care sheets I can look at???
Does anyone have any good care sheets I can look at???
Orcawhale
Member
Thats wonderful!!!! Are you completely sure you want to jump into buying a chameleon? As said by many above, if your parents have even the smallest problem with plugging more than one thing into the wall, they aren't going to cope with some of the other things. Some things I was NOT ready for was drainage, and also the number of bugs we ended up purchasing, not to mention buying Vincent a whole new cage 7 months later to suit his growing needs. I'm 15 years old and I spent a good 4-6 months obsessively researching before I got one. There were still lots of surprises, but he is happy and healthy, and at least my mom has fallen in love with him as well.My parents said I can have a jacksons chameleon.
Orcawhale
Member
Opps, forgot the care sheet-- http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Jacksons-Chameleon/My parents said I can have a jacksons chameleon.
http://www.jacksonschameleoncaresheet.com
http://www.skypoint.com/members/mikefry/jacksons.pdf
I just searched up Jacksons Care sheet in the internet, these are the three top sites.
SeanMoynihan
New Member
Thanks
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
We have better caresheets for a Jackson's here on the forum. Use this one instead.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/
There are also a lot of resources that you need to learn in depth in that same area of the forum. Jackson's can be sensitive chameleons and are more difficult to care for than Yemen or Panthers.
Jackson's are also often wild caught, which you want to avoid. Hold out for a captive bred 6-month old male Jackson's. Wild and too young is asking for expensive issues.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/
There are also a lot of resources that you need to learn in depth in that same area of the forum. Jackson's can be sensitive chameleons and are more difficult to care for than Yemen or Panthers.
Jackson's are also often wild caught, which you want to avoid. Hold out for a captive bred 6-month old male Jackson's. Wild and too young is asking for expensive issues.
