Why mainstream?

[Fearaffect]

Montanes have been givin a bad rap because most are/were WC. Acclimating them is difficult and alot of beginners had terrible experiences with these.
CB/CBB are much easier to care for and many would make a great first time or 2nd cham. to have. Just do your research, as with any cham., and you'll have a great cham. with tons of personality...

 

[Salty]

I would just like to say that I do not think any cham is mainstreeming. I never actually saw a cham until I got mine. lol. I chose mine though because it seems that the majority of people on this site have experiance with panthers..... so it would be much easier to get advice. And He is Super Awesome. also... he is awesome.

 

[Sticktongue]

I would just like to say that I do not think any cham is mainstreeming. I never actually saw a cham until I got mine. lol. I chose mine though because it seems that the majority of people on this site have experiance with panthers..... so it would be much easier to get advice. And He is Super Awesome. also... he is awesome.

Thats exactly what makes them mainstream. Mainstream does not mean everyone in the world has them. But that most people that do get chameleons usually get one of those species first, or at some point.

Montanes have been givin a bad rap because most are/were WC. Acclimating them is difficult and alot of beginners had terrible experiences with these.
CB/CBB are much easier to care for and many would make a great first time or 2nd cham. to have. Just do your research, as with any cham., and you'll have a great cham. with tons of personality...

I think you hit the nail on the head right there. Never thought of that..

 

[camimom]

Montanes have been givin a bad rap because most are/were WC. Acclimating them is difficult and alot of beginners had terrible experiences with these.
CB/CBB are much easier to care for and many would make a great first time or 2nd cham. to have. Just do your research, as with any cham., and you'll have a great cham. with tons of personality...

I think this is totally true.
i also feel that if montane species were more available captive bred, that they would become more mainstream.
I do not feel that my montane species, is that much harder to care for than my veileds or my panther. Just different.

 

[Sticktongue]

I think this is totally true.
i also feel that if montane species were more available captive bred, that they would become more mainstream.
I do not feel that my montane species, is that much harder to care for than my veileds or my panther. Just different.

This is actually what the KCK is trying to do is get more animals and information out about them. Hopfully it'll eventually happen like you mentioned. Tough doing it with rock bottom prices like photoprincess said.

 

[camimom]

This is actually what the KCK is trying to do is get more animals and information out about them. Hopfully it'll eventually happen like you mentioned. Tough doing it with rock bottom prices like photoprincess said.

yea. Im trying to get some hoe lines started for captive breeding. alot of people dont have them, so if you want to do a breeding program, you either have to use imports, or partially related pairs.

 

[Sticktongue]

yea. Im trying to get some hoe lines started for captive breeding. alot of people dont have them, so if you want to do a breeding program, you either have to use imports, or partially related pairs.

If your super serious about that, imports might be your best option. Few different males and females to get it started. Sure getting wc animals is risky and expensive but might be your only choice. But I'm sure you've already thought of that

 

[mrguy]

Mainstream

I had a veiled for a short period of time and it didn't make it. I went to the Jackson and have not had a problem at all. I think if we chose a cham based on our environment it makes it easier to manage if they are a type that fits. My Jax stays outside most of the time here in FL. The weather right now is perfect for him and he is thriving here. I also like the look of him, like a little dinosaur. I would love for him to get as big as a Panther! But alas that will never be, that that is okay. He can be picky if you feed him too many crickets so I mix it up. I ALWAYS get the smaller crickets too. I just feel it is easier on their digestion and he gets to "hunt" more often going up and down the length of the cage which is 4' tall. Great hobby and my daughter talks about him all the time...

I do admit I love the brilliant colors of some of the other species and might end up one day with one of those too, but for now Jax is it...and he was significantly cheaper then a Panther.

 

[camimom]

If your super serious about that, imports might be your best option. Few different males and females to get it started. Sure getting wc animals is risky and expensive but might be your only choice. But I'm sure you've already thought of that

I am, and i have.
Right now, no one is selling imports. Cant find them. Considered it, have looked at every site i can find.

I also cant afford to spend like 2k on paying for the import license, the animal, etc etc. and wait another 6-9 months for that.

ive got a totally unrelated female im breeding to, and another female, that the person im getting her from is fairly positive my guy is not related too.

long story,

but it can be done. carefully. and if i ever find a wc female, i will get her.. just dont have any to get right now.

 

[mychamtini112012]

I am, and i have.
Right now, no one is selling imports. Cant find them. Considered it, have looked at every site i can find.

I also cant afford to spend like 2k on paying for the import license, the animal, etc etc. and wait another 6-9 months for that.

ive got a totally unrelated female im breeding to, and another female, that the person im getting her from is fairly positive my guy is not related too.

long story,

but it can be done. carefully. and if i ever find a wc female, i will get her.. just dont have any to get right now.

And then you need to find another male, so you can breed two completely different lines and then once I am more use to hoes I can have little babies too.

I picked my veiled, because she was on sale on craigslist and I thought she was cute. Now I have learned A LOT more, and I still want to go with mainstream. I want panthers. I love their colors. I also plan on getting hoes, which aren't as main stream. I'll have a third cage open for a future cham, just don't know what yet. I'm considering something that's not as mainstream, just nothing has come to me and said 'I HAVE TO HAVE THIS!' except a mellers, which won't work right now.

 

[camimom]

And then you need to find another male, so you can breed two completely different lines and then once I am more use to hoes I can have little babies too.

I picked my veiled, because she was on sale on craigslist and I thought she was cute. Now I have learned A LOT more, and I still want to go with mainstream. I want panthers. I love their colors. I also plan on getting hoes, which aren't as main stream. I'll have a third cage open for a future cham, just don't know what yet. I'm considering something that's not as mainstream, just nothing has come to me and said 'I HAVE TO HAVE THIS!' except a mellers, which won't work right now.

Haha, yea mellers need a large amont of space.

I would probably without doubt free range a mellers when i get one. though what makes me sad is that i will have to pick an androgenous name, since you cant tell gender unless one lays eggs.

 

[absolutbill]

I agree with MyChamTini. I started with a panther - it was that or a veiled for me as they are what I felt I could handle as my first cham. Then, I just got a veiled about 5 months ago. I do wish that I had waited, learned a little more about montanes and gone with a jacksons, however I do love my little Kimani. Now that I have an empty cage I'm still only looking at either another panther, or a jacksons. Mellers will definately be in my future, however I feel that they should be free-ranged, and I just don't have the space at this time. Plus my 2 cats and dog also free-range, and that would be a bad mix.

Michelle

 

[Olimpia]

I started off with a Jackson's and then got the species I really wanted, panthers. I legitimately love everything about panthers, the shape of their heads, their size, their colors, their personality... I don't care that they're hardier or whatnot, I would have gotten them just the same even if they were more delicate.

I haven't really branched out because I don't love any other species as much. The closest seconds are my carpets and melleri, but the species near and dear to my heart is the panther. I see the appeal in K. multi and other rarer species but I just don't care enough to make the investment (although I may still get a female multi in the future, they are freaking adorable). And many of them I just don't see the appeal in as pets, they look strange or even a little ugly in my eyes. They are neat, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't own them.

If I still own chameleons several years from now, I guarantee you that there will be a panther involved. Anything else is in the air, but I think I will always love panthers.

I've never understood the people that criticize us for sticking to these popular species, as if that's a bad thing. Most people have labs and goldens as pets, and others have New Guinean singing dogs. To each their own!

 

[camimom]

I started off with a Jackson's and then got the species I really wanted, panthers. I legitimately love everything about panthers, the shape of their heads, their size, their colors, their personality... I don't care that they're hardier or whatnot, I would have gotten them just the same even if they were more delicate.

I haven't really branched out because I don't love any other species as much. The closest seconds are my carpets and melleri, but the species near and dear to my heart is the panther. I see the appeal in K. multi and other rarer species but I just don't care enough to make the investment (although I may still get a female multi in the future, they are freaking adorable). And many of them I just don't see the appeal in as pets, they look strange or even a little ugly in my eyes. They are neat, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't own them.

If I still own chameleons several years from now, I guarantee you that there will be a panther involved. Anything else is in the air, but I think I will always love panthers.

I've never understood the people that criticize us for sticking to these popular species, as if that's a bad thing. Most people have labs and goldens as pets, and others have New Guinean singing dogs. To each their own!

agreed.
btw, you got a gf for carpet boy?? did i miss the thread on pics????!!!!!

 

[Hoj]

I started off with a Jackson's and then got the species I really wanted, panthers. I legitimately love everything about panthers, the shape of their heads, their size, their colors, their personality... I don't care that they're hardier or whatnot, I would have gotten them just the same even if they were more delicate.

I haven't really branched out because I don't love any other species as much. The closest seconds are my carpets and melleri, but the species near and dear to my heart is the panther. I see the appeal in K. multi and other rarer species but I just don't care enough to make the investment (although I may still get a female multi in the future, they are freaking adorable). And many of them I just don't see the appeal in as pets, they look strange or even a little ugly in my eyes. They are neat, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't own them.

If I still own chameleons several years from now, I guarantee you that there will be a panther involved. Anything else is in the air, but I think I will always love panthers.

I've never understood the people that criticize us for sticking to these popular species, as if that's a bad thing. Most people have labs and goldens as pets, and others have New Guinean singing dogs. To each their own!

well put, i keep some montanes, but i will always have a panther and feel the way you do.... about veileds tho, i dunno why exactly but i love a big veiled

 

[Goggles]

well put, i keep some montanes, but i will always have a panther and feel the way you do.... about veileds tho, i dunno why exactly but i love a big veiled

Fess up Hoj....You would have one of everything if you had the room!!!! I don't blame you.

 

[Olimpia]

agreed.
btw, you got a gf for carpet boy?? did i miss the thread on pics????!!!!!

Lol I just got her this morning and then went straight to class. I may take some photos of her this afternoon after she's settled in a little. She's much bigger than my male (which reminds me, note to self: find out her hatch date) and super cute.

 

[camimom]

Lol I just got her this morning and then went straight to class. I may take some photos of her this afternoon after she's settled in a little. She's much bigger than my male (which reminds me, note to self: find out her hatch date) and super cute.

good! well since you had just got her and then had class, ishall forgive you.
BUT if i dont see pics by the end of the week... we have a problem.

 

[the cw]

I stuck mainstream because I've kept reptiles for a long time--back into the early 90's--and always knew that Chameleons were a complicated lizard(like monitors). Of course, back then that was largely due to horrible information, but the point still stands. So, I decided to get a Veiled because there is more reliable information, and debate, on the species than something a little different like a Carpet Chameleon. Although a Carpet, for me, is the most amazing looking animal ever, I thought I'd take baby steps until I felt more secure.

In short, I suppose, it's because I'd rather get 90% of what I want and be confident I know what I'm doing rather than get 100% and run the risk of being too ignorant.

 

[Sticktongue]

I've never understood the people that criticize us for sticking to these popular species, as if that's a bad thing. Most people have labs and goldens as pets, and others have New Guinean singing dogs. To each their own!

I hope you didn't take it as me criticizing about it. It honestly was just a question out of curiosity and to start a kind of different discussion.