Where to start

[Aivanac]

Hi my name is Ashley. I'm looking into getting a chameleon towards the end of May and not sure where I should start. I have been reading through the forums for the past day and online for research. I live in Connecticut so the weather varies. My questions are as follows:
1. Would it be better to get a wired caged or glass. We keep the house around 60degrees during the winter
2. I have both dogs and cats would this stress one out to much? My dogs do bark sometimes.
3. I was reading about the different requirements for set up. Is there a place that sells a whole package setup?
4: with my climate any recommendation of which kind

I want what's best for one and if I house with dogs and cats would be to stressful I wouldn't want that. Thanks for any input.

 

[ChamLB]

If you have a room the cats don't go in that would help. Chameleons don't hear much so barking isn't an issue. You will need to put your cage up high so your chameleon will feel like he's in a tree far above the four legged predators. Don.t allow the cats to stare at him.
Cage could be glass or screen how humid you house stays will be more important than temperature for your choice. Glass holds humidity better.

 

[EarlMT]

Flchams.com has package setups.

 

[Aivanac]

If you have a room the cats don't go in that would help. Chameleons don't hear much so barking isn't an issue. You will need to put your cage up high so your chameleon will feel like he's in a tree far above the four legged predators. Don.t allow the cats to stare at him.
Cage could be glass or screen how humid you house stays will be more important than temperature for your choice. Glass holds humidity better.

Thanks this is good to know about the barking.

 

[absolutbill]

I'd look at a montane species, like a Jacksons since your home won't be too warm during the winter. I'd also look at a glass/screen combo cage, like a Dragonstrand. This way you can help regulate the temperatures a little better in different seasons. With these ideas in mind, keep doing research, and read threads posted by keepers up north, or those who keep Jacksons. As for a complete package, yes, you can buy one, but most keepers buy things piecemail so they can get exactly what they want. Good luck!

 

[Aivanac]

Flchams.com has package setups.

Is this company also a good one to buy a Cham from also?

 

[Aivanac]

I'd look at a montane species, like a Jacksons since your home won't be too warm during the winter. I'd also look at a glass/screen combo cage, like a Dragonstrand. This way you can help regulate the temperatures a little better in different seasons. With these ideas in mind, keep doing research, and read threads posted by keepers up north, or those who keep Jacksons. As for a complete package, yes, you can buy one, but most keepers buy things piecemail so they can get exactly what they want. Good luck!

Perfect thanks I plan to do a lot of research that is why I'm giving myself the time

 

[WAMBO]

Good reading in the Resource section:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/

And of course sections specific to a species is here:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/

 

[EarlMT]

Is this company also a good one to buy a Cham from also?

I got my Cham from him and he's healthy and doing well!

 

[broderp]

You will probably get some different answers to your questions, some even polar opposite to others. Half the battle is to take all the info and attempt to decipher what applies to you and your current situation. I didn't read any of the posts above mine so the comments I have are my opinion. I'm no expert, but I have some of the same home situations you do. Bear in mind what works for me may not work for you . It's up to you to decide and try if you want. It would also be a big benefit to yourself and teh forum if you knew what breed of Cham you are looking at getting as temps and humidity as well as general husbandry can vary from one species to another. If you have no real preference, perhaps reading about several (there are care sheets on this forum for most common breeds) and seeing which one fits your situation (temps., humidity etc. ) can help you decide what to get.

Would it be better to get a wired caged or glass. We keep the house around 60 degrees during the winter

This has been a long going debate. It ranks right up there with the age old questions such as "paper or plastic" , "chocolate or vanilla", "Heads or tails" ..."Wired or glass" Both have their place. If you house is 60 in the winter, what is it kept at in the summer? Most Chams can tolerate low 60's quite well and in certain schools of thought it's even recommended to aid in metabolism, digestion or something. My thoughts are what is the HUMIDITY like/ will be like? What humidity does your house have during the year? As a general rule, Wired cages allow better airflow, but are harder (for the beginner) to maintain humidity. Glass terrariums are much better at keeping humidity and temps from my experience. Just don't confuse a terrarium with a fish tank!

I have both dogs and cats would this stress one out to much? My dogs do bark sometimes

This depends on your pet. I have two very large dogs. They completely ignore the terrarium and my baby Cham Sherman. In fact as I type this, Molly my 105lb. White Shepherd/wolf Hybrid is laying next to my feet and my desk is right next to my terrarium where I can look up see that he is currently eating out of his feeder. So in my case, everything is peaceful. If your dogs jump up and or are much more interested then unless you can put the Cham in different room, it may not be advisable to have both. As far as barking, my white wolf barks regularly at the mail main, people outside walking down the street. I see no problems with my Cham as a result of my dog's behavior. I keep my terrarium centrally located between my Kitchen and TV room. It sees a lot of traffic. Some schools of thought are to keep Chams away from high traffic areas, but I have no other good place. I believe it's just like a new human baby. Some parents are always "shhhhh quite the baby is sleeping". I raised 4 kids with the TV playing as I normally would, and talking normal even when they were sleeping. The point here is my kids got used to the normal noises, they slept thru it. The same thought with a Cham. It will take a Cham time. My Cham all but ignores any normal noise from the house at this point. He's about 5 months old.

I was reading about the different requirements for set up. Is there a place that sells a whole package setup?

There might be,but I have never seen a very good all in one kit. There are many that are good and will work. There are a lot of variables to consider with every unique situation. Your honestly better off sourcing parts from reputable sellers or stores. I use Amazon a lot as well as some site sponsors. Are you on a budget? You could probably get almost all stuff from a few places.


As far as purchasing a Cham, there are many places, Site sponsors and Reptile shows that you can get one from. Do your research. Don't do what I almost did, and buy solely on price. Look for word of mouth or recommendations.

I'll throw my 2 cents in and recommend Canvas Chameleons. Nick Henn was very helpful and the entire time (even today when responding to posts) he is all about helping and making sure you and your Cham are happy.

https://www.canvaschameleons.com/

I don't work for them, and have nothing to gain by promoting his business. I had a very positive experience and have a very healthy Cham. I paid full price for my Cham and I receive nothing from promoting his business. I'm a very satisfied customer.

 

[Aivanac]

You will probably get some different answers to your questions, some even polar opposite to others. Half the battle is to take all the info and attempt to decipher what applies to you and your current situation. I didn't read any of the posts above mine so the comments I have are my opinion. I'm no expert, but I have some of the same home situations you do. Bear in mind what works for me may not work for you . It's up to you to decide and try if you want. It would also be a big benefit to yourself and teh forum if you knew what breed of Cham you are looking at getting as temps and humidity as well as general husbandry can vary from one species to another. If you have no real preference, perhaps reading about several (there are care sheets on this forum for most common breeds) and seeing which one fits your situation (temps., humidity etc. ) can help you decide what to get.



This has been a long going debate. It ranks right up there with the age old questions such as "paper or plastic" , "chocolate or vanilla", "Heads or tails" ..."Wired or glass" Both have their place. If you house is 60 in the winter, what is it kept at in the summer? Most Chams can tolerate low 60's quite well and in certain schools of thought it's even recommended to aid in metabolism, digestion or something. My thoughts are what is the HUMIDITY like/ will be like? What humidity does your house have during the year? As a general rule, Wired cages allow better airflow, but are harder (for the beginner) to maintain humidity. Glass terrariums are much better at keeping humidity and temps from my experience. Just don't confuse a terrarium with a fish tank!



This depends on your pet. I have two very large dogs. They completely ignore the terrarium and my baby Cham Sherman. In fact as I type this, Molly my 105lb. White Shepherd/wolf Hybrid is laying next to my feet and my desk is right next to my terrarium where I can look up see that he is currently eating out of his feeder. So in my case, everything is peaceful. If your dogs jump up and or are much more interested then unless you can put the Cham in different room, it may not be advisable to have both. As far as barking, my white wolf barks regularly at the mail main, people outside walking down the street. I see no problems with my Cham as a result of my dog's behavior. I keep my terrarium centrally located between my Kitchen and TV room. It sees a lot of traffic. Some schools of thought are to keep Chams away from high traffic areas, but I have no other good place. I believe it's just like a new human baby. Some parents are always "shhhhh quite the baby is sleeping". I raised 4 kids with the TV playing as I normally would, and talking normal even when they were sleeping. The point here is my kids got used to the normal noises, they slept thru it. The same thought with a Cham. It will take a Cham time. My Cham all but ignores any normal noise from the house at this point. He's about 5 months old.


There might be,but I have never seen a very good all in one kit. There are many that are good and will work. There are a lot of variables to consider with every unique situation. Your honestly better off sourcing parts from reputable sellers or stores. I use Amazon a lot as well as some site sponsors. Are you on a budget? You could probably get almost all stuff from a few places.


As far as purchasing a Cham, there are many places, Site sponsors and Reptile shows that you can get one from. Do your research. Don't do what I almost did, and buy solely on price. Look for word of mouth or recommendations.

I'll throw my 2 cents in and recommend Canvas Chameleons. Nick Henn was very helpful and the entire time (even today when responding to posts) he is all about helping and making sure you and your Cham are happy.

https://www.canvaschameleons.com/

I don't work for them, and have nothing to gain by promoting his business. I had a very positive experience and have a very healthy Cham. I paid full price for my Cham and I receive nothing from promoting his business. I'm a very satisfied customer.

 

[Aivanac]

Thankyou so much for this information, I'm going to go through a bunch of posts and do more research.

 

[Aivanac]

Okay so I've been in the berate of converting something into a cage vs buying one. I like the look of furniture changed over.

My question is everyone says 2x2x4. I doing a cabinet that is 1x2x5. Does the depth matter as much as height.

 

[Aivanac]

Okay so I've been in the berate of converting something into a cage vs buying one. I like the look of furniture changed over.

My question is everyone says 2x2x4. I doing a cabinet that is 1x2x5. Does the depth matter as much as height.

 

[broderp]

Okay so I've been in the berate of converting something into a cage vs buying one. I like the look of furniture changed over.

My question is everyone says 2x2x4. I doing a cabinet that is 1x2x5. Does the depth matter as much as height.

I'd wait for others to chime in for a general opinion, but to me that/s too shallow. Imagine if you had a bedroom that was 12 x 12 feet with windows on 3 sides. Now take two walls and cut that down to 6 feet. You room is now 6 x 12. It becomes a glass tunnel. Your Cham will be very claustrophobic in
that.

My terrarium is 18" deep. I will need something larger myself when he gets older.

If your creative and have some wood working or staining skills, maybe you could create a type of gazebo to bring out the depth a little bit.

 

[Aivanac]

I'd wait for others to chime in for a general opinion, but to me that/s too shallow. Imagine if you had a bedroom that was 12 x 12 feet with windows on 3 sides. Now take two walls and cut that down to 6 feet. You room is now 6 x 12. It becomes a glass tunnel. Your Cham will be very claustrophobic in
that.

My terrarium is 18" deep. I will need something larger myself when he gets older.

If your creative and have some wood working or staining skills, maybe you could create a type of gazebo to bring out the depth a little bit.

Thanks,
I was thinking the same side but was wanting people's opinions.

I'm just going to keep looking into something larger

 

[WAMBO]

I think it's too thin. A full grown panther can get to 18 inches long and Veiled's can be larger [according to caresheet info in the Resource section]. Although some of it's length is tail, 1 foot still seems to thin.